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Do I look like a 17 year old?
Do I look like a 17 year old?
HeiSch


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2008-08 (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro
Date: Aug 16, 2008
Aperture: f 8.0
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/4 sec
Date Uploaded: Aug 19, 2008

 During the last few days I tried a technique where you take several exposures of the same subject at different plains of focus. This technique is to get a virtually unlimited DOF.

What I did:
- I placed the cicada on a white sheet of paper and took 10 exposures (raw) hoping to get every piece of the body into focus on at least one exposure
- created a CS3 file with 10 layers using PHOTO MERGE
- used layer masks to eliminate the areas OOF on each of the layers


Next I downloaded a trial copy of a software I read about in the OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHER and ran all 10 raw files without changing settings through this piece of software.
Here the link Helicon Focus

You can see the results of the merging process here.
But the difference between the manual process and the automated is amazing.

Here the comparison file (not prepped for challenge submission):

I used the 100mm macro lens
F8, 1/4 sec at ISO 100 (aperture prio), + 2/3 correction to address the white background
I used my gorilla pod so there was a little shake and movement while I modified the focus on each exposure. Remote trigger.
The bug is about 3 inches long
The blue tones come from the blue sky

What I learned:
- use a more stable tripod and not the gorilla pod (shake)
- try to reduce the shutter speed (shake)
- use the sweet spot for focus of the lens for maximum sharpness
- make sure to cover all areas of your 'model" (I missed a few spots which are now OOF). Plan for this by looking from the top and predefine spots that represent a good plane of focus. Don't try to 'wing' it while you shoot.
- the software does a much better job than me, less effort and time.
- make sure there is no hairs, dust on the subject
- software cannot be used if there is the slightest movement of or around the model. Than manual work is better. I saw that in an other series of captures with real bad results

Statistics
Place: 150 out of 487
Avg (all users): 5.9658
Avg (commenters): 7.1429
Avg (participants): 5.7679
Avg (non-participants): 6.6176
Views since voting: 1052
Views during voting: 269
Votes: 146
Comments: 11
Favorites: 3 (view)

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AuthorThread
 09/08/2008 07:47:09 PM
5.96??!?! wth, this is ridiculously under-appreciated. Allow me to be your first fave. Great detail, thing looks like an alien and it scares me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/08/2008 06:12:32 PM
i gave this a ten! i thought it was awesome! congrats on such an awesome shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/08/2008 02:05:38 PM
I'm surprised this didn't do better. Great shot. Gave you a 7.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
09/07/2008 11:59:34 AM
Aw, it's a cicada :-) Funky bugs. His wings look look weird to me ... I think I was expecting some sort of reflection there.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2008 08:52:19 AM
wow...great detail
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/06/2008 01:58:02 AM
though im not sure of the title, haha, its great with the colors. they're very rich and stand out against the white backdrop.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/04/2008 10:34:28 AM
This looks absolutely freaking awesome! Wonderful work. (Comment only)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/02/2008 03:51:18 PM
Great detail
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/02/2008 02:38:45 AM
What is that?!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/01/2008 10:22:56 AM
Very cool! Spectacular color and amazing detail. At first glance I thought "over the op processing!", but having stared at it for a few minutes, I think the processing works really, really well in this image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/01/2008 02:01:11 AM
Is this a cicada? Wow!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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