"Unseen Flowers"
April 1-May 31, 2019
Buehler Alumni Center, UC Davis

UNSEEN FLOWERS focus-stacked & macrophotography of weeds (mostly)

Photographer: Robert F. Norris (rfnorris@ucdavis.edu)

Robert started taking plant photographs in the late 1950s. He learned the craft of close-up photography using a Leica III and a set of extension tubes; see bee orchid photograph taken in 1959. His current equipment is all Nikon; most of the photographs displayed here were taken using one of Nikon's macro lenses.

Robert is a retired weed scientist in the Department of Plant Science at UC Davis. He now spends considerable time taking macro photographs of plants (and a few insects). In 2018, Robert won the macro division of the California State Fair photography competition (the photo is displayed in this show). His photographs have won numerous first place awards in the photo competition at the Weed Science Society of America annual meetings. Robert is a member of the Photography Club of Davis, where he has made presentations on macrophotography.

During the last few years, camera and computer advances have completely overcome the problem of shallow depth of focus for a single photograph. The process is referred to as focus stacking. Equipment has been developed that permits the photographer to take a sequence (stack) of photographs with incrementally changed focus point for each picture. Computer software then takes files for the ‘stack' of photographs and combines only the sharp, in focus, part of each picture into a single photograph (see ‘focus stacking explained' panel). The result is a picture with essentially unlimited depth of focus showing incredible detail that is not normally visible even with a microscope, as the latter still has the problem of limited depth of field unless photomicrographs are also stacked.

A limitation to focus stacking is the requirement that the object being photographed must not move while the stack is being taken. Outdoor photographs are thus only possible under calm conditions; most of the focus stacked photographs seen in this show were taken under studio conditions using LED lighting.

Robert also paints pictures of plants, landscapes and farm machinery using acrylics and oils, and is a world-level Masters backstroke swimmer.

All framed prints are available for sale at end of the show. Multiple copies can be made. Please provide your name, phone number and/or e-mail address in the sign-up folder.