Meet 'Joe Cool' the Horse Fy. I think their eyes look like they are wearing a pair of designer sunglasses.
This one landed on the windshield of my truck as I was driving on a rural road yesterday. I drove as slow as possible until I could pull over and it stayed there until I could capture it in an empty pill bottle that I keep in the truck for when I go scouting for specimens.
I staged this session using two lenses mounted onto each other and extension tubes. It is a 500 image stack at 15-micron increments of camera movement. Illumination for this image was provided by four lights at various angles diffused through two stacked translucent drink cups with a white paper towel between them attached to the lens placed over the subject.
Thanks in advance to all who view and for your comments, suggestions, questions and critique.
I am having a hard time picturing your setup, but the results are fantastic. 500 image stack. I think that is a record.
I almost didn't click on this because I hate horseflies, but glad I did. Joe is cool and outstanding work. Congratulations on pulling this off.
awesome as always. Thank you VERY much for sharing.
<<15-micron increments of camera movement>>
WOW!! How did you achieve this fine movement - microscope fine focus??
Fantastic shot. I wish I understood the “technique” stuff you were talking about. I have soooo much to learn.
Really good work, incredible shot. But it is not pleasant to look at.
Looks like he's wearing a virtual reality headset. Very nice stack.
I use a WeMacro digital motorized focus rail
https://www.wemacro.com/?product=wemacro-rail to provide the fine movement of the camera and to actuate the camera shutter at each step. It can be controlled by a PC, Tablet or SmartPhone and steps can be as fine as one micron.
It is a great product that is well built, excellent customer service and a very attractive price compared to other digital focus rail options.
This is the setup that I use to create these focus stacked images. The lens arrangement is two lenses attached to each other mounted backwards onto extension tubes. I now use four lights to illuminate the plastic drink cup diffuser. The flat LED light is a work light that I use to help me see what I'm doing when I pin and stage the subjects.
Were any horseflies harmed in the creation of this image?
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