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My first attemped macro focus-stack
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Feb 23, 2016 13:43:05   #
planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs
 
using a tripod and pressing shutter by hand. This whatever it is was in a grab bag I forgot about (pics are due tonight). I took 6 images and stacked them in PSE 12.


(Download)

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Feb 23, 2016 15:49:27   #
MACT Loc: Connecticut
 
This is a nice subject. I think you could get some really interesting images with some backlighting coming through.

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Feb 23, 2016 16:14:16   #
Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA
 
Nice seedpod! For reference, how long from tip to rounded top?
You are off to a good start with focus-stacking. Several fellow macro-photographers also use this technique. You will have much to discuss in this forum.

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Feb 23, 2016 18:01:10   #
planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs
 
Nikonian72 wrote:
For reference, how long from tip to rounded top?
I just measured it...about 1 3/8". The stem adds about another 1 1/4.

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Feb 23, 2016 18:04:54   #
planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs
 
MACT wrote:
This is a nice subject. I think you could get some really interesting images with some backlighting coming through.
I never thought about back-lighting. How would I do it? It was laid out on a piece of white poster board sitting on my bed. I could also try using my battery remote, but it's awkward to use sometimes as I have to point it at the front of the camera.

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Feb 23, 2016 19:22:16   #
Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA
 
planepics wrote:
I never thought about back-lighting. How would I do it?
I suggest a piece of stiff, black mount board, with a hole cut just a bit smaller than diameter of pod, so it will not fall through. A regular table lamp may be all you need to illuminate from underneath.

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Feb 24, 2016 02:51:21   #
EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England
 
Seed pods always seem to make attractive subjects. I also like the idea of back lighting.

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Feb 24, 2016 12:59:31   #
hannaco Loc: People's Republic of California
 
Great image.
How did you do the stacking in PSE 12?

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Feb 24, 2016 16:56:32   #
planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs
 
hannaco wrote:
Great image.
How did you do the stacking in PSE 12?


1) Enhance
2) Photomerge
3) Panorama
4) Uncheck "Blend images together" - at least that one worked better than leaving it checked

I've never tried either of the other options besides "Panorama"
It'll ask you to open whatever files you want to use for the stack. This one wasn't bad (I haven't tried often) but I've done panos from the Arch and Busch Stadium - more or less successfully - that took like 20+ minutes for a 9-shot horizontal handheld stitch. I have a slow computer, though...a Gateway laptop with an i3 processor and a worthless battery, but with my upcoming vacation, car payments, losing Medicaid, etc. etc. it isn't going to be replaced soon!

I forgot...I think you have to be in "expert" mode. Of the 1/10 of 1% I know how to do in PSE, it's come in handy :)

PSE came in a bundle with the video editor, "Premier Elements" on sale for $70, but I haven't tried it yet.

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Feb 24, 2016 17:01:04   #
hannaco Loc: People's Republic of California
 
Thanks! I'll give it a try on my i3 beast,

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Feb 24, 2016 18:10:46   #
Photog21 Loc: Lombard, Il.
 
:thumbup:

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Feb 24, 2016 19:06:15   #
MACT Loc: Connecticut
 
planepics wrote:
I never thought about back-lighting. How would I do it? It was laid out on a piece of white poster board sitting on my bed. I could also try using my battery remote, but it's awkward to use sometimes as I have to point it at the front of the camera.
I like to put specimens on a piece of translucent plastic, and then put a light below as well as above. It eliminates most shadow problems.

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Mar 1, 2016 11:54:14   #
planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs
 
I bought a piece of black foam board from Wally-World this morning. Do I just cut it into smaller pieces and drill something like a 1/4" hole in a piece, put it over a couple saw horses and put a lamp under it?

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Mar 1, 2016 14:22:23   #
Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA
 
planepics wrote:
Do I just cut it into smaller pieces and drill something like a 1/4" hole in a piece, put it over a couple saw horses and put a lamp under it?
Only experimenting will lead you to the best solution. Remember that each lighting element (tungsten, LED, fluorescent) will have its own color-cast to your sensor.

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Mar 8, 2016 21:11:53   #
planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs
 
Here is the back-light attempt. I tried different apertures and several exposures, trying individual frames and stacks. no matter how many images I tried to stack, I can't get a good clear image from top to bottom. Here is one of the better single shots...pretty disappointing. I used a piece of black foam board with a 1/4" hole drilled in the center and I placed the board on top of a halogen lamp.

single shot
single shot...
(Download)

stack of 4 or 5 shots
stack of 4 or 5 shots...
(Download)

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