It’s another wet and windy day so I’m afraid I’ve been stacking again.
This is Compact Rush. Juncus conglomeratus. It’s dead but the flowers are pretty much the same when they are alive.
2:1 and 28 shots. The little streak bottom right is because I turned the side to side screw instead of the fore and aft one.
I think this is Fir Clubmoss. The bit at the bottom of it is BlueTack.
This is the tip of it. 3:1 and just 7 shots. It could have done with more.
Hay-Scented Fern. Drytopteris aemula.
2:1 and 6 shots. I didn’t notice the end had fallen off it. It is too wet to get another bit.
5:1 and 6 shots. This is as large as I can go. Even at f13 the image is barely visible even with the focus light on.
I thought this was an old bit of Hypogymnia physodes. I have serious doubts. It grows next door to it on twigs, mainly Silver Birch. If nobody knows I’ll start trawling the internet. I’ve had a look and it is a different lichen. I think it is Usnea cornuta.
2:1 and 62 shots. I know it looks a mess but I was very impressed that Zerene Stacker managed to do anything with it. In retrospect I should have popped a strobe in a soft box behind it. I couldn’t face a re-shoot.
Here it is at 5:1 and just 5 shots. I cut a little bit off for this.
That’s all for today, please feel free to correct IDs. I’m a bit of a Muppet when it comes to plants.
Have a good week.
Great stuff Adrian. ZS really does work well considering how complicated some subjects are. On the one with the sideways streak (and a touch of halo on the left) - If there are some shots without it then the Retouching facility might eliminating it. I had a look at the two videos which explain how it works and had a little dabble myself today.
ReplyDeleteIt's been blowing a gale here also so it was definitely a time for indoor photography.
John, they are far from perfect but they are acceptable. I was going to touch up in Photoshop but decided to leave them.
ReplyDeleteI'll look at the videos. I did read a tutorial or a bit of it. Perhaps I should have read it all.
It is brightening up here but still very windy.
Grand pieces of art.
ReplyDeleteBob, it passes an hour or so on and it is good fun.
DeleteWhat ~ no reindeer poo? Very very impressive Adrian ~ there is no way the human eye could see that detail. I am half blind mind you. Just love macro work!
ReplyDeleteCarol after focusing all these I'm not feeling good.
DeleteReindeer day tomorrow. I hope.
Some great results there Adrian, I'm sure that I wouldn't have the patience to attempt this sort of task!
ReplyDeleteDon't know any of the ID's but I decided at the beginning of the year that Lichen, Plant Galls and Moss were something that I needed to learn more about and so far I've been totally confused by all of them, the more I read the more I'm confused!
btw, Isn't advertising cigarettes now against the law?...[;o)
Trevor, It does give me a headache. There aren't too many lichens. The best place I've found is
ReplyDeleteBritish Lichens
It did occur to me after I'd posted that I should have used something else for scale. It's Dithery Daves fault. They were supposed to be in a plain pack ages ago. Till his mates threatened to take away all his non-executive directorships when he finds himself out of work.
I guess serving burgers didn't appeal not that I think he has the skills to do so.
Thanks for the link Adrian, although it's one that I've already found...[;o)
DeleteTrevor, did you see this one that Lucy sent?
DeleteLASTDRAGON
Thanks Adrian/Lucy, I've got that one too...[;o)
DeleteOne of the oddest posts ever. But I've peered carefully into every picture. The last is specially fascinating. This is my favourite lichen site http://www.lichens.lastdragon.org/index.html
ReplyDeleteLucy, I prefer different to odd but I really can't argue the point.
DeleteThanks for the link. It looks good. I've book marked it and will have a proper look later. Scotland is good for lichen as the air is clean. Well it is when I'm not blowing smoke around.
That's a great way of getting around a certain advertising ban :o) I can't id one of the plants you've posted though the second to last one looks like a macro forest.
ReplyDeleteDouglas it was you who suggested taking pictures of lichen. It is amazing that Zerene could mask that chaotic bundle.
DeleteI've de-littered your Green woodpecker it should be in your inbox.
Although I'm sorry that the elements have forced you indoors, I'm glad to see the results. I am a fan of macro photography - although, as with most things, I know just enough to sound ignorant, I'm sure - and, as is the case with all your work, your care and attention to detail is clear. Don't take this the wrong way, but here's to a few more dreary days that force the experiments upon you - although I hope that the weather gives you at least a bit of a break!
ReplyDeleteNathaniel, I just fire away. I have been focus stacking on and off for years. Itoo like macro.
DeleteAdrian, it seems the red part of the cigarette pack has a checked texture that grows much more pronounced from left to right. It should be completely smooth, shouldn't it?
ReplyDeleteI like #2 and the last one best. The backgrounds in both look perfect.
David that is how our cigarette packs are. They are embossed with that texture.
DeleteYou are an artist Adrian This is great class.
ReplyDeleteBas, I enjoy macro but have a long way to go till I'm an artist.
DeleteIt's incredible! Wow!
ReplyDeleteLaura, if I do this in summer there would be a little spider or insect roaming around. The insects are incredible.
DeleteSorry about the weather but you are keeping lots of people happy so it can't be all bad.
ReplyDeletePauline they are good fun to do and sufficiently time consuming to keep me away from the pub.
DeleteI'm impressed with how this works!!! I like how you show what the stuff looks like with regular equipment and then how us what the especial stuff can do. No use for microscopes here.
ReplyDeleteRed, without a microscope I'm right on the limit at 5x magnification. Micro photography is a totally different ball game. I'll keep doing the odd one as and when I find something interesting.
DeleteGood morning Adrian,
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a raining day post that one, and some interesting types of shots. The lichen is Usnea subfloridana. I bet you will sleep better knowing that now eh? Hope you have a good week.
Gary this is the third stacking programme I've used. I haven't really scratched the surface with it yet.
DeleteMany thanks for the ID.
This blog is now sponsored by Marlboro. It is a condition of our contract with you that all future blogposts should either refer to Marlboro or show an image of a Marlboro pack. "Come to where the flavour is. Come to Marlboro Country." (ie The Cairngorms or Blackwell, Derbyshire)
ReplyDeleteBTW - Amazing close-up images.
YP, I wish, I never gave it a thought when I was looking for something to show scale.
DeleteI am only using 30% of what the software is capable of. Then there is lighting. I must practise more.
I have no idea what you are talking about, Adrian, but the photographs are very interesting, eye-opening, and thought-provoking..
ReplyDeleteBob, I am always fascinated by the beauty that appears when the mundane is enlarged. I usually shoot macro in summer and it's rare that I don't find a little creepy crawly in the subject.
DeleteI'm lost for words.
ReplyDeleteGraham, I wasn't. This job would test the patience of the Pope. I am only using about 20% of what the software is capable of.
DeleteYou've got a lot of detail here, I like it.
ReplyDeleteMaria, It is amazing what even modest magnification produces.
Delete