sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

This is the House Centipede that I caught crawling across my bedroom ceiling yesterday. Sadly, he is no longer with us however he provided me a wonderful opportunity to explore and experiment further.

Thanks for viewing and comments are highly appreciated as well as recommendations and critique.

(Download)

napabob Loc: Napa CA

I'd say you've got the hang of it already, I'm impressed, how many shots in the stack?

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Napabob, after saying a few kind words for the dearly departed, I mounted him on an insect pin attached to a styrofoam block. I set the LED gooseneck desk lamp with eight layers of packing foam over the top of him tilted slightly away from the lens.

I used Helicon Remote software which allowed me to view the image on my computer screen. I turned the screw drive Leofoto macro rail to a position that gave me the closest segment of the subject in focus. I turned the screw by hand 1/8th of a rotation each time and triggered the shot via the computer. I did this 52-times for this image waiting 2-seconds between each movement to let any vibrations caused by my cranking to settle. Each shot was razor thin but had a slight segment of the subject in sharp focus.

After taking the 52-images I brought them into Zerene Stacker and used the "PMax" method of stacking (there is also a "DMax" method or you can use both the P & D). PMax is a “pyramid” method. It is very good at finding and preserving detail even in low contrast or slightly blurred areas. It's also very good at handling overlapping structures like mats of hair and crisscrossing bristles, nicely avoiding the loss-of-detail halos. Although PMax tends to increase noise and contrast, and it can also alter colors somewhat however the DMax method is best for 'non insect' type subjects. Just thought I'd share a little about the Zerene Stacker software with you.

Once Zerene Stacker completes its processing of the many images, it produces a result image that you can save either as a TIFF or as a JPEG. I choose to use the TIFF 16 bit and then bring it into Photoshop to color correct and size the image for the web. Right now the image fills the sensor of the camera so no zooming in and cropping is required on my full-frame camera.

I'll be exploring and experimenting with various lighting set ups ranging from the present fixed lighting to multiple speedlights and even a monolight with gosh knows what homemade modifiers I'll come up with. I'm going to try putting something to reflect light under the subject so that it eliminates the shadows created from overhead lighting. I've tried using a milk carton sliced lengthways and putting the subject and lens into it but I couldn't get rid of the light hot-spot it created.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Looking good! The issues I see are that some of the foreground limbs are transluscent so you see background parts through them. Not sure how to prevent that one. Another is that the image is pretty noisy. Do you think that low ISO + longer exposure would resolve the noise issue?

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

You have improved your technique for getting better results very quickly - there is no stopping you, well done.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Mark, you're correct on all points. I've got to experiment with a better ISO setting and with the methods of the Zerene Stacker settings. The PMax setting does produce a degree of digital noise although it is best suited for images with fine hairs such an an insect. The PMax method of stacking also produces a color shift although that can be corrected in Photoshop when the image is sized for the web. The DMax method (depth mapping) produces less noise and more true colors but is a bit soft on fine details such as hairs.

I'm also soft or blurred at points due to hand cranking the focus rail for if I miss a focus point by going past it by a millimeter or so then there is an out-of-focus spot on the image. Not turning far enough is not an issue for it lays over a spot already in focus effectively just doubling it and nulling one. It takes a steady hand for sure. I put 15-lbs. of barbell weights on the column post of the tripod so it is quite steady and it will not flinch at all when I touch the rail to turn it.

The Centipede was a very difficult subject for being new to the process. It had a lot going on with legs and antenna going every which way and it was very fragile and difficult to pin. I really didn't expect to get much from the shot other than to gain more practice.

As in all photography, lighting is a key factor and I am far from getting it under control right now although I have several experiments in mind. Now I know how Thomas Edison felt when he tried so many times to discover a better filament for the lightbulb.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Very good. I am learning a lot about this method from you, and will follow it with interest. The folks at the photomicrography.net site will provide a lot of good advice. You can also see how amazingly good many of them are over there as well. One can often see pictures there that are simply astonishing.
Having just been over there to check on things, i am reminded that another good subject to try are flowers. A quick stop at the flower section in a grocery store would work.

tinusbum Loc: east texas

that looks good!i'm still looking for my 1st house Centipede

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

You have some wonderful insects in Texas as well as a much longer season for them and I am in awe of the images you have posted. You have a great command over the clarity and detail in your images and those that you and other regulars here have posted has inspired me to achieve the same high level.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

And so as not to be wasteful, even give them to the wife when done. Just don't tell why you realy bought them.😀
Bill

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Nice Lighting....