Macro and Focus Stacking

[JohnRostron]

My recent attempt at a close up of a Dandelion was Oh so ... All but, so I tried again today. This time the dandelion was leaning over so that the flower was vertical rather than horizontal. I was able to position my camera on a GorillaPod so that the lens was at flower height, then set focus to manual and attempt several shots at different focus positions. However there was an intermittent breeze this morning so I had to wait till the flower was still before pressing the remote shutter release, which does not guarantee correct focus position.
#1 Dandelion


Next to the Dandelion there was a Berberis branch, so I repeated the procedure. This time I had to aim the lens slightly upwards and, again, I had to wait for the breeze to abate.
#2 Berberis


Having got these photos outside, I went in and noticed a nice Peace Rose flower in a recent bouquet for my wife's birthday. This was a bit easier, since there was no breeze, but the light was not so good.
#3 Peace Rose


All were taken with a Sigma 28-85mm lens at 85mm Macro, Aperture Priority, f/8, ISO 100. The shutter speed for the first two was about 1/10 sec, for the rose it was about 1sec.

I used Photoshop for the focus stacking. There were 3-4 usable images for each. The final images were sharpened and cropped.

Am I getting closer?

John

[Geoff F]

Well you have succeeded with the rose, John.

Apart from the background problems you should have obtained more focus depth with the dandelion. But your shutter speed was very slow for outside work so that may be the problem. I can get away with slow speeds when photographing fungi but for flowers moving in the breeze I like to be 1/160 for faster. Occasionally much slower speeds are possible but only in absolutely calm conditions. The slightest wind movement can result in disaster and a blurred result.

The Berberis is better but ideally I would like to have seen the branch also sharply focused. Too often I think I have the whole scene covered by two or three shots then too late I find there was part of the required area which was outside of my initial starting point.

[Stagecoach]

Am I getting closer?

John

John, I would ask 'closer to what ?', and if it's to producing a well stacked subject I would certainly say yes for the rose.

What I often wonder is if stacking subjects with backgrounds such as these actually adds to the finished picture. What I mean is, is it more aesthetically pleasing because every petal is sharp? Something there is no straightforward answer to

[IzzieK]

I am not too keen on your dandelion shot this time around...I think since that flower is abundant everywhere, so it will not hurt if you cut it from the source and bring it inside and go from there photographing to your heart's content. I am not a flower expert either nor a macro one and stacking if out of my league at the moment so I cannot comment on those, but I like your #2 shot of the Berberis and the rose is outstanding...

Just my choices and opinion...which is nothing much really...I am no help, I am sorry...

[Loose Canon]

John, when you are already dealing with a razor thin DoF at close to 1:1 you can’t afford any movement whatsoever with the subject if you are going to stack. Every little bit of movement will place the subject in a different position relative to the base shot. Even a slight jar of a tripod, camera, and or lens will throw it off. Definitely a higher shutter speed would be preferred too.

Your rose is closest and it’s a great shot. But it needs a few more shots at a closer focus interval if you were looking to get it all. But it seems to me you are asking more about the techniques involved rather than on the shots themselves.

If you want to pursue this I think you will find it not only easier but more accurate and successful if you use rails and distance rather than touching the lens/camera. And be as gentle as you can. I would also incorporate a “hands-off” trigger (wireless). I use flash and it will stop any motion but should still incorporate a mirror up policy. If I didn’t I for sure would.

At least that is my experience with it.

[JohnRostron]

Thanks to Terry, Grahame, Geoff for your comments. Thanks also to Izzie for your perspicacious observations. I suppose that I was loath to cut off a dandelion head because I wanted to get into practice for low-level flowers elsewhere than in my garden.

Terry, I would agree that rails could be an ideal solution, but I would still have the problem of securely footing the rail system close to the ground. Ideally I would wish for a low level tripod (such as my GorillaPod) with a rail attachment!

I agree with not touching. I use a wireless remote shutter release. Pity I cannot have a remote focussing mechanism.

EDIT: My Sony A55 has a translucent mirror, so there is no shake from the mirror flipping.

My Sony A55 does have a flexibly mounted view screen so that I can position it wherever I wish to view it. I can even view it from a distance using my Macroscope (a close-focussing monocular).

My problem really is that, because of my knees, I have difficulty in getting down to ground level (and even more difficulty getting up again). I can do it, and I did it for the Berberis, but not for the Dandelion. When I took the photo of the bluebell, I was in a wood and I had the foresight to bring a sheet of bubble wrap with me to lie on.

John

[chauncey]

I've attempted stacking in the wild several times and was successful once, basically futile exercises.
Cut the flower and bring it inside and do it properly.

PS...if ya want the background, shot it>display on your monitor>shoot posy with
monitor displaying background.

[Shadowman]

Nice series. You appear to be getting closer.

[Barbara Ponder]

Good job! The rose is my favorite, the color and detail are lovely!

[deetheturk]

Very nice John, #3 is my pick, well done mate!

[Geoff F]

Just as an example of stacking two images which were out of alignment due to wind movement, John, I have uploaded a merge of two shots here

Green Dock Beetles

ps. Yes I'm of an age where getting down to macro level, and worst still getting up again, is getting tricky. I get there eventually but by that time my subject has gone. Or I move too erratically and scare it away.