Wall of text incoming......
Failed a bit last night, slept on it and came back for more tests today.
Seems to be this way with these type of things as a beginner.
Today I did some stacks with raynox 250 close up filter and the tamron 90 mm macro lens. Measured, calculated and checked some things. Closest working distance is 5.5 cm (2.44X), and longest 12.5 cm (1.2X.)
Earlier I did an approximate calculation (since no official number avail.) that based on nikons recommended numbers in a table, I need to limit myself in this combo to 1.9X max to stay inside the safe step distance I calculated that the focus shift function in the D850 has.
Based on this I just made a simple wooden stick to bring out in the field with 3 markings for quick set-up and no guesswork/time spend adjusting. 1 mark for close focus, one for longest working distance and then one for the limit of the focus shift distance (1.9X.) - about 9 cm.
Focus shift is a function in camera (D850) that sets it up to take up to 300 images, shifting focus with each shot at calculated 0.195 mm minimum at level 1/smallest increment setting.
Then setting it all up at home. F5.6 – sharpest setting for my lens, give fairly small increments/safe steps, but also keeps the effective aparture at f20 or below to avoid degradation. Have camera on silent setting/electronic shutter etc to reduce vibrations. No flash, Led lights to bring it to base iso 64 at about 1/25s.
Bought license for the lite version of helicon focus to stich the images together – shot stacks of about 100 this time.Noticed I get some ugly outline of the subject, so need to research editing in this software. Looks like I might need to upgrade to pro version for some of the better tools.
For closer up, sharper images at home I'm still waiting for the nisi rail, and suspect I might have to check Allan's vid again on a homemade method to check for vibrations – think these might be real killers to these type of things.
Another thing I noted/learned was that when taking the exact same stack twice with the focus shift function, and using the exact same method in helicon focus – one stack can come out noticably sharper than the other. How this happens, I don't know, but certainly understand why macro shooters may want to take manual control of things.
Even though a lot of time has gone into figuring some things out, I believe it pays off in translating to simple tools and rules of thumb to utilize the focus shift function well in the field as spring approaches.
Even though quite alright, I'm not a hundred percent happy with sharpness yet, so will have to pay mind to vibrations, and try flash as well next time.
So this at about 1.8-1.9X.
This is how little is in focus for a single image at f5.6 at this reproduction ratio, hence why this stacking of many images is needed.
Just pointing out for ppl new or novice to this as myself - didn't realize it would be this extreme until recently.
Then edited the final image in on1raw on a basic level. Advice in some vids is to mass edit the stack in some ways before doing/processing it, but can do/try this later.
Cell phone pic....
The following are the stacks of about a hundred images.
muscari botryoides (Pärlhyacint )
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscari_botryoides
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Thread: 035 Misc Photography Crew
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03-10-2024, 09:07 AM #991
Last edited by steffo99; 03-10-2024 at 10:22 AM.
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03-12-2024, 03:27 AM #992
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03-14-2024, 12:06 AM #993
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03-14-2024, 08:57 AM #994
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03-17-2024, 03:35 AM #995
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03-17-2024, 03:37 AM #996
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03-17-2024, 07:27 PM #997
LOVE the photostream u b petaling, Steffo Dude!
I particularly like the water soaked close ups. I dig seeing things like how I've never seen them, if that makes sense. Evokes a fresh perspective and engages one's sense of wonder.
I got no worthy photos handy, butt I took this a couple weeks back and it's something you don't see every day.
Uhhh... Eagle.
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03-20-2024, 01:33 AM #998
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03-20-2024, 08:50 PM #999
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03-22-2024, 02:53 PM #1000
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03-22-2024, 02:54 PM #1001
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03-22-2024, 09:33 PM #1002
I thought I gave u my contact info butt if not then I'll PM u, Steffo Dude. Would be awesome to see this place thriving butt frankly it's become less and less compelling and more of a mirage of a kind of dumpster fire.
Love the animal shots! Particularly the untrustworthy looking squirrel. Make no mistake that animal would destroy you if given the means. Seriously tho, beautiful shots, brother. You've obvious got patience to go with curiosity and talent so enjoy!
I'd rather not post anything professional here butt one time I had this tropical fish named Wimpy. He grew to almost a foot and when I think aboot it now, I have no idear why or how I could get so attached to a fish, haha! Anyways, it's all good.
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03-24-2024, 05:48 AM #1003
I see what you mean, Chaz.
That is a great looking fish. Wonder if they can display a bit of personality as well? I guess he is always there to listen if one feels chatty. Does a tank like that require daily maintanence I wonder - beautiful, but probably too much work.
Got some Daffodils to shoot tonight - it's like the main easter flower over here (not sure if same over there), but figure if I get a good one I can use it for a postcard to the relatives.
Then sitting down and preparing again for the insect macro thing - writing down the process, steps I need to take and material to use - rehydration, pinning, cleaning - restoring colors, the post shooting if wanna dry them again or just toss everything away. Think I have everything now - chemicals, containers, tools, etc.
Got 20 or so dried bugs - I'll be happy if one or 2 come out ok this first time. Fun just trying something new and so different anyways.
Starting out rewatching this vid and some others again:
Edit: Finished writing up plan, etc and still miss 1 or 2 things...silica packs etc. Soon.Last edited by steffo99; 03-24-2024 at 07:05 AM.
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03-24-2024, 10:08 PM #1004
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03-28-2024, 07:01 AM #1005
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04-15-2024, 01:15 AM #1006
Röhsska Museum, Gothenburg
Was surprised at all the historical items they had in the Asian section. Not well advertised at all. Oldest items were from 2500 BC – and worked a few days on what I got. Put together a slideshow thing of 64 pictures in the link below. Might have to ”click” through it – not sure if I got the auto-timer to work.
https://www.canva.com/design/DAGCd3c..._source=editor
A few samples:
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04-15-2024, 06:35 AM #1007
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04-17-2024, 07:30 AM #1008
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04-18-2024, 07:31 PM #1009
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04-20-2024, 10:05 AM #1010
Dead to live eyes.
Not very technical as a person, although picking up some things here and there regarding editing. Haven't really used masks and layers much and don't quite understand all of it, but got an idea to see if I could give stuffed/dead animals from museums etc some life with new eyes.
Figured if can get a live eye from one pic and then put it as a layer behind the main pic and then paint it through with a brush over the dead eye of the stuffed animal.
Using on1raw and it seems to work ok for a first try. I did overpaint the edges a bit so too much grey comes through from the eye pic. The eye pic is also low res..0.25MB from a google search of another vulture. Upscaled it 400% before using it.
So after opening the eye pic as a layer on the main pic, I used the transform tool to move and scale it to fit the main image. After that, ”hide it” or put it behind/below the the main pic. Then select mask tool on the left and mask brush at the top (and select appropriate size of brush) and then paint in the new eye through from bottom layer over the old and dead one of the main pic.
After that you can smooth out the edges a bit with refine tool brush.
Just wanted to try the idea a bit. Not a 100% result here, but glad it works in principle.
Last edited by steffo99; 04-22-2024 at 12:05 AM.
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04-22-2024, 11:34 AM #1011
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04-22-2024, 12:25 PM #1012
Fieldfare/Snowbird
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fieldfare
Last edited by steffo99; 04-25-2024 at 05:43 AM.
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04-23-2024, 07:10 AM #1013
Small bird that hung around for a bit yesterday.
White wagtail
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_wagtail
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04-27-2024, 07:53 AM #1014
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04-27-2024, 07:02 PM #1015
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04-27-2024, 07:03 PM #1016
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04-29-2024, 03:55 PM #1017
Went to a lake today and it was a bit difficult. Was a lot less birds than expected and either I got strong sun in the eye or they were tiny or too far away. Got some ok ones though.
https://www.canva.com/design/DAGD1pm..._source=editor
Edit:
Found this tiny flower by the side of the road and got an id through google again.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardamine_pratensis
"In folklore it was said to be sacred to the fairies, and so was unlucky if brought indoors."Last edited by steffo99; 04-30-2024 at 09:42 AM.
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05-02-2024, 11:45 AM #1018
Cherry Tree (one of 2 possible European kinds as far as I can tell.) Came across it on my way to a park and had to sneak into somebody's property a bit. Just had the 500 mm with me for birds and such so only got close ups of the flowers. Still got more animal ones to go through...will post soon again.
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05-02-2024, 01:26 PM #1019
Common Blackbird, female this time around (male is black with yellow beak, male youngster grey/black with dark beak.) Hoping to learn a bird a day – should make me an expert by next year or so.
Edit:
Think I have this one ID'd correctly (Herring Gull) - was 2 different gulls that looked very similar. Difficult as bird newb to get any good ones in flight - will practice, or just upgrade eventually to one of these new cameras that just lock on for you.
That's it for me tonight, good sleep to ya'll.Last edited by steffo99; 05-02-2024 at 04:02 PM.
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05-04-2024, 09:58 AM #1020
Still newb at birds in flight and at identifying various species, so may mis-identify some but trying my best. Please feel free to correct me at any time. The Gulls/Terns have several very similar looking ones so seems hard even for experienced ppl to separate them at times. No spectacular exotic species - just me out in a normal park again.
European herring gull (Gråtrut)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_herring_gull
Regular sea gull, I think?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_siskin
It was very dark and far away, but think this is a Eurasian siskin. Easily confused for a slightly larger finch, but guessing I got it right due to size ( tiny 13 grams) and thinner beak. Will go back to the same location again for better light etc.
Common Moorhen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_moorhen
Common Goldeneye, Male and Female
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldeneye_(duck)
First time seeing/noticing such a yellow eye.
Anyways, thanks for having a look and have a good evening.
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