downing Loc: Cincinnati

Small male spider, just over one-fourth inch long. Found inside a curled-up leaf. This is an eight layer stack. This stack was made in the field without a using a focusing rail.
Technique as follows:
1. Set up using a tripod.
2. Set the camera to live view, manual focus and shutter delay.
2. Let the focus indicator control so that it can be moved around on the screen.
3. Move the focus indicator to various points that you want to be in focus.
4. At each point using live view magnification; focus and take a shot. Use a loupe for precise focus.

The main disadvantage of this method is missing where you might need a layer.
For instance in this shot the spiders front legs are not in focus toward the front.
Also included is a single shot showing the spiders abdomen pattern.
-

(Download)

Abdominal Pattern

(Download)

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

Amazing!!

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

That was a very successful outcome I think stacking in the field is quite difficult with all the variable parameters to juggle. You did well to find such an unflappable model.

Tikva Loc: Waukesha, WI

Very nice capture. Haven't tried stacking. Maybe I'll get there one of these days.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Not an easy thing to do... great subject for a tutorial. Here is one https://photographylife.com/how-to-focus-stack-images
My Canon SX50 has focus bracketing as well as exposure bracketing hummmmmm have not tried it.
Your photos are fantastic works... why... well that is obvious both by results and how you achieved those results.

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Good idea to use the focus control on the lcd screen for this!
The spider abdominal pattern shows a face. To me it looks like a hound dog.