Tom Brassil
October 2024 - Auger Shell
About the Image(s)
This month I played around with focus stacking for macro photography, very time consuming and for me frustrating, it took several attempts to get the right settings.
Placing a multiplier on the camera and using focus shift in camera to capture approx. 100 images then using software (Helicon focus) to meld the images together. Placed orange light in background to simulate late afternoon effect. Aiming to show the layers of the shell, perhaps showing the growth of the shell over time, reminiscent of an onion layer to me. The section of the shell is 50 mm approx. 2 inches.
Settings 1/15 sec F10 ISO 160
Thanks for viewing and comments.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
10 comments posted
Hi Tom,
My first impression of your image was "WOW". All of your work paid off and you produced a very interesting image. When I first looked at this image, I saw an eye and a mouth, and I thought this was an image of a prehistoric animal. I like the image as is but I had a few possible options for you. First one was to turn the background black and leave the rest in color. My second suggestion is to convert the image to B&W. Again, this is a very interesting image.
Thanks for sharing.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 10/11/2024 17:58:41
My first impression of your image was "WOW". All of your work paid off and you produced a very interesting image. When I first looked at this image, I saw an eye and a mouth, and I thought this was an image of a prehistoric animal. I like the image as is but I had a few possible options for you. First one was to turn the background black and leave the rest in color. My second suggestion is to convert the image to B&W. Again, this is a very interesting image.
Thanks for sharing.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 10/11/2024 17:58:41
Thank you Greg, I Do like both your suggestions Posted: 10/16/2024 08:41:35
Hi Tom - Living most of my life in a land-locked state, I don't believe I've seen an Auger Shell before. I also don't know what a multiplier is (nor have a seen such a device; assumes it helps create the multitudes of images utilized) so have a lot to learn about the process as you've explained it. That said, the results are beautiful. The lighting works and the image stacking has produced the tack-sharp quality that shows off the shell's texture nicely. Questions - what am I looking at just inside the opening of the shell? How do you know how many images will work best? Thanks - Posted: 10/16/2024 19:23:23
Hi Darcy, thank you for those comments. The opening inside the shell is just the shell being damaged, missing section. I actually liked that being there as it gave an extra element but as others have posted it may be better to clone it out altogether. The multiplier basically they are relatively cheap they go in between the lens and the camera it's just an extension. There's no optics involved. They change the multiplication factor and they come in different size is typically 1.4 and 2 times, you can stack them together to provide larger multiplication factor. The number of images is pure guest work and depending on F stops, obviously wide open a lot less in Focus, you're going to need quite a few more shots on a image then if you would have say F 8 or F 11 wider focus area few shots are needed. I hope that makes some degree of sense probably not thanks for the comments Tom Posted: 10/25/2024 02:44:38
Hi Tom -
Great job with the focus stacking- I've only tried once and didn't fare so well. Your image is nice and sharp.
I agree with Darcy - the hole in the lower left is so bright - at first it looked like a stone just floating inside. I would mask and try and match the stones to the left in brightness. Posted: 10/17/2024 12:07:33
Great job with the focus stacking- I've only tried once and didn't fare so well. Your image is nice and sharp.
I agree with Darcy - the hole in the lower left is so bright - at first it looked like a stone just floating inside. I would mask and try and match the stones to the left in brightness. Posted: 10/17/2024 12:07:33
Hi Erin, thank you for your comments, as you and others have suggested I need to clone in the missing section Posted: 10/25/2024 02:48:32
Hi Tom. I'm very impressed with your technical skill at using focus stacking to create such a lovely sharp image. When I first looked at it, I mistakenly thought that the orange rocks showing through the hole in the shell were some colorful organism sitting inside the shell, but now that I realize what it is, it makes a lot more sense. My only suggestion would be to reduce the saturation of the orange just a little. How far away from the shell was your camera? It looks like an uncomfortble spot to be so close up.... :) Posted: 10/21/2024 21:15:08
Hi Ingrid, thank you for your comments, the saturation is a bit heavy and could do with a bit of toning down. Distance too cameras around 6 inches I recall. But it was on a table at home not at the beach, so not as uncomfortable as appears :) Posted: 10/25/2024 02:52:10
Hi Tom,
I, too, am impressed with the technical skill it took to create such a beautiful, sharp image. I do think you might try desaturating the red a bit to help bring the viewer's focus back to that wonderful shell.
Thanks for sharing with - and humbling - us!
Karen Posted: 10/23/2024 02:52:28
I, too, am impressed with the technical skill it took to create such a beautiful, sharp image. I do think you might try desaturating the red a bit to help bring the viewer's focus back to that wonderful shell.
Thanks for sharing with - and humbling - us!
Karen Posted: 10/23/2024 02:52:28
Thank you, Karen, I took this on a table at home, found the shell on a walk, and did quite a few experiments to get the set-up right. Interesting hobby we share, always something to experiment with. Thank you tom Posted: 10/25/2024 02:56:46