Doug Wolters
May 2020 - Daffodil Close-up
About the Image(s)
This Daffodil was the first stack I made in my current obsession with stacking botanicals – now over 220 (which is winding down). I experimented with stacking wide open, which results in some very sharp areas & soft areas, largely unpredictably. Do you like the effect? Stack of 56, shot on a rail with my Canon 5D Mark III, Canon EF 100 f/2.8 L Macro lens, 1/15 sec. at f / 2.8, ISO 125.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
5 comments posted
(Group 95)
Beautifully done stacking. The intense but natural colors and the angle you chose show this daffodil to best advantage. Nice diffused lighting and a wonderful balance of lights and shadows complete a well composed image. Great job! Posted: 05/15/2020 22:39:13
(Group 57)
Nice image Doug, and I do like the effect. It has a nice blend of soft areas and sharp areas. and as Carol mentioned the angle if perfect for this composition.
I tried doing some stacking of the grass head that I have for my submittal this month. After shooting it outside, I then brought it indoors to try to get more depth. It was way too windy to try any stacking outdoors. I did a sequence of 70 stacked shots which turned out OK except in areas where the fine hairs were thick and close together, it was too soft. Don't know if I didn't get good 'slices' in my stacking, or the lighting wasn't right. Most of the light was coming from front-right which I'm thinking may have cast shadows back onto the hairs behind. What is your favorite lighting set-up for these macros? Posted: 05/17/2020 15:09:24
I tried doing some stacking of the grass head that I have for my submittal this month. After shooting it outside, I then brought it indoors to try to get more depth. It was way too windy to try any stacking outdoors. I did a sequence of 70 stacked shots which turned out OK except in areas where the fine hairs were thick and close together, it was too soft. Don't know if I didn't get good 'slices' in my stacking, or the lighting wasn't right. Most of the light was coming from front-right which I'm thinking may have cast shadows back onto the hairs behind. What is your favorite lighting set-up for these macros? Posted: 05/17/2020 15:09:24
(Groups 10 & 80)
No matter how many slices I have (actually, never as many as 70), there are still soft areas around curves. It's not the lighting. I always use natural light for my botanicals this year. (For my leaves, I only use artificial light.) The music room has 2 sources of light -- a group of 5-6 windows & around the corner, 2 windows. So, most of light almost always comes from the left. I am lucky to have the tall rectangular windows. There is no softness in your image I find disturbing. Posted: 05/21/2020 20:06:56
(Group 57)
Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I think you are lucky to have good sources of natural light. I can't set up in the living room, where there is a nice bay window without upsetting the rest of the family <;-) Good point about about softness around curves. Posted: 05/26/2020 11:50:34
This is beautiful. I love it. I feel like I should be able to reach out and touch the petals. Stacking is something I have yet to try, but it is high on my list of want to's (which is quite long). Posted: 05/21/2020 14:30:51