I'm experimenting with focus stacking now. The image you see here is a blue carpenter bee from West Java, Indonesia. It is a composite of 28 images in which I focused on very thin sections of the insect. I photographed it with a bellows and a Canon microscope lens set at f/8. I moved the camera manually along the rail supporting the bellows in approximately 1/3 millimeter increments to focus deeper and deeper on the bee. The lighting came from two $5 desk lamps I bought at Walmart. The colors in this picture are real. The distance between the two eyes is 3/16 inch -- that gives you a sense of scale here. Although you can do focus stacking in Photoshop, it is very cumbersome. Instead, I used the software Zerene Stacker which is the best in my opinion for this kind of work. I will be describing this technique in detail in the March issue of my free monthly eMagazine, Photo Insights.
6 Comments
Feb 10, 2017, 1:56:57 PM
Jim - Hi Bob, With a regular macro lens, you don't get as great a magnification. You can use a 50mm macro, for example, up to a point. For extreme magnification, though, you need a lens like the Olympus OM Zuiko 35mm f/2.8 or 20mm f/2, or the Canon FD Macrophoto Bellows Lens 35mm f/2.8. You can focus manually, as I did, but it's much better to have a device like the Stackshot which adjusts each movement in the smallest of increments.
Feb 10, 2017, 10:49:18 AM
Bob Vestal - This is beautiful image. Is it possible to use a macro lens instead of a microscope lens.for this kind of work? I am guessing so, but not sure. Probably would need a device to automatically adjust the focus in small increments. Or, could this be done manually?
Feb 8, 2017, 11:09:26 AM
Jim - Hi Phil, Send me your email address and I'll sign you up for my free monthly eMagazine. You can send it directly to my email: photos@jimzuckerman.com. I'll be happy to put you on the list.
Feb 8, 2017, 11:05:53 AM
Phillip shapiro - Hi Jim,
I have thaght stacking teckniques for Montreal camera club. I was showing how to stack for star trails. I've have also shown how to stack for selective motion blur ie neutral density affect for longe exposure. And also for focus stacking. I look forward to see your next article. I would like to be included in your magazine. Thanks Phil
Feb 8, 2017, 9:43:39 AM
Jim - Hi Carlton, I have no plans to let something like this fly around my house!
Feb 8, 2017, 3:05:25 AM
Carlton McEachern - Hey Jim - I have 2 of those lights too. What vibrant colour and detail. 28 shots is like an external MRI! I am not a big bug fan as the black flies and mosquitoes here in Norther Ontario just kill any bug joy but this is certainly awesome to look at - just don't let it in the house.