Diffraction Iridescence

"Truth may best be found at the cusp, where waves crash and colorful pebbles wash ashore." This study began as a deep dive into image degradation due to small aperture diffraction. When the ragged edge of raw light was explored through long-extension macro imaging, these astonishing colors appeared. At the Edge of Light: Macro image of 0.01" (0.254mm) graduations on a stainless steel machinist rule (inset at lower left corner). 10.66:1 macro ratio on Olympus OM-D E-M1II using 38mm f/2.8 OM Auto-Macro 1/8sec f/2.8 ISO320 w/ 405mm bellows. Not noise, but colorful diffraction iridescence coaxed from the metal's fine granular surface. The magnified ring is approximately 0.004" (0.1mm or 100,000nm) on the ruler. An Iridescent Penny Saved: Macro image of 2022 US One Cent adjacent to the date numerals. Olympus OM-D E-M1II using 38mm f/2.8 OM Zuiko Auto-Macro 1/2sec f/2.8 ISO320 w/ 412mm Bellows, 10.8:1 macro ratio on original M4/3 image. Note the colorful, Air...