Thanks. I see what you mean. I'd actually darkened the shadows on the bud during post processing so as to emphasise the rim lighting. Here's what it looks like with shadows lifted a bit, just a quick levels adjustment on the final processed image, Not the same as real lighting but going in the same direction.

Breathing on it sounds interesting - must try it. But for every shot of a 90+ shot stack? I'd need a lie down afterwards!!




Steve

The latest focus stack challenge has been a sticky bud (horse chestnut). A tricky blighter - everything sticks to it (including dust :twisted, mustn't touch it, reflects from convex shiny surface. But finally managed it without the result being too shabby (to my eyes, at least). And yes, if you look hard you can see a strand of very fine spider web - all part of the real world rather than a carefully cleaned up 'perfect' photographic subject. See what you think. How would you tackle a sticky bud?

K3 + Sigma 70mm macro + many bits of black and cream card to get light where wanted and not where unwanted. Stack of 92 images by Affinity Photo.

Thoughts, comments etc. welcome as usual.




Steve

Looks like 2 hours well spent . Is that loco printed? It looks very good.

Yeah, those birds can be so unreliable. No birds for me a couple of years ago, then this year saw the most ever. As for the beer ... did you really need an excuse?

Steve

Doubt it, I've never heard of anyone doing it (and I've got a K20D so keep an eye open for this sort of thing) and it might be a capacitor rather than a battery. The Pentax Q is renowned for doing the same. Just have to live with it. Based on Q experience, it's worth getting the replacement battery lined up ready to go in then do the swap as quickly as possible. It sometimes works with the Q so it might also work with the K20D. But don't bank on it!

Steve

Thanks LB. I must admit that the thought of SDM failure puts me off the 60-250mm f4, particularly as conversion to screwdrive doesn't seem to be possible. There do seem to be a number for sale in the usual places with failed AF and working AF seems to command a price significantly above £400. Your Sigma 100-300mm fits the bill on everything but size and weight. Definitely not an 'in the bag just in case' lens and not something I'd like to carry around with the DA300mm f4! But it does raise the question of whether it could replace the DA300mm on those occasions when I expect to need both 300mm + TC and a tele-zoom.

I was wondering whether someone might suggest an F or FA or older non-Pentax that would do the job but perhaps I'm looking for the impossible!

Steve

Thank, folks. Appreciated.
I use the focus merge (i.e. stacking) option in Affinity Photo. Just load the jpg's, press 'start' and it does the rest. Easy, quick and the results seem OK. I've often wondered whether to get specialist stacking software, but haven't (yet) been convinced that it would be better than Affinity Photo for the sort of macro I do. Perhaps one day...

Steve

This appeared after a flower died on one of those trailing cacti with long, thin, 5mm diameter stems. Goodness knows whether there are viable seeds inside, but they are so easy to propagated by breaking off and planting a bit of stem that it really doesn't matter. We're just enjoying the splash of colour.

K3 + Sigma 70mm macro, almost 1:1 magnification. Stack of 69 (more than really necessary!) processed with Affinity Photo V1.

Thoughts, comments etc. welcome as usual.




Steve

"Red sky at night, shepherd's delight. Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning" - and you had both! Lovely clouds, lovely colours . Only grey around here at the moment...

Steve

Is this a response to my 'Tele-zoom lens advice, please' thread I started this morning in the Lenses for Pentax Cameras section???

Steve

What a beauty! But methinks its too pretty and too rare to risk getting it scratched while bug hunting in the undergrowth ... .

Steve