Stacked Dragonflies

[Steve Adkins]

Pun intended!
This took waaay to long to do, but it was a good learning experience.
Decided to post here as it's a bit over the top with processing.

4 images hh/windy processed with Zerene Stacker to try and get some DOF. Cropped to 100% as I didn't dare get closer. Very busy bg but wanted to have this POV. Could have dimmed bg if I had used flash. (Reinforced that I should have had the R1 mounted all the time. )
Used bits and pieces of each image. Copied and used Topaz simplify - sketch (light pencil) layer/blended with color burn. Blur layer for bg. Tried a new sharpening/action applied twice. Masked and blended. Vignette in LR.

I want to learn to do better with theses types of images so all C&C welcome.

[denise ippolito]

Steve, I think this came out really nice. How do you like Zerene Stacker? Do you have the personal or professional version? I was thinking of getting it that is why all the questions. I might clean up the area near the one tail at the bottom. I really like the natural setting and the comp. The sharpness looks great and the BG is perfectly softened in my opinion. I am eager to try this.

[Steve Adkins]

Steve, I think this came out really nice. How do you like Zerene Stacker? Do you have the personal or professional version? I was thinking of getting it that is why all the questions. I might clean up the area near the one tail at the bottom. I really like the natural setting and the comp. The sharpness looks great and the BG is perfectly softened in my opinion. I am eager to try this.

Thanks denise for checking this out for me! Sorry, but on the clean up area, I'm a little lost... both "tails" are toward the center :2 Could you nudge me into the right spot?
As far as Zerene goes, I Love it! Got it last summer. What really sold me was the editing procedure. It really fit how I like to work and visualize the process. I'm using the personal version and can upgrade at any time to the professional. I believe the only difference is no images for resale with my version. (and of course more $ for the pro model ) Free 30-day trial of full functioning program.

[Judy Howle]

Nice work Steve. The dragonflies are very sharp and the background is nicely blurred. I never heard of Zerene.

[Andrew McLachlan]

Nicely processed Steve and I like the pose of the two dragonflies. Agree with Denise on a little clean-up and I think Denise may be pointing you towards the brownish areas where the blade of grass has bent/broken. Nice work!

[Paul Lagasi]

Nicely done...not sure what effect that zerene stacker had on your image...can you post one of the originals so we could see the difference.

Is it 4 different images of the same scene or 4 images merged together to form 1 image??

Trying to get these dragonflies to be sharp from tip to tip always tough.

I'll check out the software .... TFS

[Steve Adkins]

Thanks Judy, Andrew and Paul!

Nicely done...not sure what effect that zerene stacker had on your image...can you post one of the originals so we could see the difference.

Is it 4 different images of the same scene or 4 images merged together to form 1 image??

Trying to get these dragonflies to be sharp from tip to tip always tough.

I'll check out the software .... TFS

Hey Paul, Hope I can answer your question. Agree it's difficult to get the whole dragonfly in focus with this point of view (egg laying) … let alone two of them.

I was hand holding on a windy day and if I had to do it over would raise the ISO (200) or use flash to improve the DOF. Using my Nikon D700 and Sigma 150mm macro (no image stabilization), I shot 10 images and used 4 of them to stack together to composite the sharpest parts. Two images were f5.6 - 1/500 and two were f8 1/320. The program automatically registers common elements on top of each other and chooses to reveal the sharpest parts. Works especially well if you use a tripod and subject doesn't move… the stacking program compensated well for my movement and even rotation changes. My editing involved mostly erasing composited sharp areas that were redundant/offset - because of my movement.

This is a raw copy of one of the 4 images used. It had the best focus on the left DF head area and lower left wing. Notice the different leg position… I also cloned out parts of a stem that crossed a wing and leg.

The other three images I used had better wings, right head, thorax, abdomen (eggs) and so on. Editing the final stacked composite is neat as you can pretty easily paint in or out the various parts as needed.

[Steve Adkins]

Cloned the brown spots on grass and a few other bits.

[denise ippolito]

Steve, Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Thanks for the link it seems like a really cool program just don't want to go for the pro version just yet-but I will play w/ the free trial! Thanks I think where I said at the bottom:2 was confusing-sorry.

[Steve Adkins]

Got it! Thanks, denise.