Reflection of Love

For this shot, I wanted to have literally a heart inside a woman's eye, for an obvious representation of love, but really wanted to avoid adding it in post-processing. I wanted a real reflection.

 

My wife was kind enough to help me and pose in front of a heart-shaped orange paper.

We had to adjust the lighting: she was holding a flash in front of the heart, in order to make the reflection pop, while I was triggering a macro-ring flash on the right side.

 

As for the processing: spot editing, Topaz Adjust for clarity, and some levels and color adjustments.

 

Gear & settings:

- Canon 5D Mark II, ISO 250, 1/30 sec

- Canon MP-E 65mm, 1.5x, f/16

- Macro flash MT-24EX, both strobes to the right, 1/32th and 1/64th through home-made diffusers

- Cobra flash Speedlite 580EX II, 1/16th, facing the heart

Done