PAD 254 - Rose

[Mike Farley]

Day 254 and I was attracted by the unusual colour of this rose.

Canon EOS 7D
Voigtländer APO-Lanthar SL II 90mm f/3.5
Voigtländer Close-Up Lens for 90 mm f/3.5 SL
4 secs
f/22
ISO 100
Tripod
Cable release

[Paul Heester]

Unusual colours indeed.

Wondered if you have tried focus-stacking before? For macro shots it dramatically increases overall DOF by combining numerous shots with the focus point staggered from front to back. Then images are stacked into PS and you get a really sharp image. I might not be explaining it well but there are numerous articles which better descibe it. I think it could give you some super-crisp flower shots

[davidc]

Indeed, I did something similar with my wasp a few weeks ago. With a larger subject and if you take your time the results could be superb. The problem with f22 is diffraction starts to take its toll too. Was this in a controlled environment or outdoors?

[davidc]

I can show you the stacking tool I've used sometime if you like? I tried PS & a freeware one and found the freeware one to be as good, if not better perhaps.

[Mike Farley]

Unusual colours indeed.

Wondered if you have tried focus-stacking before? For macro shots it dramatically increases overall DOF by combining numerous shots with the focus point staggered from front to back. Then images are stacked into PS and you get a really sharp image. I might not be explaining it well but there are numerous articles which better descibe it. I think it could give you some super-crisp flower shots

Indeed, I did something similar with my wasp a few weeks ago. With a larger subject and if you take your time the results could be superb. The problem with f22 is diffraction starts to take its toll too. Was this in a controlled environment or outdoors?

I know that this looks a bit soft, but it seems to be a soft subject with no distinct edges or features to give the impression of sharpness. Initially I was using my 100 macro at f/8, but was not happy with the result since nothing seemed especially sharp. Interestingly, the AF was having trouble locking on, which is a further reason to support the soft subject theory. So whilst there is undoubtedly some diffraction, I do not think that it is a major factor in this instance.

Actually, this is an image which I took too soon. If I had waited until after Adrian Davies' excellent talk on flower photography last night, where we not only saw some superb images but also learnt the techniques Adrian uses, I would have been more clued up on focus stacking which he showed us. I would have also been better equipped to sort out the colour issues I had both with this image and the Morning Glory one a few days ago, where with both I was having trouble reproducing the mauve hues. That seems to be a colour which digital sensors do not handle too well without a bit of assistance. All I have to do now is find where I put my 18% grey card.

[Mike Farley]

I can show you the stacking tool I've used sometime if you like? I tried PS & a freeware one and found the freeware one to be as good, if not better perhaps.

After yesterday's presentation by Adrian Davies, focus stackingis something that I will definitely be trying out at some stage. So yes, I would be interested in find out more about the tool which you use.