Real focusstack this time

[HCS]

Orchids, 9 image stack in Zerene, result stacked again against one of the original images for background bokeh in AFPhoto, finished in CO9.

Interested to hear what you think about it.

[John G]

I can't ever remember any time before feeling the need to use the word " Lucid ". Well I really felt the need to say it when I saw these images.
Focus Stacking Rocks 

[HCS]

" Lucid "

Thanks John. Had to look up the word, but i understand, it's an apt description.

Focus Stacking Rocks 

I agree 

[Anthony]

Top quality.

[Akira]

The result looks very natural.

The sharpness of the petals is a little uneven, but, since the point of orchid flower is the characteristic central part which is rendered nicely on both flowers, the unevenness doesn't seem to bother.  Or rather, the kind of imperfection makes the flower look nicely wet by keeping the entire image from looking sterile.

[Jakov Minić]

Hans, this is the best stack thus far!
Please continue

[Thomas Stellwag]

really great - it is not "stacked to dead", or lets say you see superior quality without immediately thinking what made it so good, you just enjoy it

[John Geerts]

This looks very 'fresh'.  Great.

[HCS]

Well ... ehhh ... wow, thank you Anthony, Akira, Jakov, Thomas and John.

I truly appreciate you looking and commenting and i'm sincerely humbled by the praise i'm receiving :blush:

[rosko]

It would be interesting to see, as a comparison, a single shot with stopped down aperture , just to see whether it's worth bothering with focus stacking ?

I got this in mind because :

# it seems the subject is not so close (to be confirmed, though) hence a sufficient DOF;

# we are in the critique field and so, I try to find out whether a special technique such focus stacking is really needed.

That said, I like you image , but is it really thanks the focus stacking technique ?

I have to add that you focus stacking is successful as I can't notice any artifact.

A question : did you shot with fully open diaphragm ?

Cheers, Francis.

[HCS]

It would be interesting to see, as a comparison, a single shot with stopped down aperture , just to see whether it's worth bothering with focus stacking ?

I got this in mind because :

# it seems the subject is not so close (to be confirmed, though) hence a sufficient DOF;

# we are in the critique field and so, I try to find out whether a special technique such focus stacking is really needed.

That said, I like you image , but is it really thanks the focus stacking technique ?

I have to add that you focus stacking is successful as I can't notice any artifact.

A question : did you shot with fully open diaphragm ?

Cheers, Francis.

Thanks Francis. It is the critique section indeed, so thank you for the sincere remarks.

I don't think increased DOF would cover the whole flower, it would at least increase the definition of the bg (very) much. These shots were at f/5.6, a medium aperture. If i shoot wide open, the bokeh gets in the way when stacking. It is a pain to edit the bokeh artifacts. I get less of them at medium aperture. I shot these with the Siggy 150 macro, so i was pretty close, but not 1:1.

Also, i am not at the experience level of Michael Erlewine or Bob Friedman yet, so i only try "simple" stacks. Not too deep and the subject not too difficult.

Thanks for the compliment about liking my picture.

[Akira]

It would be interesting to see, as a comparison, a single shot with stopped down aperture , just to see whether it's worth bothering with focus stacking ?

I got this in mind because :

# it seems the subject is not so close (to be confirmed, though) hence a sufficient DOF;

# we are in the critique field and so, I try to find out whether a special technique such focus stacking is really needed.

That said, I like you image , but is it really thanks the focus stacking technique ?

Francis, I would think that getting TWO of stacked orchid flowers in focus from the tip of the front flower's petal vertically surrounding the central part to the central part of the one in the back would require the DOF of 10-15cm, which should be impossible in a single shot.

[rosko]

Francis, I would think that getting TWO of stacked orchid flowers in focus from the tip of the front flower's petal vertically surrounding the central part to the central part of the one in the back would require the DOF of 10-15cm, which should be impossible in a single shot.

That's a good point, Akira ! There are TWO flowers indeed and they are NOT in the same focus point.

Actually my hypothesis applies for one flower only. So, yes the use use of focus stacking is needed for Hans's picture...

Also, i am not at the experience level of Michael Erlewine or Bob Friedman yet, so i only try "simple" stacks. Not too deep and the subject not too difficult.

Sorry, Hans, my critique is not any more valid as these orchis flowers are not in the same focus point (I mean a different distance from the front lens). So, yes, the need of focus stacking is justified !

Now I encourage you to carry on this technique, it's very promising !;)

[HCS]

Thanks Akira for the help, indeed the 2 flowers are not in the same plane.

Thanks for the encouragement Francis.