Macro / Micro Photography – How To Shoot Storm Glass
In this article, I’ll be discussing the different methods I use to shoot macro photography of storm glass. Obviously this is a very very niche thing to explore, but it is one of my interests, and I find it relevant not just to storm glass, but to anything you want to get close up with.
Which Lens To Go With?
It took me a while to figure out a good all around lens I’d want to get for these pictures. Coming to the game with a used Nikon D810 and only a super short 20 mm Nikkor and a very worn 24-50mm, I was on the hunt for something new. The needs were simple, get something that can work for portraits / decent distance shots a bit further than the 24-50 mm, and something that can shoot decent macro shots. After some research, I opted for the 60 mm Nikkor as it was relatively inexpensive (~ $500). This is by all means not a ‘cheap’ lens, but it is a bit more tolerable than the $1k + I’d be spending for something like a 200 mm.
Is The Weather Right?
If you’re a weather nerd looking to get pretty shots of your storm glass aka storm glass barometer, you need a very simple set up. I don’t like to light my shots, and will always choose natural light over trying to rig something up. To me it’s just not worth it. If you’ve got a keen eye you’ll notice sunrise and sunset have some of the best lighting of the day, however it’s really that last hour before sunset or after sunrise which we call ‘golden hour’ which is key. The light is naturally the warmest in its color, and sometimes there’s this golden, pinkish, orange color that streaks across the sky which can make for the best photos. Keep your eyes peeled after a daytime rain storm as those frequently give the best end of day light.
Is the Storm Glass Storming?
Macro photography will need crystals to shoot! If the storm glass has been sitting indoors at 70 degrees, it’s not gonna be very interesting. My advice is to either, get the glass outside while its relatively chilly (below 60), or pop it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes. Be careful not to shake the glass too much though, as whatever crystal growth you get can easily sink to the bottom. This is frustrating to say the least.
Does a Storm Glass Need To Be Near a Window?
Not necessarily, but if your goal is to shoot some of the longer crystals like in the pictures below then yes. These crystals can sometimes take weeks to form!
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Unedited photo
After a small touch up in Lightroom
Back Lighting Is Excellent
I was taking product pictures for a friend of some jewelry and waiting till the end of the day for golden hour to get the shot. The only problem is the pieces are not translucent, and light does not pass through them. And since I was shooting from a narrow window, it was nearly impossible to get anything that wasn’t a silhouette. Bummer.
This isn’t the case with storm glass. Storm glass loves to be shot with back lighting.
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