It’s raining again so I’ve been playing with macro. Not very successfully. It is a year or two since I've tried focus stacking and I wasn’t any good at it then. I’m a bit better now but not much.
Two sticks a mussel shell and a cockle shell. I am not sure whether the bits on the cloth are dandruff or fag ash. I never noticed when I took the snap.
Baby limpets on the mussel shell. This wouldn’t focus stack. The exposure is apparently out though How it can be I don’t know. The camera was set to manual and the flash was the same for all shots. I’ll look into the matter. This is a single shot.
The cockle shell was an even bigger disaster. So I said ‘I’ll be Blowed!’ And had a go at the sticks.
For some reason these worked better. There is a bit of a halo. There is a tool for getting rid of it but I couldn’t make it work. More to this job that I thought. These little Lichen florets are about a millimetre in diameter. There was a tiny little creature running about but it disappeared. I think this Lichen is Hypogymnia physodes. Knowing my abilities it could well be something else.
These were all shot at twice life size using the Canon MP-E 65mm and stacked in Helicon Focus using fifteen images give or take. I’ll make the effort to try and master this job. I’ll have plenty of rainy days now summer is on it’s way.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
I have had another go…….I hope, well I know, theses are better.
Limpets on Mussel shell. It was getting on my nerves. These still are not perfect but I am on the right track.
Enjoy Sunday.
..."rainy days now summer is on it's way"
ReplyDeleteoh..don't wish that on us again Adrian..
-Trevor
It's only giving a little rain for tomorrow or maybe snow.
DeleteI have modified my workflow system and included three more Trevor.
Very nicely done Adrian, and the rain?????????
ReplyDeleteBob, I'm getting sick of winter. I have just added three more. I hate not being able to do things. There is still room for improvement.
DeleteStacking turns out to be quite a tricky operation. If you use CombineZ there is a Yahoo group for discussing and sorting out problems. Very good results though. Look better then any I achieved last time I tried.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I could not get on with Combine ZP.
DeleteHelicon FocusI have persuaded to talk to Photoshop Elements so that, speeds things up as does shooting JPEG. I have been mucking around for hours. I shoot tethered using EOS utilities. If you select live view it is really brilliant for focussing and it's free. The ring flash is Canon MR-14EX. They do a better one but this is fine. I quarter the power on half of it so as to give a bit of shadow. I thought that may have been the problem. It just takes time to learn it. The lens is a cracker but not easy to use. Dogs hopping about in the van are another challenge.
I like its colours, the blues really bring it alive. I was disappointed with some macro shots I took of the caterpillars. Because they move all the time it's impossible to do focus stacking, so I couldn't get the whole larva in focus as desired.
ReplyDeleteMaria, It is a challenging business. I suspect that many folk getting the really good insect macros either chill them or worse spray them with hair spray.
DeleteThat would be disgusting. The trick is to have the camera really steady on a tripod, some people reverse the lens (I have not done this), and get that really small aperture. Also, some spiders and certain kind of insects can remain still; but not the caterpillars. I guess one could bait them to pose with some treat.
DeleteMaria, it is not something i would do or condone. Here if one catches them early in the morning whilst its cool they stay pretty still.
DeleteSmall apertures do help but image quality suffers. Extension tubes on a big telephoto work. The job is very hit and miss. I'll keep plugging away.
Amazing photos Adrian, the detail on these items is amazing. I can't comment on the stacking problem as I don't understand that (still got so much to learn!!) I hope we have a lovely summer this year, preferably a nice dry, hot one - we will just have to wait and see!!
ReplyDeleteVal, stacking is easy for landscapes but for tiny creatures is fraught with problems. I haven't got it sorted yet. You can use Helicon Focus free for a trial period or Combine ZP is free.
DeleteHi Adrian...What every it is your doing with you stacking is way over my head ...the word stacking makes me think wood, I hate stacking wood ; }!!
ReplyDeleteThat is quite the technique, and it gives you something to keep you out of the rain and trouble hee-hee!
Those last three are just amazing looking, almost scary at the same time, so much detail!!
The first one I think it is fag ash ; }!!
Grace
Thanks for your comments : }!!
Grace, It's just the same in principle.
DeleteFag ash I suspect it is.
Yes, you got it on the last photos. As you say there's much to learn but the experience is the big pay off. what a thrill!
ReplyDeleteRed, the trouble is finding the enthusiasm. Theyare better but not perfect.
ReplyDeleteYou're getting there Adrian!...a big improvement with the last three, you'll soon have it mastered!! At least it keeps you out of mischief!!...[;o)
ReplyDeleteI'll keep on keeping on.
DeleteI had to retire for a pint and whilst pondering in the pub a bit more of the answer came to me.
There is a whole tiny world on that stick. Loved the macros very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI love looking down the lens. It is a wonderful world.
DeleteIt's fascinating and the results are interesting but as for doing it....life's to short for me to attempt it.
ReplyDeleteGraham, anything to stay out of the rain.
Delete