To add to the Gray Wall Jumper Bonanza I posted previously, I'm adding a short stack of the same subject. I took about 120 images of this Jumper, most of which was trying to get some stacks. This was an attempt at getting the whole fly and most of the Jumper. The problem was that she would either flinch from the flash, the fly would begin to struggle or she would see her reflection and try to protect her booty from the spider she saw in my lens.
This is one small 5 image stack I managed, with a few gotchas I missed :|
Usually, living creatures are difficult to photograph for focus-stacking. At minimum, a bit of cooperation is required. Well done.
Yes, if you can lean on a wall the easier it is to stack.. Now the hard part, getting the stack done before the subject moves. Keep up the good work.
Nice work Bill... This image has that "illustration" feel to it. Particularly when you hone in on the jumper. I rather like it. If I may ask, what was the post processing sequence on this photo?
gym
Loc: Athens, Georgia
Nice shots! You made a difficult task look easy.
A-PeeR wrote:
This image has that "illustration" feel to it. rather like it. If I may ask, what was the post processing sequence on this photo?
I knew something was a bit different about how this image looked but, couldn't quite put my finger on it. I think "illustration feel" is pretty accurate.
Typically I view the jpegs and process raw files. With this stack I sent the SooC jpegs to Zerene and did only PMax. Then saved as TIFF and sent to ACR (don't ask me why :?). Since it was over exposed, I took the exposure down, highlights down some, pull the shadows up some, a little contrast, a little clarity, a tad of vibrancy, a tiny bit of smart sharpen and no noise reduction needed. I may have been a little heavy on a few sliders because of the over exposure. I'm betting it would have turned out a little better if I had stacked and processed TIFFs from the raw files and, of course, if they had been shot correctly in the first place.
I've been trying to remember to convert raw to TIFF to send to Zerene but, didn't do it this time.
I'm still trying to work out a good work flow, as there are so many directions to go and lots of ways to get there. Of course trying to keep processing minimal.
So much to learn and so many tools to get familiar with.
Whatever the difficulties you seem to have done a very good job.
Flyextreme wrote:
With this stack I sent the SooC jpegs to Zerene and did only PMax.
Processing jpegs from the camera - It will be hard to pinpoint what is giving the image this look. Whatever it is, I like it.
As for Zerene workflow, I'll list mine - perhaps it will help you. I import RAW into LR. Make universal corrections, i.e. spot removal, exposure adjustments, color/saturation/vibrancy/wb tweaks and then export to Zerene from LR. Once in Zerene I run stacks (PMax and DMap), do substacks if necessary, and then do cleanup in Zerene Editor. If cleanup is a daunting task I look for ways substack can help improve final stack and reduce manual editing. Once satisfied I have done all I can in Zerene, I export back to LR and do any additional cleanups (if needed) and final image processing in LR/PS.
What I have discovered is there is no cookie-cutter workflow for processing stacks. Each subject, each photographic environment, each series of images offer unique variables that have to be addressed individually and not with some preset recipe. I think one could get things rather automated with a tabletop setup and the same lighting/background but images would all come out looking the same.
You did real good considering.... I have tried stacking with live subjects & failed miserably. I used "slug" caterpillars which move slowly... Still got motion blur, so I quit trying...
Also, I forgot to mention, these were shot at f/16. Shooting at f/8 may have made at least a little difference, but I wouldn't have been able to salvage the depth I did end up with.
A-PeeR wrote:
Processing jpegs from the camera - It will be hard to pinpoint what is giving the image this look. Whatever it is, I like it.
As for Zerene workflow, I'll list mine - perhaps it will help you. I import RAW into LR. Make universal corrections, i.e. spot removal, exposure adjustments, color/saturation/vibrancy/wb tweaks and then export to Zerene from LR. Once in Zerene I run stacks (PMax and DMap), do substacks if necessary, and then do cleanup in Zerene Editor. If cleanup is a daunting task I look for ways substack can help improve final stack and reduce manual editing. Once satisfied I have done all I can in Zerene, I export back to LR and do any additional cleanups (if needed) and final image processing in LR/PS.
What I have discovered is there is no cookie-cutter workflow for processing stacks. Each subject, each photographic environment, each series of images offer unique variables that have to be addressed individually and not with some preset recipe. I think one could get things rather automated with a tabletop setup and the same lighting/background but images would all come out looking the same.
Processing jpegs from the camera - It will be hard... (
show quote)
I doubt it matters much but, I have all my in camera setting zeroed out.
I've been leery about doing any processing "before" sending to Zerene. I need to make a preset for each subject and/or do minimal batch process raws prior to Zerene.
BTW, I have another Moth short stack I just acquired, that I want to experiment with. I will use your workflow as a general guide when I do this one :thumbup:
We'll see...... :wink:
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