A few tips please
Posted: 02.02.2009 08:35
So I have been shooting professionally for many years, including insects. I recently acquired a complete nikon multiphot system which is sharper than anything i have used before for micro work. It also takes me deeper into the X scale than ever.
I have been shooting a tiny ant portrait in stacks and my results have not been great so far. I'm guessing this is roughly 19x (but I'm not sure - still learning the systems). I have to use a loupe just to see if I have the ant's head is properly aligned.
A few things that might be hindering my progress.
1. I'm shooting wide open because of the insane sharpness - thus dealing with shallow depth of field.
2. I combined 39 exposures (too many?). I am using a dynaphot scanning platform to change the focus in measured increments.
3. I am getting blown highlights on some hair.
I'm on a mac pro, and shooting with a Canon 5d. Everything is up to date in PS and LR.
i have tried various parameter adjustments but the results are not so hot regardless. Problems include severe halo effects, blotchy backgrounds, reduced sharpness.
Would I benefit by stopping down slightly, reducing number of stacks, flattening the light a bit?
A bit of expert advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Michael Durham
www.DurmPhoto.com
I have been shooting a tiny ant portrait in stacks and my results have not been great so far. I'm guessing this is roughly 19x (but I'm not sure - still learning the systems). I have to use a loupe just to see if I have the ant's head is properly aligned.
A few things that might be hindering my progress.
1. I'm shooting wide open because of the insane sharpness - thus dealing with shallow depth of field.
2. I combined 39 exposures (too many?). I am using a dynaphot scanning platform to change the focus in measured increments.
3. I am getting blown highlights on some hair.
I'm on a mac pro, and shooting with a Canon 5d. Everything is up to date in PS and LR.
i have tried various parameter adjustments but the results are not so hot regardless. Problems include severe halo effects, blotchy backgrounds, reduced sharpness.
Would I benefit by stopping down slightly, reducing number of stacks, flattening the light a bit?
A bit of expert advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Michael Durham
www.DurmPhoto.com