Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar

[Huw_Thomas]

example with vignette

Earlier attempt 1x - but caterpillar was rather camera shy!

Critique Style: Standard

The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.

Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical

About This Image

First time with this new (second hand ) lens - Canon MP-E 65mm /2.8 1-5x Macro - amazing
Its fantastic with its 1-5x magnification but manual focus makes life interesting… and tiny depth of field!

Still trying to show the beauty around me - and getting nice complementary BGs and nice light.

Although I know many don’t, I still prefer using the flash in TTL mode, and finding some nice natural light with the fill in flash just making the subject exposure correct. The background you get seem nicer, rather than dark or black in Manual flash mode - although I see the benefit when stacking.

Feedback Requested

Is this image good, average or poor? Does it need a dark vignette?

Any advice re manual focus and focus stacking welcome. I have done it inside with a tripod and focusing rail - easy!
Whole different ball game outside with critters that move!

In live view, I try and focus on the eyes, pull back a bit so focal plane is infront of the subject and then slowly lean forward firing in slow burst mode. Fast burst is also ok as long as the Godox Flash can cycle quickly enough.

I’m interested really in comments on the first image, technically and artistically, Enough in focus? sharp enough?

Still trying to think colour first in composition, rather than subject. I dont just want to make a beautiful insect portrait, For me it’s as much about the colours in the background, mixing complimentary or autologous colours to add impact.

Stack done competently enough? - this was done in PS - I find zerene better, never tried Helicon.

Final (third) was technically easier at 1x and the stack of 10+ images was okay in PS (I usually use Zerene).
I know some of the hairs have doubled up in the stacking process - really just did this stack for practice.

Third image was never going to work unless I can get the subject to look at me

I definitely prefer a diffuser - so may need to shift my kit around.

Technical Details

Tripod/handheld: handheld
Focus method: manual
Filters: none
Technique: hand held photo stack
Conditions: outside, sunny, breezy

Camera: Canon EOS 90D
Lens: Canon MP-E 65mm /2.8 1-5x Macro
Focal length: 65mm
Shutter speed: 1/250
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 1600
Flash: Godox MP-12 x3

[Huw_Thomas]

Answering my own questions:

Nice colours, probably no vignette, take loads more pics but get better with slower steady movements and faster bursts. Nice start but still some way to go for adequate sharpness. Too many gaps in the stack - move quicker before the subject does!. Get down on the dirt and brace elbows more!

Dont go out on breezy days, find critters that dont move - early cold mornings so get out of bed!!!

Try lens at 1-2x - get better at that before trying 3-5x

Godox M-12 x3 produces catch lights - but they need to be so close to produce light when subject is 1-2 cm from lens glass there isn’t room for a bigger diffuser than they come with. Maybe external flash off camera or led torch with better defuser with side light and then nicer more unusual shadows and lighting.

I can also use an Urth adapter to put the canon mp-e 65mm f/2.8 1-5x macro manual focus lens on my Sony A7iV and so use the AK diffuser.

[Jim_Zablotny]

The lens looks like a good copy. For caterpillar portraits go with a small aperture especially when trying to do a stack. The back edge of the head capsule is soft, so another image was needed to fill that gap. Its easier to pull off when you have better overlap between images. Using a big diffuser will soften those highlights too. Its a good start and like you, I love to be out on a morning with no breeze…Jim.

[Huw_Thomas]

Thanks @Jim_Zablotny

[Mark_Seaver]

Huw, the high magnification means very (to extremely) limited dof. If the camera will let you, automate the stack. I’ve done manual focus stacking at nearly 1:1 and that’s super hard, so it’s hard to imagine manual stacking at higher mag. Definitely without the vignette. The lower magnification view looks good.

[Dennis_Plank]

Nice work on this and a very challenging goal to get focus stacking in the field with that much magnification. I used to shoot Canon and still have my trusty 180 mm f/3.5 macro which I’ve adapted for Sony. On occasion, I’ve taken flower stacks on a somewhat breezy day by waiting for a lull and rotating the focus while holding the camera steady or having it on a tripod and gotten reasonable success. but I think it would be very difficult at 1x and up.

I agree with the no vignette judgement.

I think an off-camera flash would work well and allow the use of a larger diffuser. At one time (before it was broken-not a defect-someone tripped over my tripod at a workshop) I had a twin flash on flexible arms that worked well and I believe @Shirley_Freeman had one that she had added diffusers to. I’m not sure how fast it recycled, though it seemed to do well at low power. If you can light your subject from a couple of inches away, low power is probably adequate to let you use small apertures and get your depth of field up.

[Huw_Thomas]

Thanks @Dennis_Plank

[Huw_Thomas]

Thanks @Mark_Seaver

Its a manual focus only lens so no chance of in-camera stack

[Bill_Fach]

Huw: I think you have way too much time on your hands . For me, handheld stacking is a complete non-starter so I applaud your effort, especially at such high magnifications. I have Sony’s new 100mm macro that goes to 1.4x and 2.8x with a 2xTC on board. Even on a tripod and using a focusing rail I find it almost impossible to get any kind of usable results at highest magnification. I think it might be possible with a camera that allowed auto-stacking but alas my A7rIII isn’t that smart. As for the images themselves, I kind of like the vignette; what do those other guys know ? Thanks for this post and for posing interesting queries and examples. >=))>

[Huw_Thomas]

Thanks @Bill_Fach

I have now moved the MP-E to my Sony a7iv with an urth canon/sony adapter, and can use the APK diffuser and Godox 860iiis so we’ll see what tomorrow brings

I like the darkened edges but the PS burn tool has darkened the yellow to a grey shade just to the right of the head which now looks wrong.

I will go for smaller aperture and faster burst with modest power fill in flash and keep my fingers crossed.

Itching to try macro with dramatically constructed off camera “mood lighting”

Enjoyed the zoom playback of yesterdays zoom presentation - so definitely building my own “to-do” or “what’s next” list of projects.

Regards

Huw

[Kris_Smith (Kristen M Smith)]

This is pretty cool even if it was just an experiment. For years I used an adapted 35mm macro lens and never tried to do any stacking. It was just too tricky even with subjects that didn’t move!

That said, this thread may help you on your stacking journey. I also use Zerene and have a couple of lenses that autofocus for macro work now. That and the focus bracketing function in my cameras has been a game-changer for me in some ways.

Focus Stacking

Rather than continue to hijack Ann Louise’s Orange Petals thread with our stacking sidebar, I thought it might be polite to take it to a separate discussion. Our Weekly Challenge moderator, Mark Seaver, does a lot with stacking and has done some webinars for NPN on the subject, but I thought maybe a catch-all thread could be helpful no matter if you’re an experienced stacker, just starting or even only thinking about it. Since moving from a manual (legacy 35mm) macro lens to a system lens, I’v…

[Huw_Thomas]

Thanks @Shirley_Freeman
Discussion looks really useful thanks

[Shirley_Freeman]

Huw, I am admiring your inquisitive search for other ways to work with macro. I have yet to try stacking. However, as @Dennis_Plank made mention, I have a twin flash, the KuangRen KX-800 and I have an individual DIY diffuser making it appear as one light (which is what we are all used to, one sun). I like that I can adjust each flash’s power individually, move one flash closer to the diffuser or further away, etc. My problem these days is lack of subjects in my yard and way too hot to be out there to take photos, which may be the reason I am not seeing many insects. So, I haven’t taken anything with my setup lately. I love shooting macro. It’s like a whole other universe! Keep shooting. I’m enjoying.

[Huw_Thomas]

@Shirley_Freeman thanks

[timothy3 (Timothy Sutherland)]

I really like the first image. The colors are great. For my taste I don’t think you need the vignette. Really like how you put it all together.

[Huw_Thomas]

Thanks @timothy3

[JRajput]

Great effort and wonderful results !

If you are keen on vignette, you can apply but it shouldn’t be visible to naked eye and it becomes more challenging in the BG like this.