geranium

[Ron Conlon]

Wild geranium stack.
50 frames stacked in Zerene with PMax. It would have been 145 frames if I had used the minimum focusing step defaulted in the software, so consider that restraint, if you like.
The full frame sensor was 2 ft-ish from the bloom, it's a 200mm lens and it was set at f8.
I also stacked 5 frames, 10 frames and 25 frames equally spaced to empirically test how excessive 50 frames is. At 100% I can see a slight difference between 25 and 50 frame stacks; the 5 frame stack is a mess, and the 10 frame stack is soft in parts.
I will follow with a post of 100% views of the 50 and 25.
D800E 200mm 1/200 f/8 ISO 100.

[Ron Conlon]

here are the 100% crops

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Wow!
I am very new to the focus stacking business so I ask how would I work out the focus? How difficult is it to actually see? Do I use live view? How?
Appreciate any tips. The end result certainly looks fantastic!

[Ron Conlon]

Akos, thanks. The focus stack was acquired with the camera tethered to a laptop with software (Helicon Remote), using it to determine the start and end point of the stacks, and to acquire the images. The images were made into a single composite with Zerene. There are more details on how I do the lighting and stacking in the following thread:
http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php/125412-Focus-Stacking

[BenBotha]

Amazing image. The different colours gives it a 3d effect. TFS. Techs spot on.

Ben

[John Robinson]

Nice arrangement Ron. Like the positioning of the flower and leaf in relation to each other.
John

[Jonathan Ashton]

Super detail and colours Ron a fine image of the geranium. That really is a gem.
Purely personal view - the background provides great contrast but I think it would have looked more natural/pleasing against a sky of out of focus grass.

[Ron Conlon]

Jonathan, I definitely need to expand my collection of backgrounds--having better backgrounds is the next important step for me, I feel. John has had some nice ones recently.

[Diane Miller]

Just simply gorgeous! It jumps off the "page" in 3D! A BG with a little detail would be interesting, even if still a dark one.

You restraint in the stacking is admirable!! :w3 Good thing we don't have smaller focus steps.

[Allen Sparks]

Hi Ron,
Beautiful image. The flower really pops and the focus stacking seems to have worked great. Agree with previous comments concerning BG. I like the placement of the flower in the frame - well composed.

Allen

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Ron, thank you! :)