Inputs requested

[sury]

I was reading an article on macro photography and was intrigued by the
approach the author was talking about and tried it today. I would appreciate
your input and feedback on my attempts. The approach was counter intuitive
to typical macro photography where in, every attempt is made to increase the
DoF as much as possible. The author was suggested focus stacking with wide
open shots so that there is a good bokeh and only a shorter region is in focus.
To paraphrase the author, it is not about representing the object in reality but
capturing an artistic interpretation of the object on the camera.

Here are few examples using CZ24f2 lens and +10 CUL. This is a 25 image stack using
ZS. All are taken without flash on a tripod using WL remote.

[Birma]

Hi Sury, for me those are fabulous pictures. I much prefer the shots with subtle lighting like you have there (a window source perhaps?) and the soft background is one which I really like and always try to achieve with my flower shots. If I had to think of an improvement I would possibly bring up the shadows a bit in pp, perhaps playing with levels to give a bit more 'umph'.

The 25 shots does seem like a lot of hard work for this effect. I wonder what you'd get with a 100mm macro at f8 or perhaps more?

[sury]

Andy,
Thank you for your suggestions. I think I may have incorrectly classified the middle one
as CZ24f2. The second one was taken with Vivitar 90f2.5 macro. My apologies. You are
right about 100mm range. The middle one does have a floating feel to it (for me at least).
As for pop, and blacks, let me work on it. BTW, the lighting was incandescent in the house.
I am posting it here to illustrate my observation. The second example here was with 1:1 coupler that
came with Vivitar.

With best regards,
Sury

Vivitar 90mmf2.5


Vivitar 90mmf2.5 + 1:1 coupler. 10 images focus stacked using ZS

[Dr. Harout]

Sury, may I ask the purpose for using a CUL with the 2/24

[sury]

I was going for magnification Doc. Now that you mentioned (or should I say suggested
otherwise in your own subtle way - ), I will try some without any CUL at all.
My choice for CZ is bokeh.

Sury

[sury]

Andy,
Did a bit of tweak to get more "umph" to the shot. Is this better?

[Birma]

Definitely more 'umph' in that one Sury, I like it !

[the_hefay]

I liked the first version quite a bit. But I like this version even more. Well done!

[sury]

Thank you Andy, the_hefay. This exploration helped me learn another way to visualize; focus painting
which probably is a old hat for most (of you). But this old dog is learning .....

Sury

[Birma]

I had to look up focus painting Sury - I might have a play now I have PS

http://photoblogstop.com/photoshop/sele ... us-or-blur

[sury]

Thanks for the link Andy. Looks interesting. I wonder if the technique works on PS7.
Will give it a try at home tonight. I am also thinking if we can couple a gradient tool
to the flow and make the blur smoother. Just thinking aloud. To paraphrase the Sam Cooke
song "What a wonderful world", (with due apologies, never the les), don't know much about PS7, don't know much about
CS3, all I know is I love photography.


Sury