Don Komarechka Takes the GH5 for a Spin in the Macro World

Click on the GH5 for more information

Officially announced at Photokina last September, Panasonic's new GH5, as promised, started shipping this past March. It's an amazing camera, loaded with cutting edge technology and feature after feature to strengthen the quality and creativity of each image.

Over the weekend, my good buddy Don Komarechka sent me the two images I'm excited to share in this post. Don reminds me of a Hollywood version of a likable mad scientist - always pushing the edge of the envelope to give us a new way to see a piece of the world around us. ​

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Don sent me the specs on both images. Starting up top:

"Glowing Hearts": Panasonic GH5, Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8, F/8, 1/200sec, ISO 3200, 3x UV flashes

This image was created by lighting the subject with pure ultraviolet light, and then capturing the light that fluoresced into the visible spectrum. Many flowers fluoresce, but it takes an intense amount of UV light to get good results. Even with three flashes at point-blank range at 1:1 power, ISO 3200 was still required.

Besides the artistic impact of both images, what I enjoy about working with Don is his ability to be open about how each image is captured. To give us a better look at how he set up the first image, he sent me a behind the scenes shot.​

And, the image below:

"Two to Tango": Panasonic GH5, Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8, F/8, 1/250sec, ISO 200, Canon MR-14EX II Ringlite

Dandelion seeds carefully placed in front of a large poppy, the center of which can be seen in the background. Only the bottom edge of one seed is clamped in place, the other seed is held in place by the "arms" of the other. The orange petals of the poppy cannot be seen in the background, but come through the refractions in the water droplets covering the seeds.

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While I love Don's approach to every photographic challenge, the fun for me personally is the way he regularly crosses the lines between photography, science, education and art.

​Check out his website for a true adventure in new ways to look at the world. He's also responsible for one of the most popular images we've ever shared on "Why?" Just click ​on the image to the left to hear about how it was captured - keep in mind there was minimal manipulation - that's almost it, right out of the can!

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