David Terao
June 2020 - White Nigella
Original
About the Image(s)
I've been trying to get a decent image of a White Nigella flower for several years, but could never quite get it right. Usually, I would come too early or too late. This time, I got there at the right time. I used a 12-image focus stack to get all the spiky thorns in focus. Fortunately, it was a calm day to get a good focus stack, and this one flower also had a nice dark background. It looked like a floating cloud. I used Photoshop to stack the images and Nik/DxO's Vivesa to brighten and darken local areas.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
9 comments posted
Beautiful - What else can one say?! A fine example of what image stacking can do. It would have been interesting, for comparison, to have included a single, non-stacked image taken at f64. Posted: 06/02/2020 12:15:16
Thanks, Ray. I did take some shots at f/22, but the tips of the thorns closest to the camera weren't in focus, and the background was too much in focus and became distracting. I don't do much focus stacking, so I was quite please with this attempt. Posted: 06/02/2020 12:35:54
Spectacular! The details, blurred background and graceful flow of the petals and greenery are wonderful. I wouldn't change a thing and would frame and hang on my wall. Posted: 06/04/2020 09:39:08
A great shot! Everything so sharp I get the impression I can reach in the touch the pedals. Beautifully done. How about giving us a shot lesson on focus stacking?! Posted: 06/04/2020 13:27:08
I found a short tutorial on focus stacking that is almost identical to the way I do it. Exceptions are: 1) I use a Fuji X-T30 rather than a X-T20; 2)I use the Laowa 65mm 2.8 lens rather than the Laowa 25mm; 3) I don't use a focus rail, but rather just manually focus the lens in small increments; 4) I use Photoshop to stack the images rather than Serene Stacker software. Here's the article:
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/64018003 Posted: 06/08/2020 05:53:47
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/64018003 Posted: 06/08/2020 05:53:47
Thanks for the info. Don Posted: 06/08/2020 10:25:34
WOW, so so nice an image, a lot to learn, to try :) Posted: 06/04/2020 15:25:41
Absolutely stunning image! I do a fair amount of Macro photography and some stacking as well. I usually find that I end up with petals or leaves that are blurry. Great job getting all the thorns and petals sharp. Plus, the flower does look like a floating cloud. Posted: 06/17/2020 22:49:36
It is very beautiful flower image. The very sharp multiple and vertical stamens catch my eyes. The focus stacking technique is very worthwhile to try!
Posted: 06/23/2020 00:22:39
Posted: 06/23/2020 00:22:39