Seedpods

Nice picture.
How do you manage to get a large area to remain focused?
Macro is a bit of a black art at the moment

Check out 'focus stacking' for technique. But 20 - was it combined in RAW? Must have been a massive file.

No. I did all the preprocessing of the RAW files and the resizing on each image and only then gave the set to CombineZP. The final output was saved as a jpeg and only then was it shapenned slightly. I can't see the point of trying to combine the RAW files

Andy .....
As to macro photography in general, there is a lot of very useful info at http://extreme-macro.co.uk/

It is also worth buying a set of extension tubes off Ebay which will allow you to get very close up shots. The main trick here, as with all macro work is to ignore auto focus and do it manually (in fact, use a manual lens!). Focus it roughly and then sway your body gently backwards and forwards. The subject will go in and out of focus and the red square will appear, with a beep each time you pass through the optimum position. Now you know where it is you can sway just up to that point < red square, beep, green hexagon ! > and Click! It takes a bit of practice but once you get the idea, it's easy. And if the subject isn't going to run away, use a tripod and Live View.

I hope that helps a bit