Beetle

[Johann Schutte]

3:1 macro. better res here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/138441446@N04/49251339671/in/dateposted-public/

 

[tirediron]

Nicely done. How'd you do your focus stacking?

 

[Johann Schutte]

Thank you TI. Canon 6d, F4 ISO400. MP-E65 (3x). Stacked in Zerene (PMAX), which was good enough without any substacking. 4xflash (lr/tb) @ 1/160.

 

[otherprof]

3:1 macro. better res here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/138441446@N04/49251339671/in/dateposted-public/View attachment 184075

great image!

 

[Jeff15]

Very good macro........

 

[K9Kirk]

Nicely done. I'm always curious as to what the original looked like. Can we see it? I do some macro myself but I've never done stacking so I'd like to see the difference it makes, maybe I'll get into it. Thanks! Here's one of mine from earlier this year, I'm assuming that stacking could've/would've made it a better pic.

 

[Johann Schutte]

Hi K9. Vid of stacking process:

Unedited pic post-stacking.

There are three systems involved in stacking: (1) camera and rail, (2) light diffusing system, (3) subject positioning system.

 

[K9Kirk]

Nice! More work than I realized. I take it you use some system of measurement to get precise increments in spacing between each pic as the focal point moves from front to rear or does that not matter?

 

[Johann Schutte]

Nice! More work than I realized. I take it you use some system of measurement to get precise increments in spacing between each pic as the focal point moves from front to rear or does that not matter?

The big job prior to the shoot is getting it posed, i.e. using the subject positioning system. These insects get really dirty and you have to remove the debris either by washing the subject pre-shoot (sonic bath) and/or by using ps tools to get rid of unwanted artefacts. The pp process can easily consume a couple of hours. As to measurement: At this mag, the increments were approximately 100 micron. At 10:1 it's 7 micron. There are online calculators available that help. If your 'slices' are too large, you'll end up with oof bands. I always shoot furthest to closest, rather than the other way around which assures I get everything I want in-frame.

 

[K9Kirk]

Nice! More work than I realized. I take it you use some system of measurement to get precise increments in spacing between each pic as the focal point moves from front to rear or does that not matter?

The big job prior to the shoot is getting it posed, i.e. using the subject positioning system. These insects get really dirty and you have to remove the debris either by washing the subject pre-shoot (sonic bath) and/or by using ps tools to get rid of unwanted artefacts. The pp process can easily consume a couple of hours. As to measurement: At this mag, the increments were approximately 100 micron. At 10:1 it's 7 micron. There are online calculators available that help. If your 'slices' are too large, you'll end up with oof bands. I always shoot furthest to closest, rather than the other way around which assures I get everything I want in-frame.

Thanks for taking the time to explain all that, it's all very interesting. I see now how every part of the bee in my macro pic could've been in focus and looked better with stacking.

 

[Johann Schutte]

Nice! More work than I realized. I take it you use some system of measurement to get precise increments in spacing between each pic as the focal point moves from front to rear or does that not matter?

The big job prior to the shoot is getting it posed, i.e. using the subject positioning system. These insects get really dirty and you have to remove the debris either by washing the subject pre-shoot (sonic bath) and/or by using ps tools to get rid of unwanted artefacts. The pp process can easily consume a couple of hours. As to measurement: At this mag, the increments were approximately 100 micron. At 10:1 it's 7 micron. There are online calculators available that help. If your 'slices' are too large, you'll end up with oof bands. I always shoot furthest to closest, rather than the other way around which assures I get everything I want in-frame.

Thanks for taking the time to explain all that, it's all very interesting. I see now how every part of the bee in my macro pic could've been in focus and looked better with stacking.

Your focus on the bee is good. It's a nice eye-contact shot, and there is action too. What would instantly improve your shots is diffusion, particularly when shooting in bright sunlight (which is the worst condition under which to do macro).

 

[Space Face]

Good work. I tend not to use focus stacking but when done properly it does produce fantastic results as this effort shows.