Just the subject for taking a series of focus stacked macro shots:
Built up from 42 shots at slightly varying focus distances using Helicon Focus software.
Showing posts with label Cactus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cactus. Show all posts
Tuesday, 30 March 2021
Orange Macro
A second small cactus plant has started to flower. A lovely orange colour.
Just the subject for taking a series of focus stacked macro shots:
Built up from 42 shots at slightly varying focus distances using Helicon Focus software.
Just the subject for taking a series of focus stacked macro shots:
Built up from 42 shots at slightly varying focus distances using Helicon Focus software.
Friday, 12 March 2021
Macro Session
I felt just in the right mood to take a few macro shots this morning. First I chose the subject - a small flowering cactus plant:
Found a space to set up my home brew set-up for taking a series of focus stacked photos:
The Canon M5 fitted with Canon 18-150mm zoom lens and added a Raynox DCR-150 macro lens. Each stacked macro photo is made from 40 - 50 individual shots and processed in Helicon Focus software. The results ....
The flower is about 17mm across.
Found a space to set up my home brew set-up for taking a series of focus stacked photos:
The Canon M5 fitted with Canon 18-150mm zoom lens and added a Raynox DCR-150 macro lens. Each stacked macro photo is made from 40 - 50 individual shots and processed in Helicon Focus software. The results ....
The flower is about 17mm across.
Friday, 6 March 2020
Focus Stacking Home Brew Setup
A short while ago I was impressed reading a project on Instructables. It sparked the idea of trying something similar but programmed by an Arduino. After a couple of weeks thinking (comes hard some days), programming, buying, 3D printing and constructing I ended up with:
This consists of the electronics bits
Left to right: relay to activate camera shutter, stepper motor driver module, Arduino Uno R3 with added extra contacts.
The Arduino is programmed using a home 3D printed panel which uses an LCD to indicate what is happening. Three buttons. Top: set the number of photos to be taken, Middle: start the sequence, Bottom: abort / restart.
The camera sits on top of a bought unit which was originally designed to use on the Z axis of a CNC machine. The stepper motor takes 16 moves to forward the camera 10mm. This is set by DIP switches on the driver module. I also added a micro switch as the camera is automatically rewound to the start position once all the macro shots have been taken.
A few odds and ends were used to make the mount for the camera.
For my first test I mounted the Canon M5 fitted with 18-150mm zoom lens plus the Raynox DCR-150 macro / close-up conversion lens to take 36 focus stacked shots of a small cactus flower.
Why go to all the trouble of taking so many photos?
Getting close to things can result in a very shallow depth of focus on any single shot.
For example
First shot:
Last shot:
Each photo in the stack has a slightly different area of the subject in focus.
The two programs I use can sort out the in focus parts and combine just those bits to make the final composite shot.
The result using Zerene Stacker to process the individual photos to make one stacked picture
I recently purchased Focus Stacker and this is the result from the same batch of 36 photos
The main difference in output, to my eyes, is the latter has a better colour rendering.
The unit actually works so I'm a happy bunny.
A bit of extra processing in Affinity Photo
to increase contrast and vibrance.
This consists of the electronics bits
Left to right: relay to activate camera shutter, stepper motor driver module, Arduino Uno R3 with added extra contacts.
The Arduino is programmed using a home 3D printed panel which uses an LCD to indicate what is happening. Three buttons. Top: set the number of photos to be taken, Middle: start the sequence, Bottom: abort / restart.
The camera sits on top of a bought unit which was originally designed to use on the Z axis of a CNC machine. The stepper motor takes 16 moves to forward the camera 10mm. This is set by DIP switches on the driver module. I also added a micro switch as the camera is automatically rewound to the start position once all the macro shots have been taken.
A few odds and ends were used to make the mount for the camera.
For my first test I mounted the Canon M5 fitted with 18-150mm zoom lens plus the Raynox DCR-150 macro / close-up conversion lens to take 36 focus stacked shots of a small cactus flower.
Why go to all the trouble of taking so many photos?
Getting close to things can result in a very shallow depth of focus on any single shot.
For example
First shot:
Last shot:
Each photo in the stack has a slightly different area of the subject in focus.
The two programs I use can sort out the in focus parts and combine just those bits to make the final composite shot.
The result using Zerene Stacker to process the individual photos to make one stacked picture
I recently purchased Focus Stacker and this is the result from the same batch of 36 photos
The main difference in output, to my eyes, is the latter has a better colour rendering.
The unit actually works so I'm a happy bunny.
A bit of extra processing in Affinity Photo
to increase contrast and vibrance.
Wednesday, 26 February 2020
Monday, 20 May 2019
Friday, 16 November 2018
New Additions
As posted last January I have been using this propagator in the conservatory.
Unfortunately it has been a disaster for growing my miniature orchids in.
It worked well in the cold weather with its heater keeping plants snug and warm.
Came Summer and even with plenty of ventilation and shading it got too hot for them.
I lost a few and others are suffering badly. Some may recover with TLC.
What did thrive were my Lithops (living stones)
Some so well they are due for moving to larger pots.
I have decided to add more succulents and one spineless cactus.
My latest arrivals (all in 3 inch pots)
Unfortunately it has been a disaster for growing my miniature orchids in.
It worked well in the cold weather with its heater keeping plants snug and warm.
Came Summer and even with plenty of ventilation and shading it got too hot for them.
I lost a few and others are suffering badly. Some may recover with TLC.
What did thrive were my Lithops (living stones)
Some so well they are due for moving to larger pots.
I have decided to add more succulents and one spineless cactus.
My latest arrivals (all in 3 inch pots)
 |
| Sedum rubrotinctum |
 |
| Lithops (living stone) |
 |
| Fenestra rhopalophylia (baby toes) |
 |
| Cotyledon undulate |
 |
| Adromischus cooperi |
 |
| Astrophytum myriostigma |
Sunday, 13 May 2018
Cactus
When I bought a couple of what were supposed to be Christmas or Easter flowering cacti one had 'leaf' sections which are longer and thinner than the usual varieties:
A couple of focus merged close shots looking inside one of the flowers:
A couple of focus merged close shots looking inside one of the flowers:
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