For this month’s image, I chose this one of an Opilion. This is a curious creature because, at first sight, you might think it is a spider, but in reality, it isn’t. Its body is oval or round because its two body segments are fused into one. They don’t have glands that produce silk or venom, so they are harmless. They only have two eyes, whereas spiders have eight. They feed on organic material, small insects, and fungi.
I took thirty focus-stacking images to capture all the details. Because of its long legs, the subject covers quite a wide area, requiring a greater depth of field to keep everything in focus.
I first let the camera stack all the images, and it produced a nice, detailed result. However, I noticed some blur in an area around one of the front legs. So, I decided to do the exercise manually in Photoshop: I took all the individual images, aligned them, and stacked them again. I got a new image that, in my opinion, has less blur in that area than the one produced by the camera.
I have attached the three images to make the comparison easier. The two final images have been edited using the same settings to keep the comparison as consistent as possible.
The image was taken this week in my flower garden, handheld and using natural light.
Maria, I have never seen this creature. You did a very good job with focus stacking. You always find cooperative critters. I count 10 legs. The Opiliones are an order of arachnids (they belong to the same group as the spiders), colloquially known as harvestmen, harvesters, daddy long legs, or granddaddy long legs. Over 6,650 species of harvestmen have been discovered worldwide. Posted: 10/03/2026 20:13:52
Richard Goldenberg
Hi Maria - Like Isaac, I have never seen this very interesting little creature. I'm impressed you managed to stack 30 images taken handheld! I've just begun to experiment with stacking and even with fewer images am struggling with doing it with images taken handheld. I've been meaning to "break out the tripod," but haven't gotten around to it yet. Anyway, the detail on the center of your creature and the spikes on the legs is remarkable! Posted: 10/05/2026 13:01:38
Julia Tanner
Maria, great methodical approach that shows your dedication to producing the very best from your photos. Excellent detail, and the opilion stands out well against the plush green foliage blur. I'm at the beginning of my own macro journey, and in-camera focus stacking is on the list. This image is inspiring. Posted: 10/07/2026 13:00:40
Maria Small
Maria, once again, your image leaves me dumbfounded, not because I am dumb (ha! ha! ha!), but beyond impressed with your mastery of using focus stacking not only in camera but in Photoshop as well. And you must have x-ray vision to see the minutest details in your images and make them stand out. And to top it all, you're able to capture this tiny creature in such a fetching pose, displaying its long, hairy legs against a soft and luminous green background. Posted: 10/08/2026 17:59:37
