Doing My Rounds

It has been a while since I shot a macro image.

Photo macrography is a form of photography which has traditionally frustrated me, because it is very challenging in terms of depth of field.

My past efforts have produced images where focus is very selective, and with a 180mm macro lens at minimum focus distance, it is hard to get very much of anything in focus, even when the aperture is stopped down considerably to increase depth of field without introducing diffraction.

For a while I have been pondering experimenting with focus stacking, a technique whereby one shoots a series of images with an identical composition and exposure level, but different points of focus; and then digitally 'stacks' the images in Photoshop to produce an image with a much greater depth of field.

Today I made my first attempt at focus stacking, and it was a success.  This is the result.

Lighting information:

1.  Maglite 6D positioned at 45-degrees camera right.

2.  Silver reflector placed opposite the Maglite.

3.  Three overhead tungsten globes.

Important note:

I am licensed to possess and use this ammunition.

Published on Saturday, 1 June, 2013.