Speaker Wednesday 9th Jan 2019 – David Ogden Extreme Macrophotography

The speaker this evening was the Societies own member, David Ogden. And to start his presentation by telling the assemble members, ‘don’t try it’, certainly grab everyone’s attention. And throughout his talk he maintained a rapt audience as he described, demonstrated and presented how he went about Macrophotography, the equipment he utilised (and ingeniously assembled) and the images which resulted. It was also intimated that ‘no flies or bugs were killed in the making of this presentation’!!! Having already had one talk this season from Kevin McKenzie on ‘Photography under the Microscope’ David felt he had been pre-empted, and that not every image was a winner. David’s images may not have won competitions, but they certainly won over everybody in the room with their clarity, precision and detail. David explained the issues of depth of field and the lack of definition that results with a single shot. To gain maximum detail through the final photo requires stacking, sometimes in excess of 100 individual images. To do so a special piece of technical wizardry is employed to move the frame of the shot in minute incremental stages. Which are then merged into the final photograph. A collection of images of a butterfly wing demonstrated the degree of magnification from x2 up to x32 and what is revealed in the elaborate detail. The way a microscopic lens works was explained by David and how the image is inverted but then the requirement for an ordinary lens to draw back the image together. As David continued his explanation and journey into Extreme Macro, he showed how his studio set up is built up with the various pieces of equipment. Ending in what resembled something akin to a futuristic robot or a piece of sophisticated medical equipment. The use of fibre optics greatly enhances the scope of taking the images to show the iridescence of a butterfly wing. While some of his subjects are not wanted around the house or in the garden, their magnification superbly demonstrated their intricate micro engineering, right down to the fine hairs which collect all matters of detritus. David brought along on the evening a camera, lens, lighting, and stacking computer all linked to a monitor to show everyone the actual process. David’s talk was very much appreciated, as were his images of, Bluebottles, Springtails, Moths, Shield Bugs, lichen and mountain plants. A thoroughly entertaining and very informative talk.