Ok, so I've been messing around with focus stacking for a long while, but here are the first photos I feel are worth sharing.
Captured with my lumix and Raynox DCR-250 macro, then stacked in CombineZP
Click the thumb for full size:
Desert Heron's Bill
I believe this damselfly is a Circumpolar Bluet.
As always, feedback of any kind would be greatly appreciated.
1st attempts at stacking
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Odd, I must have missed seeing these earlier.
The stacks look clean --- no halos, echos, blotches, or any of the other defects that I always look for. In fact on quick study I don't see any artifacts at all. Nicely done!
--Rik
The stacks look clean --- no halos, echos, blotches, or any of the other defects that I always look for. In fact on quick study I don't see any artifacts at all. Nicely done!
For the benefit of others, can you summarize what difficulties you have run into, and how you overcame them?I've been messing around with focus stacking for a long while, but here are the first photos I feel are worth sharing.
--Rik
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Thanks Paul. I've got to admit, I'm kinda proud of that shot.
Thank you Rik, glad they're able to fool you. ;P
Actually I doubt you'll be able to find any artifacts in the Erodium; that thing came out almost perfectly clean straight out of CZP. As for the damselfly, I went to town in GIMP getting rid of (or at least hiding) all of what you mentioned.
Well the main problem that needed overcoming in my case was finding a proper subject and getting a proper composition. That's really the area I need the most practice and training...
Other than that I've come to realize that with CombineZP there is little to no forgiveness for movement between frames, so I overcame that by getting a mini tripod with flexible rubber legs. Which has become an indispensable part of my macro kit.
Also, I tend to go through in GIMP and use the smudge tool to smooth out any "blotching" by hand... Really there's not a whole lot to say about how I've overcome those problems, because I'm still trying to figure that out as I go.
Oh, btw, from what I've seen messing around with the trial, Zerene Stacker is a far superior program. I just don't have the money to buy it.
Thank you Rik, glad they're able to fool you. ;P
Actually I doubt you'll be able to find any artifacts in the Erodium; that thing came out almost perfectly clean straight out of CZP. As for the damselfly, I went to town in GIMP getting rid of (or at least hiding) all of what you mentioned.
Well the main problem that needed overcoming in my case was finding a proper subject and getting a proper composition. That's really the area I need the most practice and training...
Other than that I've come to realize that with CombineZP there is little to no forgiveness for movement between frames, so I overcame that by getting a mini tripod with flexible rubber legs. Which has become an indispensable part of my macro kit.
Also, I tend to go through in GIMP and use the smudge tool to smooth out any "blotching" by hand... Really there's not a whole lot to say about how I've overcome those problems, because I'm still trying to figure that out as I go.
Oh, btw, from what I've seen messing around with the trial, Zerene Stacker is a far superior program. I just don't have the money to buy it.