topic Re: More Macro in Share Your Photos

More Macro

Ramsden — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:37:12 GMT

Watched a couple of Stewarts videos and had a quick go in the garden with 100mm attached.

Quite pleased for starters. Now need to learn more about stacking.

Ramsden

Re: More Macro

March411 — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 21:13:37 GMT

Now we're cookin!

What were your settings on this image.

Re: More Macro

henry_collins — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 21:48:44 GMT

Woahhhh

Re: More Macro

Ramsden — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:40:20 GMT

Im finding the wind to be tricky at such close quarters. But very pleased with this start.

Re: More Macro

March411 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:05:49 GMT

Yes wind can kill a good day. If light is good a higher shutter speed will sometimes work if the subject stays in frame.

That's a good grab Ramsden considering you just got started with Macro.

Re: More Macro

Tintype_18 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:27:55 GMT

Good photo. When I was a kid, the wind would carry those seedlings forever. We called them Santa Claus; catch them and release them. Didn't take a lot of entertain us in those days.

Re: More Macro

Ramsden — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:45:34 GMT

Thanks guys

Really appreciate your support.

I started playing around with focus bracketing last night. I like the concept, but find it a touch scary. Just for starters, what sort of numbers are you crunching on this operation. I started with 10 shots at 3 increments. That produced a noticeable difference, and Ive yet to get them stacked in dpp.

Really enjoying this

Best

Ramsden

Re: More Macro

March411 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:04:42 GMT

The increments will depend on what you want to end up with in your image. I lower increment and more shots will give you sharpness across the majority of the image. Wider increments and DOF will play a roll in the shots in between those increments.

This example was shot at an increment of 1 with 30 frames, I focused on a blade of grass in front of the mushrooms and shot to the back blade of grass. I reviewed the frames and deleted the ones on the back where I wanted to transition to start my DOF. I stacked the images in PS that weren't discarded. Stacking allows you to present the image sharpness as deep into the image as you desire. I always shoot more than I think will be in my stack, can't use what you don't have to create the finished product. I believe I used 17 of the 30 shots and the ones not used were all on the back end.

Re: More Macro

Ramsden — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:29:36 GMT

Thanks Marc

That’s really helpful and a lovely example. Focussing on a blade of grass sounds very challenging. I’m currently set up in my back garden and even the slightest wind causes havoc with the focus. Do you switch to servo when its windy, or perhaps just increase the shutter speed?

Thanks for your help

Ramsden

Re: More Macro

March411 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:46:42 GMT

Honestly I give up when it's windy as it just becomes to frustrating. For the mushrooms it was dead calm so focusing on the grass shooting @ f5.6 was no problem. The shutter speed was 1/2500 sec.

Today is a perfect example for me in Chicago, I wanted to get out and test a new flash I picked up, the Godox MF-T76 C. I woke up early, no wind and set up the gear, opened the garage door and it was blowing. Changing the settings rarely helps me but you may have better results.

Find some subjects out of the wind, something a bit more stationary for now. Once you find you are getting things down pat you can hold a branch or leave to hold it still and shoot with the other hand. Subjects closer to the ground or on solid backgrounds like trees are easier on a windy day, the wind has less impact. For me getting down there is easy but getting my old butt up is where the trouble starts. I look like a turtle that's rolled over on its back. 😄

Re: More Macro

Ramsden — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:04:01 GMT

I know the feeling, Ive got a few miles on the clock too!

I’m hooked on this concept and if I can crack focus bracketing and stacking, I’ll be a very happy person. I’m quite happy learning as I go - trial and error - make mistakes, it doesn’t cost anything.

Thanks for your helpl

Ramsden

Re: More Macro

March411 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:40:45 GMT

Exactly, and have a little fun along the way, learning something new and adding to your opportunities to create beautiful images. That is the greatest thing about photography, you can always continue to learn and grow.

Re: More Macro

LeeP — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:28:36 GMT

I like that a lot.