Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: John R on July 25, 2018, 07:38:39 pm

Title: Geranium macro
Post by: John R on July 25, 2018, 07:38:39 pm

Geraniums taken with 100 mm macro and extension tube. Jpeg straight out of camera. Depth of field is limited to 2.8 because I am using mechanical extension tubes that can't interface with electronic controls. So have to hunt for something suitable.  It seems no one wants to manufacture electronic tubes for Pentax. In meantime I will try some focus stacking.

JR

(https://photos.smugmug.com/On-the-Road/i-pvGLnRN/0/09f0f798/M/JMRO0299%20July%2025-%202018%20copy1000-M.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/On-the-Road/i-hnjMTVF/0/bc2893bc/M/JMRO0273%20July%2025-%202018%20Geraniums%20copy1000-M.jpg)

Title: Re: Geranium macro
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 25, 2018, 07:48:35 pm

That's quite a promising image, even with cantankerous equipment.

Title: Re: Geranium macro
Post by: RSL on July 25, 2018, 07:49:58 pm

Nicely done, John.

Title: Re: Geranium macro
Post by: John R on July 26, 2018, 12:31:10 am

Quote from: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 25, 2018, 07:48:35 pm

That's quite a promising image, even with cantankerous equipment.

Thanks Eric and Russ for your thoughts. Eric, of course I only want to keep certain areas sharp and maintain the beautiful combination of in-focus vs out-of-focus areas and thereby maintain the aesthetic appeal. F2.8 is extremely shallow and most of the time not desirable. You can see what I am after from the second attached image.

JR

Title: Re: Geranium macro
Post by: francois on July 26, 2018, 06:17:10 am

Very punchy! I like them both with a very slight preference for the first one.
Well done.

Title: Re: Geranium macro
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 26, 2018, 09:28:57 am

I like 'em both. But then again, I'm a card-carrying member of the John R Fan Club.   ;)

Title: Re: Geranium macro
Post by: John R on July 30, 2018, 09:58:23 pm

For the card carrying member (with many thanks) and all who love the aesthetic look.

JR

(https://photos.smugmug.com/On-the-Road/i-dRKpxHc/0/7d36ac08/M/July%2012-%202018%20Geraniums%205%20copy1000-M.jpg)

Title: Re: Geranium macro
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 31, 2018, 12:15:05 am

Thank you for that one, John.

Title: Re: Geranium macro
Post by: Arlen on July 31, 2018, 09:17:32 pm

That aesthetic is a favorite of mine too, John. I'm particularly fond of the 2nd and 3d ones, which seem to me to best hit the mark.

Title: Re: Geranium macro
Post by: John R on August 01, 2018, 12:41:52 pm

Thanks Arlen. The first was supposed to be part of a stack, but it came out horribly. 2 and 3 are stacked but with only one or two in the stack. It's almost the only way to get what you want in focus (using razor thin depth of field) and still preserve the bokeh. But I am working on it to see if can master this focus stacking.

JR

Title: Re: Geranium macro
Post by: Arlen on August 01, 2018, 12:47:53 pm

Focus stacking is fun to play with. I used to use a focus rail for stacking, but now with the built-in focus stacking capability of the Olympus E-M1 that I have, it is much easier.