I tried Super Macro Photography... and struggled!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 พ.ค. 2024
- In this video, I have a go at Super Macro Photography for the first time, with the Laowa f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro Lens and a NiSi NM-200s Focusing Rail. I stumble across a few tiny subjects, including a Salmon egg slime mould, but struggle to control my environment to achieve a successful photo stack.
I'd love to turn this into a project, to fine tune the process and simply try again! Have you tried this lens and super macro photography? Let me know!
Thanks for watching and I'll see you next time!
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Gear used in this video:
Nikon D750 + Nikon D850 geni.us/N17FAIs
L-Bracket: geni.us/hm9l
Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Macro Lens: www.venuslens.net/product/lao...
NiSi NM-200s Macro Rail: nisioptics.co.uk/product/macr...
Vanguard Gear: 10% Discount with code CVP10
Multi-Angle Column Tripod:
www.vanguardworld.co.uk/produ...
Camera Bag:
www.vanguardworld.co.uk/produ...
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Autumn Fungi Workshops:
www.longitudetours.com/produc...
If you're on social media, feel free to catch up with me there too!
Website: www.courtneyvictoriaphotography.com
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Vero: @courtneyvictoriaphotography
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#macrophotography #naturephotography #mushrooms #forestphotography #nikond750 #nikond850 - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Just wanted to put in my 2¢ on using helicon with a lot of images. I use the program a lot for commercial jewelry and cosmetic imagery using medium format cameras. We sometimes have 200+ images in a stack. Add on top the reflective nature of the subjects and we have a lot of artifact potential. I’ve found doing smaller 20-30 image stacks and then stacking those stacks gives the best outcome. Just something to try if you’re finding yourself having issues!
Thanks for that tip. I'll give that a try.
What you're saying is, if there are 300 images, you stack 20 at a time, then 15 again?
1. 20 sheets each - stacking
2. Stacking re-stacking 15 photos.
Am I right?
@@noko2794 Correct!
With all the rain you experience, you are an honorary coastal British Columbia resident. I think you should go for a "boots" sponsorship.
Britain is famously rainy
Flash! you need a flash (or other lighting system) to keep consistent lighting on the subject. many use a hood or dual flashes to control lighting to keep that consistency in their stacks. i say this from studying others, preparing for my own experience with digital macro. kind of surprised nobody else has suggested it. really enjoying your videos! 😄
I cannot fathom attempting 5x using natural light. Flash and good diffuser and the macro world becomes your oyster.
Staying away from AutoWhite Balance is helpful with focus stacking as the light can change while shooting a focus stack.
100% agree - flash is CRITICAL in macro. I use 2 Godox with diffusers and even without stacking this lighting control makes a huge difference.
This lens from Laowa does have a LED light that fits over the top of it using the cap threads
@@ty6941 not nearly bright enough, even at 2.5x mag on my laowa around f5.6 (sharpest before diffraction) I drain my flash near max power
That white toothed slime mould is Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa. And the little baby ones in the last part of the video are Panellus stipticus
I've tried macro photography with limited success. So, I have respect for anyone who does it well. And, you, do it well.
I would love to do it, but I am mainly geared towards wildlife with mid to high mm area. And Iowa lenses are sadly so hard to get used here and in my price range ( which is being poor as dirt xD)
I have the 2.5-5x and love it. It’s sharpest around f/4-5.6. I’m sure you already know this but don’t touch anything for about 2 seconds after rotating the rail knob - takes a sec to settle…even when using a remote trigger.
Thanks Courtney, for my little bit of Sunday zen.
I find your videos incredibly inspiring and a little bit magical. When it comes to close up photography, I believe Macro photographers do it in controlled environments (easier but a lot less fun).
Once again Courtney- great video. Over the months of watching you, my photography has improved immensely! Thank you for all the pointers you always pass on to your viewers. As always, we'll be watching over your shoulder from Port Angeles, WA., USA! Take care, be safe, STAY DRY!
Thank you for showing your failures and I hope you get a chance for a revenge macro photography video! It really goes to show that photography is an art form, and we try to hone our skills to create something we can satisfied with. I love your videos too because it feels like I am discovering and learning through watching them with your quirky humor. Have you tried macro with flash out in the field? I've never done macro myself, but I've watched others that use it to great effect. Good luck in your macro journey!
such a down to earth, authentic and easy going individual. I appreciate that most of the footage was on location, which is obviously way more work constantly having to setup your recording camera. Not to mention having to lug another camera and tripod around with you through the forest.
As for improving the quality of your pictures, I recommed using a speedlite and a small diy softbox to be able to shoot intependent of natural light. When doing Macro photos, I suggest you go to Mirror Up mode 12:44 so you can minimize camera shake induced by the mirror (provided you have a cable release).
Going from 1:1 to 2:1 was a long learning experience for me, I cannot imagine how much more challenging it would be to go to 5:1, but I want to 😁. Thank you or sharing your experiences with us!
Your production quality is really excellent. This gave me huge gardeners world/countryfile vibes and I loved it!
In the field 5x macro is really hard. Any wind, even rain can cause vibration. I would say absolutely no VR or IBIS on a tripod and use a diffused flash to freeze each shot with a higher shutter speed, with high speed synch if your camera supports it etc could help in a situation like that. You're certainly not the only one that has mishaps with 5x macro, no worries. Quite refreshing watching a video about realities actually. Keep up the good work, cheers, Robert.
I have a Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro which I use with my Canon 5Ds. I also have a focusing rail. I think that the big challenge with 5x is that the images are not easily recognizable. When people look at the images, you might get "What is that?" We see the same "strangeness" when we look at the images. So a good strategy (I think) is to pick a tiny structure that will be recognizable, like a single seed from a dandelion gone to seed.
Otherwise, we can end up with Vincini's, "What in the world can THAT be?"
Using flash with a diffuser will get you more consistent light.
There were forest elves in the background when you were prone on the mossy tree,
Good idea with the eyeglass and an excellent tutorial on the pros and cons of macro photography in the field using a focussing rail. I definitely related to your video having the Nisi rail attempting to photograph a Damselfly head while it was supposedly was asleep covered in morning dew. I remember on my 25th shot it moved its head. I’m sure it was the sound of my old Canon 5D mkiii shutter that woke it up.
I’ve watched an experts handheld successful attempt at a Robberfly using at high iso and fast multiburst slowly rocking forward. I think it’s worth whacking the iso up even on a tripod because a slight breeze or raindrop can move the subject. You can always denoising the final blended image.
I’ve adapted my nisi rail to have a springy pin that is fixed on the rail and bent so it fits into the knurl of the rail knob. This clicks with each knurl when you rotated the knob for accurate increments when you get down to the super macro. The fold up crank handle is useless .
I’m no expert and haven’t nailed any images yet but it’s great fun trying isn’t it.
Look forward to your next super macro shoot.
Excellent video Courtney it’s always good to try new things.
Thanks for the demonstration! It’s is amazing to watch and learn from someone using the equipment and demonstrating learning through failure. Most videos show only success.
You did a great job of not shouting expletives and blaming anything but yourself when you saw that the fungi in your initial set of images was not sharp. Way to stay composed :)
Thanks Courtney for another great video, look forward to seeing your next outing, keep up the great work.
Loved your expression, when you heard thunder. Macro is fun. Deep into another world.
Don't get discouraged. What you attempted to do is extremely difficult to do in the field, as you found out. Even under controlled conditions (indoors) there are many things that can ruin a stack. You may want to use the camera's intervalometer to take the number of shots you need, one shot every five seconds or so. Then all you have to do is turn the rail's wheel right after each shot, and take your hands off the rail. The five second delay should be enough to let any vibrations dissipate. You can find out in advance how many shots you will need by focusing on the nearest part of the subject and counting the turns it takes to get to the farthest. As for the shifting light, you may want to consider using a flash and a diffuser for macro shots. Set the camera's aperture, shutter speed, and ISO so that without flash you get a black frame. Then dial in the flash power needed to properly illuminate the scene. This takes a bit of trial and error if you are using the flash in manual mode (as recommended). I find that anywhere between 1/8 and 1/16 power works well at the short distances involved.
Excellent video! I’m inspired by your patience.
Spendiferous video. Can feel your frustration, and your determination. Wonderful story line, rich content, and your personality is inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
Well done & well presented. I certainly enjoy your attention to woodland Macro - you're inspiring. Thanks from Canada
Excellent content as always Courtney! Your videos are engaging to watch and must be a lot of work to put together.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It was quite helpful.
I'd do some indoor shots first to get a feel for it. As others have said using a flash puts you in control of light, you'll need to overpower the light quite a bit if it's half sunny half overcast. I usually use a pocket bouncer with a white plastic bag (the crinkly type) over it to extend the 'softbox' over and around the subject, just out of shot. Stick a short strip of paper to the bottom of the lens end that will bounce some light under the subject overhangs. This gives that nice soft tone you see with overcast light. Sometimes you need a second flash to light up the background if it's farther away or you'll end up with a black background. Or fake a background by moving a branch or leaf closer in and pin it down. Or take your subject to your home studio ;)
Check on the camera digital zoomed in all the way for good focus and follow it with the slider, 1/3 overlap should do the trick. Not sure what aperture you used, but I'd use as much stopped down as diffraction allows.
Not sure if the stacking software can export the aligned images, but sometimes you can just manually stack them and selectively mask in/out sharp/blurry parts if the stacker didn't quite get it.
I love your persistence and resilience, I wish I had the same.
Thanks from Canada. I could never handle ALL the rain in the UK. It's like our west coast. Yuk !!! - I love our sunshine here in Ottawa Canada.
It was cloudy and rainy all day lol
I highly recommend a geared tripod head to limit camera shake when composing. They allow you to make very fine adjustments without loosening the ball and shaking the whole ensemble, similar to what the focus rail does. I have been using a Benro GD3WH for years and love it.
Great videography to explain your day out.
Cool video. Thanks for sharing the experience of trying a new technique.
Awesome vlog thanks. Have been looking into this myself and was great to learn the potential challenges.
Hi Courtney I have just found your channel. I will now be lost for the next few days catching up on all the videos. What is even better is you are working around where I live. You even had my house in the background in one video OK about three miles away. Keep up the great work.
Hello, Long time macro/micro photographer from the far, far, side of the pond, (California, USA). Given your stated preference for being out in the field photographing what interests you in the field in mind, I share the following observations and information. I have the Laowa 2.4-5.0X lens also. I have been most successful in taking macro photographs in the field with the Laowa when I use it with the Novoflex Castle-M focusing Rack. The Novoflex Castle-M focusing Rack was designed with the Laowa 2.4-5.0X lens in mind. If I am just wandering about in the field looking for interesting creatures and fauna I mount two or three Adaptalux Flash Arms with diffusers on a two sided Arca-Swiss rail. Atop that is my D850, Laowa lens mounted on my Novoflex rail. Of course everything mounted on a sturdy tripod. I am not affiliated with or recommending any of the above mentioned equipment. There are many alternative equipment configurations that will work just as well. Godox sells some excellent flash units. Using flash units with diffusers work well to reduce lack of sharpness in my wandering about macro photography. Flash units when used appropriately "freeze" the subject in the image you are trying to capture. I also recommend Lester Lefkowitz's "Manual of Close-up and Macro Photography, Volume I and II", and/or "Macro Photography, The Universe At Our Feet" by Don Komarechka. Again not affiliated with either. A website that I subscribe to, in addition to yours, is "photomacrocrophy.net". Best of success in your adventures in the world of macrophotography.
Thats like $1700 worth of equipment. You can throw money at any problem but I think this channel is more geared towards the hobbyist. She doesnt even own the lens ffs.
I was waiting for a video like this 😁. Ive discovered your videos/photos a couple weeks ago, and very much admire your work! I love macro and forest, (thats where I spend my time lol - obsessed with moss) it inspires my music. Great work, thank you 🤘🏽🌲
I think if you take a picture with your iPhone “if you have one” then swipe up on the photo you will be given information on what you’re looking at, Im not certain about fungi but it works on tress flowers plants etc. its worth a try 😊
I always enjoy your outings and wry humor but the editing side is equally fun. Thanks for making me chuckle over my dinner tonight! At least you're not coping with the winds I experience here in the northern Great Plains during the shooting of such subjects. I'm certain that you'll have this down to a fine science in the near future, though. Others have made some excellent little points in the comments and I haven't anything earth-shattering to add. Simply keep up the great work and thanks for sharing. :)
Courtney, great video as always.
I visited this weekend the tulip park ‘Keukenhof’ in the Netherlands (where I live), I hadn't done macro photography for a long time and I really enjoyed it a lot, seeing the small details that make up the big scenes we capture are the ones that show you the greatness of nature.
Thank you very much for sharing your experiences. I love it.
The mirror lock-up setting can help, by allowing the camera to stop vibrating before releasing the shutter.
Or just join the Mirrorless Cool Kids Club™. 😉
Those ppl are like what in the F is that lady doing on that log?
Nice video! I use this lens both on a rail and hand-held. It's the perfect range for slime molds.
Great video, love the tiny fungi, I’ve been toying with getting this lens myself.
Really admire your patience Courtney, gave up with extreme macro in the field and take objects indoors where I can control the light and there is no wind. Haven’t tried the laowa lens but… thank you for another great, fun, video😊
Great video into the realities of attempting ultra-macro photography in the field Courtney. It's not difficult to figure out why this is so hard to achieve when you consider the following: attempting to photograph subjects that are millimeters in size, using a tripod + extension tubes + macro lens + camera + macro rails + wet uneven and nature littered ground = miniscule chances for success!!
Kudos to anyone achieving the near impossible!
All the best for your channel and your photographic endeavors Courtney!
You should have borrowed a light ring from Lowa along with the lens. It's a big help in stacking macro photography. I'm speaking from personal experience 🙂. So I just tried it under domestic conditions on dead insects.
I find your videos so inspiring, thank you ☺️
Such a feelgood video. Love it :) Inspiring!
I LOVE your videos and the way you present you and your pictures. This ist inspiring me to get my a.. up and out into the forest. I also live your introvert look on these funghi etc, because I am also introvert. Thanks for your work here from Hamburg, Germany.
I admire your patience with focus stacking on location. I find it hard enough to get through a session indoors with controlled lighting.
I was a macro guy 10 years ago and I'm suprised to see how little has changed. That lense is a bit of a game changer for us Nikon people, (our own MPE65, finally). Almost makes me want to pick up the old D800 again.
Hi Courtney, I bet you are extremely patient for doing macro photography! I use my macro lens (EF-M 28mm f/3.5 IS STM) mostly to get a flatter plane of focus on bigger items rather than to photograph small items.
Great video and good effort on the macro! Keep trying!
I was very much expecting you to be dressed in a superhero outfit while shooting macro. This was a decent second option. Some lovely images.
Went to your link of the Laowa Lens and the Pictures are awesome. Price is reasonable. Cheers!
Excellent video thank you for sharing it, I appreciate the hard work that you put in & I'm sure you'll get there in the end :)
Love the video! Just found your channel. I will add something, I think you are missing a vital item of equipment which has taken my macro shots recently up a level.... a good flash.
Picked up a Godox V1 and made a home made diffuser, it makes all the difference as you wont encounter issues with light changing etc. You can also use higher shutter speeds, just ensure to use HSS if you plan on using more than 200 shutter speed.
Keep up the good work!
Well, that was absolutely fascinating. Very interesting and enjoyable 😊👍🏻
Sometimes.. sometimes.. practice makes perfection... Keep going!!
Yay! Another video from Courtney. They're addictive (because of your personality and enthusiasm! We can clearly see how much you love what you do ☺️).
It would be great if you could try renting a mirrorless camera like the Lumix S5ii with the nes 100mm macro. The automatic focus stacking is awesome and makes the rail redundant.
Keep up the wonderful videos ☺️
lovely video courtney, its nice stumbling on a nice relaxing channel to add to the list :)
Great video Courtney. Like yourself, I'm gone a bit wild on Macro lately. Looking forward to your next one already.
Don`t give up Courtney . I did the same thing and was not happy but the more I tried the better i became I have found no matter what focus rail you use be it computer driven or manually there will be some kind of movement whether it be you or the shutter in the Camera. It is going to take time just keep Practicing Best of luck and it was still a Great photo for first time out using the Lense..
As someone who loves macro nature photography and have been doing it for decades, I salute your attempts in trying this ultra macro work! To be honest, after watching the time you invested vs the results you got, I have no interest in trying this genre of nature macro photography. So, I'm really glad you tried it and posted this video! BTW, I love Helicon Focus software. I have always had great success with Method A myself. Take care Victoria and may you have consistent soft light and little or no wind for future outings!
At the end of the day she will succeed and a door to a whole new world will open. Always strive for what is just achievable. Don't be left behind. Got my first camera in 1964, still striving, still learning, it's a blast. Thank you Courtney and yes I subscribed.
Great stuff Courtney. First time watching your videos. I got this lens a while ago and it's incredible, but does require a little more patience and learning curve.
Fun video. Thank you for sharing.
This lens by laowa is a beast. It gives you opportunities you never had before but can drive you mad. I use the additional ring containing LED light. It makes photographing more easy but the ring can get hot. I prefer to use this lens at home when there´s definetely no wind but constant light. I photograph details of flowers or vegetables. A good opportunity for rainy days. Greeting from Bernd Laukoetter from Gemany
Very interesting Courtney... thanks for sharing...gear is amazing as I have never used anything more than just a macro lens 70-300mm..... still learning so your video's help...many thanks again.. cheers from Australia 🦘🦘😃
Wow, I thought regular macro was hard enough. This is something else. I admire your persistence!
Very nice video. Here’s something to consider: I have the AstrHori 25mm 2x-5x, modeled on the Laowa. Using it in the field usually requires adding flash for consistent lighting. I use the Laowa/KuangRen KX-800 twin flash (with diffusers) and highly, highly recommend it. It brings the flexibility of studio lighting into the field. I think, once you adjust to a flash-based workflow, you would find more keepers & successful stacks.
Ive tried macro with stacking and youre right it aint easy. Obviously the dof for each frame is microscopic. I made a test rig with pins in a piece of wood to practice on. Recently with a mirrorless camera and electronic focus the camera works out how many frames you need, given it knows the dof and the user sets the front and back focus limit. The results were it took 150 to photograph my car key. Thats far more than I would have done with manual control. So perhaps more frames needed, I don’t know. Zerene is my preferred stacking software. You’re doing great work.
Thought you would have a flash as doing stacks. Another great video.
After watching your recent macro photography videos, I decided to purchase a set of extension tubes. I figured this would be a less expensive way to get started. Admittedly, I have a long way to go, but I have been enjoying the journey. Keep up the amazing work you are doing.
I wonder if the shutter firing might be causing a bit of vibration, might be worth trying to minimise the length of the arm assembly as much as possible by getting the tripod centre mount as close to the subject as you can..?
🌺🌻🌺 A fun presentation of the learning experience. Thank you :)
im more of a portrait and landscape photographer, but ive been getting in to macro and am thinking about buying a macro lens. this helped alot. but not to seem creepy or anything, you are really beautiful!
It was brave of you to attempt to use this lens in the field. I'd be tempted to take the branch back home where I can place the tripod on a solid floor and have total control over the lighting. You certainly gave yourself a challenge.
excellent try Courtney keep pushing and never give up. You will nail it next time. I'd know it.
The tip in the comment section about Helicon and doing in smaller batches is great but ALSO. If you can set up wind barriers around the subject it will help even more with les artifacts. I know i's more stuff to carry, but some wooden canes and fold up light reflectors work well.
With something with this kind of magnification you might want to use a flashlight or better yet a speedlight with diffuser to make sure the light is more consistent. Even a reflector, folded up pieces of aluminum foil can also work. Great videos.
Tricky indeed! What makes it worse is that you can't always tell until you get home if you have missed any focus points. Never give up!
I was thinking about not seeing any Courtney Victoria videos just yesterday! I've done a fair amount of macro work but never at 5x. My kit is a bellows and a Nikon manual focus 105 mm lens. Been playing with scheimpflug effect to get the depth of field I want. It's so much fun!
I look forward to more macro videos. Frankly though I was hoping for some dancing in the woods!
Sometime I just have to walk away…. Then come back and obsess! Lol
You’ll get it worked out I’ve no doubt.
Thanks for sharing your time, your successes, and your failures.
I bought a Cognysis computerized rail. You tell it where to start and end and what interval and it’s automated. Kind of pricey but makes the process easier. They also offer a battery pack for field use. Keep up the great work, love the videos!
Great video 👍👏
I have tried macro with my homemade telescope, light is definitely not a issue for me considering my aperture is 127mm which makes the scope F5.3
You could try running a video instead of individual shots, it's common in planetary photography due to the brightness of the planet and it's resistance to changing conditions is quite nice, you convert the video to individual shots then stack them.
beautiful video!
You mentioned handheld work with a lens like this-the only way is Strobes. Or continuous light-like an aputure MC-I know it’s not as high fidelity of a documentary work of “nature as it is,” but i find the reliability of where the highlights are within the microcontrast can help a great deal in stacking. I love mushrooms as subjects too but i tend to capture them with bugs or slugs and the like onboard-the stack is often 5 or fewer images since there’s a moving critter in the field-
I I’m just about the same place as you, though-I have the technical knowledge but getting the technique down in the field and selecting subjects that will cooperate before I’ve got to go home-eludes me.
Great video!!
Good video on the journey of macro photography. It's been mentioned but controlling the light (minimizing changes) by using a flash or other lighting can certainly help. For me, after several outings resulting mostly in frustration, I developed a routine and technique in the studio that gave me the confidence and consistency I wanted in the field.
A decent focusing rail is an awesome piece of gear. I have long carried a Novoflex Castel-Mini which has served me very very well. Your NISI looks awesome. Excellent Presentation ❤ One really needs to experinment with tripods / telephoto lenses / macro lenses / focusing rails
Great video as always. I have the same Laowa lens as you, not the one you were testing out today, the 100mm lens. I found I made huge improvements when I started using a flash on the camera. I bought a defuser from Cygnustech. He's in Australia and makes them to order so it took a week for me to get it. It's so good though, I love it. There are cheaper ones available, but I haven't tried those. Anyway, just thought I'd mention a flash because it means you can use a much faster shutter speed so movement is less of a worry 😊
I upgraded to a wemacro auto rail a few weeks ago and the difference has been night and day. I can do 4x and 10x stacks with microscope objectives and it honestly just works which is crazy. The only problem with microscope objectives is that they flatten the field a lot. Portraits are almost sterile and analytical because it's hard to get context when your depth of field is 45 micron. We all have problems when we start out. Just keep pushing forward into the ultra macro space because it's a beautiful world.
Hogwarts Legacy and Steam on your editing computer? You must edit like I do. 10mins of editing. 1 hour of some games. Back and Forth.
Loved the video!
That's a difficult process. Interesting to see how it's done properly. All the gear and technique requirements.
A treat, as always. I wonder if you could try the electronic shutter (silent shutter) on the 850. There should then be no vibration from the camera mechanism
Very cool video☺
Enjoyed the video as usual Courtney.
I admire your patience doing macro photography.
I think that Laowa should give you that lens, so come on Laowa, and also what about sponsorship.
It's such a shame that the conditions were not in your favour.
Look forward to the next one.
I mounted my 105 2.8 micro on my bellows. its very critical with lighting and DOF was a fun excercise