Miniature flowers, focus-stacked

[FlyingSquirrel]

Here are a few focus-stacked macro images of some miniature flowers. For those interested, I grew these flowers in: My Paludarium

To create these images: Canon 7D, Sigma 150mm macro, RRS macro rail on RRS ballhead, Gitzo Tripod, Wireless shutter remote, Canon 430EX II speedlite flash with diffuser. Everything on Manual mode. Printed green background suspended behind flower with a clamp. Cut a flower off the plant, inserted stem into a floral tube with water to keep flower fresh longer (floral tube taped vertically onto an extra tripod). Still had to work quickly because these delicate flowers do wilt quickly, especially outside of the humid growing tank. Starting at nearest point, I took an image, rotated the macro rail thread a little, took another image, to the rear point. Basic processing and color corrections in LR, then took all images into Helicon Focus Pro for stacking and a bit of cleaning up. Took resulting stacked image into Photoshop for more detailed cloning and corrections, then typical Photoshop processing, sizing, and sharpening.

Thanks for viewing and C&C

Haraella retrocalla bloom (aka Haraella odorata). This is a focus-stacked macro (25 images) of a miniature orchid flower which I grew in a terrarium. The bloom was approximately 0.75 inches in size.



Bulbophyllum maquilingense (Red form) bloom. This is a focus-stacked macro (8 images) of a miniature orchid flower which I grew in a terrarium. The bloom was approximately 0.75 inches in size.



Sinningia muscicola 'Rio Das Pedras' bloom. This is a focus-stacked macro (31 images) of a miniature flower which I grew in a terrarium. The bloom was approximately 0.75 inches in size.

[Nicks Pics]

Very nicely done. How do you adjust the focus so precisely that you can get multiple focuses on one tiny flower?

[Kodiak]

Hi Matt, your stacking seems to have been a success!

Nothing to do with technical considerations, my favourite flower is your third
one, though all share great rendition.

For this kind of work, I prefer not to use a rail except for stabilizing purposes,
I adopted a remote control approach where the minute focusing is performed
by my computer. The advantage in this choice is the reduced work in PP.

[FlyingSquirrel]

Very nicely done. How do you adjust the focus so precisely that you can get multiple focuses on one tiny flower?

Thanks. I use a Really Right Stuff macro focusing rail. With the fine focusing knob on the rail, you can turn it just a tiny bit and get a 1mm movement of the camera.

[FlyingSquirrel]

Hi Matt, your stacking seems to have been a success!

Nothing to do with technical considerations, my favourite
flower is your third one, though all share great rendition.

Thank you for your feedback!

[John 2]

Flowers aren't my thing but there's no doubting the quality of these Matt. Good work.

[Stagecoach]

Good stacking work Matt, for me No 3 stands out for the shape, composition and excellent job of the whites.

[IzzieK]

#3 for me too...though I am partial to orchids...do you have separate terrariums for these creations???

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[chauncey]

You sir, have carried this off with such aplomb...I salute you. Well done!

[bnnrcn]

Very nice series, my best is #3

[Slipper]

#3 too, shows the quality of the stacking more I think as it has depth. Very good set though.

[DanK]

Very nicely done. Pleasing compositions and effective stacking. I don't see any stacking halos. The lighting is mostly very good, although you have a little spot of shine on #1. I too prefer #3, but they are all really excellent.

Re the rail vs. computer control issue: I don't think either is necessary at this level of magnification. I've done lots of flower stacks, and I have never used either one. I just manually focus slightly closer on each shot. It works fine. If I were to switch to one or the other, I think I would choose remote control. The reason has nothing to do with the output. I find that one of the biggest challenges in stacking photos of flowers is that it take very little to make them move, and that is a problem with long exposures (I use ambient lights) and in severe cases with alignment of the images to be stacked. I used to do them on a granite counter, which helped, but now I do them on a table that sits on a wood floor, and my moving to touch the lens to focus often causes them to move enough that I then have to stand stock still for a bit to make sure they have settled down. A rail would be no different in this respect, but sitting to the side with a tethered computer would help, I think.

[Kodiak]

Re: Focusing Rail vs. Computer Control issue:
I don't think either is necessary at this level of magnification …

There are many differences between the three approaches manual, the rail,
and the remote.

The manual
As you stated, it can be done and it is the cheapest but quite extensive in PP.

The Rail
As a heavy user of the macro stacking technique, I qualify the rail as the
lesser solution since it has three major flaws:
• focusing is safer but this technique implies that every shot has by definition
a different magnification factor,
• brings no real solution to the manual approach and is costly,
• stacking is the most difficult and not appropriate for professional work.

The Computer Remote Control
A better approach because it has none of the flaws hereabove and is reliable
the drawback is the support technologies are not cheap but guaranties results.

Here is an example that was an exercise for my sons:

[Cantab]

A stupid question: in computer remote controlling, what exactly is the computer used to alter or change?

[Kodiak]

A stupid question: in computer remote controlling, what exactly is the computer used to alter or change?

Hi Bruce,

There are no stupid questions… only stupid answers! (I heard that somewhere)

Nothing else but run a software that will take care of all parameters.
This solution makes sure that the right number of shot will be taken,
aware of all the technical specifications of the used AF lens and the
projected results to aim to get… and all this, at a constant magnifica-
tion ratio for far less PP work.

When you press the start button, just go for a coffee! … you will be
informed on how much time the captures will take.

[NorthernFocus]

Awesome stuff, Matt. Whodathunk you grew tiny flowers in addition to photography. Nicely complimentary activities. Like other the third image is my favorite for the sake of the bloom itself, not necessarily due to being executed better than the others. Looks like your planning on how to lay everything out worked out well.

Fall is coming. How about find some snowy owls and give us a call

[Stagecoach]

A stupid question: in computer remote controlling, what exactly is the computer used to alter or change?

In addition to what Kodiak has mentioned Bruce some 'remote control' systems adjust the camera/lens internal focus mechanism and some adjust a motorised rail that the camera is attached to.

[Kodiak]

In addition to what Kodiak has mentioned Bruce some 'remote control' systems adjust the camera/lens internal focus mechanism and some adjust a motorised rail that the camera is attached to.

Yes, there are some motorized rail but, nevertheless, all rails will give a different
magnification ratio for every single shot.

[Stagecoach]

Yes, there are some motorized rail but, nevertheless, all rails will give a different
magnification ratio for every single shot.

Is this not the case also Kodiak with a macro lens where focal length changes whilst focusing, or at least it does on mine?

The motorised rail system was explained to me by a poster on here that undertook multi-stack insect heads, hence my interest.