I Use Specialist Probe Lenses And Complex Imaging Techniques To Photograph The Inside Of Musical Instruments (21 Pics)

When the Covid lockdown started and New Zealand shut its borders, I found myself starting a new project. Usually, I take photos of musicians for their album covers, but they were all either stuck abroad or without jobs. Luckily, instrument makers (luthiers) and repairers were still busy, and their workshops were filled with instruments.

I noticed a newly designed probe lens from Laowa was available for rent, and I decided to see what I could do with it.

At first, I struggled with some limitations of the probe lens, but I found ways to turn these into strengths. For example, I couldn't use the built-in LED lights on the lens because the photos looked too flat. So, instead, I used powerful external lights to brighten the small openings in the instruments. Even the strongest lights only let me focus on a few millimeters at a time, so I used a program called Helicon Focus to merge hundreds of images, each focused progressively further away, and make them clear from front to back. To capture as much detail as possible, I looked for wide-angle probe lenses and used the High-Res mode on my Lumix camera, which produced huge 187-megapixel images.

Taking these photos is a long process. For each image, I typically shoot 800 to 1000 frames. The High-Res mode in my camera needs constant light, so I can't use a flash. Also, the bright LEDs can heat up the instruments, so I need to turn them off every few shots to protect the delicate varnish. And working with 1000 frames per image demands a powerful computer and a lot of patience.

By using these techniques, I create an optical illusion that makes the instruments seem much larger than life. The wide-angle lenses guides the viewer's eyes from front to back, while the external lighting makes the photos look like they are bathed in sunlight. The focus-stacking removes any of the blur normally associated with photographing small objects. All this helps to make the instruments look larger than they really are.

But, the final results are worth it. The insides of these instruments tell their own story, showing centuries of repairs and wear. You can see the fine chisel marks from the craftspeople who made the instruments, signatures of the makers, and so much more. For me, it's a beautiful mix of documentary and artistic photography.