In getting into macro photography I must say I’ve watched a lot of TH-cam. In saying that, I’ve adopted your technique and I’m getting great results. Can’t say they look as good as yours but I’m going to keep on until they do. Keep up the wonderful work!
Thanks very much! I'm glad the technique is working for you. I don't ever mean to say that my technique is the right one, just that it works for me, and I hope it can work for others as well. Cheers!
Thanks! Certainly, yes - I find that using too wide an aperture is more likely to result in gaps and other errors around the edges, presumably because there isn’t much focus overlap from shot to shot, so the stacking software seems to find it harder to blend the frames together. It also seems more likely to result in a kind of halo both around the high contrast edges, and where there’s a large jump in distance, for example between the edge of the cap of a mushroom and the stem which is some distance behind it. I find that using too narrow an aperture sometimes gives a more confusing and ‘busy’ background, presumably where the out of focus parts are a little sharper and the software tries to make sense of that. I haven’t found it super-critical, so f/5.6 or f/11 might be fine, but I don’t really like to go much wider or narrower than that. I sometimes shoot other versions with settings that I don’t show on video because they didn’t really work well, so I don’t find it’s always a case of getting it right first time 🙂
Thanks! But no, I don't think the Z6III is for me. This will sound like a silly reason, but I think it would be more awkward to shoot video of the screen that flips out sideways. The Z8 is tempting, but hard to justify when the Z6 is still going strong. Very tempting though 🙂
Have found Mark that fungi i.d. apps. give you a good pointer of at least to the group the subject belongs to if not the exact species. Have to admit though fungi i.d. to me is a complete nightmare without app. help would be a non starter for me. That said your images of any of the species you shoot are excellent. 👍
Thank you, I'm glad you like the images. Your suggestion of an app is good one - I do have a book to help with ID, but I don't really find it useful at all! An app definitely seems to be the way to go.
I tried what you guys are are talking about when wanting to fire the camera. It still doesn't take the shots. Any help here would be greatly appreciated, since in my case using the start focus in the menu or when I back out of the menu and take the shot with the shutter release button, it does not take the stacked shots that I'm looking to achieve. I even looked in the card for the new shoots and they are not there. thank you P.S. Maybe what's happening is I'm shooting in the wrong mode. I may have to try it in manual like you guys spoke about here in the Q&A. Thoughts?
It sounds as though you’re almost there, but perhaps just not hitting the right button to start shooting the stack. What camera are you using? Perhaps there’s a guide on TH-cam somewhere that covers your specific make and model?
Really good lighting yet again Mark. I am learning such a lot from your shoots. Thank again
Thank you Barry, I'm glad you're liking the lighting, and can find something useful in the videos. Cheers!
In getting into macro photography I must say I’ve watched a lot of TH-cam. In saying that, I’ve adopted your technique and I’m getting great results. Can’t say they look as good as yours but I’m going to keep on until they do. Keep up the wonderful work!
Thanks very much! I'm glad the technique is working for you. I don't ever mean to say that my technique is the right one, just that it works for me, and I hope it can work for others as well. Cheers!
Your videos are very interesting and it's nice to watch them.
Thank you for giving us your wonderful photos.
Thank you very much! You are most welcome.
Fantastic shots, as always, Mark
Cheers, thank you!
great vid again Mark.
Cheers, thank you!
Great shots. Can you explain more about using F8 to avoid stacking issues?
Thanks! Certainly, yes - I find that using too wide an aperture is more likely to result in gaps and other errors around the edges, presumably because there isn’t much focus overlap from shot to shot, so the stacking software seems to find it harder to blend the frames together. It also seems more likely to result in a kind of halo both around the high contrast edges, and where there’s a large jump in distance, for example between the edge of the cap of a mushroom and the stem which is some distance behind it. I find that using too narrow an aperture sometimes gives a more confusing and ‘busy’ background, presumably where the out of focus parts are a little sharper and the software tries to make sense of that. I haven’t found it super-critical, so f/5.6 or f/11 might be fine, but I don’t really like to go much wider or narrower than that. I sometimes shoot other versions with settings that I don’t show on video because they didn’t really work well, so I don’t find it’s always a case of getting it right first time 🙂
@@MarkMorganPhotography Thanks!
The purple mushroom is called the amethyst deceiver, Laccaria amethystina. Edible and delicious, and looks really nice in a risotto.
Thanks!
great discovery, thanks
#2 lovely object and shot! You mean upgrading to Z6 III?
Thanks! But no, I don't think the Z6III is for me. This will sound like a silly reason, but I think it would be more awkward to shoot video of the screen that flips out sideways. The Z8 is tempting, but hard to justify when the Z6 is still going strong. Very tempting though 🙂
Just found this video in my feed and found it quite informative. Loved the humor too. Thanks! What stacking software do you use?
Thanks very much, I’m glad you enjoyed it! To answer your question, I use Helicon Focus for all my focus stacking.
Family: Hydnangiaceae, Laccaria amethystina, commonly known: amethyst deceiver or amethyst laccaria
Ah, thank you very much, now that I you say it, I do remember the chap I met calling the purple ones amethyst deceiver. Cheers!
Have found Mark that fungi i.d. apps. give you a good pointer of at least to the group the subject belongs to if not the exact species. Have to admit though fungi i.d. to me is a complete nightmare without app. help would be a non starter for me. That said your images of any of the species you shoot are excellent. 👍
Thank you, I'm glad you like the images. Your suggestion of an app is good one - I do have a book to help with ID, but I don't really find it useful at all! An app definitely seems to be the way to go.
I tried what you guys are are talking about when wanting to fire the camera. It still doesn't take the shots. Any help here would be greatly appreciated, since in my case using the start focus in the menu or when I back out of the menu and take the shot with the shutter release button, it does not take the stacked shots that I'm looking to achieve. I even looked in the card for the new shoots and they are not there. thank you P.S. Maybe what's happening is I'm shooting in the wrong mode. I may have to try it in manual like you guys spoke about here in the Q&A. Thoughts?
It sounds as though you’re almost there, but perhaps just not hitting the right button to start shooting the stack. What camera are you using? Perhaps there’s a guide on TH-cam somewhere that covers your specific make and model?