# Feeding Time **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** macro-close-up\ **Created:** [September 8, 2024, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feeding-time/43083 "2024-09-08T16:51:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SkipsPics](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/skipspics/32/60408_2.png) [@SkipsPics](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/SkipsPics)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feeding-time/43083/1 "2024-09-08T16:51:52Z")
![2024-09-08 11-44-01 (B,R8,S4).jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/1/b/1b9844f9a68da402f0dd9476ad0353506d063157.jpeg) ![2024-09-08 12-04-45 (B,R8,S4).jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/d/6/d63846f6754104e4cb34eed66cd3f41280c23b37.jpeg) > **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_ > > The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image. ### Description This is my first attempt at stacking. The first pic has 53 shots. Not sure on the second. This was probably not a good first choice to try and stack because some of the caterpillar’s were slightly moving, as can be seen. It was still fun to try. Maybe a shot of just a couple? ### Specific Feedback Looking for all the help on stacking. I should have cropped the second one more on the Rt. side. ### Technical Details Canon 5D SR, 100mm MACRO, f/11, 1/200sec, ISO 800 Helicon Focus 8 for stacking, Topaz for noise, PS for Saturation, Brightness/Contrast * * * ### Critique Template Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas. - Vision and Purpose: - Conceptual: - Emotional Impact and Mood: - Composition: - Balance and Visual Weight: - Depth and Dimension: - Color: - Lighting: - Processing: - Technical: ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feeding-time/43083/2 "2024-09-08T18:03:56Z")
John: What a mob scene! I hope you have a good supply of milkweed because I know how fast these guys go through it. I don’t do a lot of stacking but I think you would find it easier to start with a completely stationary subject. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy Helicon is to work with. You might contact Mark Seaver directly if you need stacking help. He is a certified wizard. \>=))\> ---
**Author:** ![SkipsPics](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/skipspics/32/60408_2.png) [@SkipsPics](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/SkipsPics)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 7:00pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feeding-time/43083/3 "2024-09-08T19:00:07Z")
Your right Bill. I had to go to the nursery and get more, without bugs. I was sitting and watching them sleep this morning before they started devouring breakfast. LOL. And I thought it might be a good time to try and get a picture of all of them or at least a hand full anyway. By the time I got set up, the sun was hitting them and they started moving and eating, I’m wondering if I should get more or wait and hope they start taking off to J-Hook then chrysalis. Milkweed is not cheap know more, even if it is a weed. But it’s worth it if I have to. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 7:30pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feeding-time/43083/4 "2024-09-08T19:30:15Z")
You might get by with just a couple, John. Another option, depending on your climate is to get our really early in the morning to take the stack. Being cold blooded, they’re more lethargic in the mornings (hopefully). Definitely a cool exercise and I commend your bravery in trying to stack moving subjects. I actually really like the composition in the first image a lot. The caterpillars are nicely distributed in the frame as is the vegetation. Lighting is also very good. ---
**Author:** ![SkipsPics](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/skipspics/32/60408_2.png) [@SkipsPics](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/SkipsPics)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 8:36pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feeding-time/43083/5 "2024-09-08T20:36:21Z")
I was up early and yes, they are a lot more lethargic in the morning. But, by the time I was ready, and set up, they were starting to move. I have a lot of shots but not of a lot of them together. Thought I’d try with stacking. Thanks Dennis. @Dennis_Plank for the good comments. Trying to pick up stacking. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Williams](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ed_williams/32/65698_2.png) [@Ed\_Williams](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ed_Williams)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 9:14pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feeding-time/43083/6 "2024-09-08T21:14:37Z")
What a mob scene Skip. This is such a cool project. In fact it would probably make a good photo project at some point . . . interesting thought. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Freeman](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/shirley_freeman/32/11361_2.png) [@Shirley\_Freeman](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Shirley_Freeman)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 12:37pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feeding-time/43083/7 "2024-09-09T12:37:58Z")
John, at least you have tried stacking, I haven’t yet. I’m just impressed with the many caterpillars that you have in one place! ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feeding-time/43083/8 "2024-09-09T13:40:35Z")
John, you’ve got a plethora of Caterpillars… 😀 Definitely a fun photo. While things that move can be stacked, getting a good stack depends a lot of when they move and how they move. You caterpillars are mostly nice and sharp, but everyone of the is surrounded by a blurred region that comes from a fundamental law of optics, that stacking cannot overcome. I also see blurred leaf regions (mostly edges) suggesting that the leaves were also moving and in the second view, there are a couple of repeated edges, which is another artifact that appears when there is motion during a stack. I suggest that you practice stacking on a single caterpillar or outside on things that don’t move or only move slightly during the stack. That will let you better understand what stacks can and cannot do. ---
**Author:** ![SkipsPics](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/skipspics/32/60408_2.png) [@SkipsPics](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/SkipsPics)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 2:43pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feeding-time/43083/9 "2024-09-09T14:43:39Z")
Your so right. This was more of a last minute thought. I actually tried to stack several shots. Going back and looking at them I see movement in all of them. This was a learning curve for me. I wanted to put these out there for the feed back. I will start slower on the stacking and with no movement. I also wanted to ck out the software I used, how it works, etc… Baby steps LOL Thanks Mark. @Mark_Seaver