seems the macro forum is pretty much uninhabited but i'll give it a go..

I'm blown by the quality of the macros posted in the gallery here, so 3D-like. Any macro-expert can give tips on how to achieve this level of overall sharpness of the subjects?

I mean, i have a Nikon 105VR f/2.8. At 1:1 the DOF with both D300 and D700 never seem to be enough. It's always very shallow and only one tiny area in focus even at f/22. I'm looking forward to achieve this 3D-like look the images posted here have.

how to? you tell me......please???? is it the wrong lens for macros of this kind? Do they use software like Helicon for this?

I'd appreciate any tips you can give me.

thaaaaaaaanks !

Not an expert in macro myself nico3d, not even any good! but I believe some folk use the focus stacking software to great effect such as Helicon or CombineZM to achieve better front to back focus. Another alternative is to use a compact or bridge camera which has inherently more DOF due to their sensor size, these can typically focus a few cm from the subject but can obviously introduce complications when shooting insects say.

This is all conjecture from me as I still can't achieve the high standard of results on here even though I have a dedicated 105mm macro lens, Raynox 250 and a quality bridge camera. It is not so much the DOF I have trouble with, it keeping interesting bugs still enough to capture them that I find problematic.

JP

LOL :-)

Yes I think John is right, many of the very close macro shots are stacked.

But you can make very nice images with that lens, you just have to find the right angle to shoot from. If you know what I mean :-)

This http://1x.com/photos/member/8433/25689/ is shot at f/7,1

and

This http://1x.com/photos/member/8433/25178/ is shot at f/11

But if you are very close, you will need to stack your images.

Hope this helps :-)

/Wulff

This is the place of a talented macro photographer who has written some really nice tutorials describing his methods.
http://myrmecos.wordpress.com/articles/


As John points out, some shots here are not possible to shoot under natural conditions. For example, there's a whole field of "studio macro" photography which produce fantastic images of either caught animals or animals that have been bred by the photographer her/-himself. Then it's just a matter of choosing yourself what you want to capture - real life events or other types of set-ups where you yourself set the stage. That's just a matter of taste.

Personally I prefer to shoot real events and unaltered scenes, but I still much enjoy to look at macro-studio shots because sometimes you just get blown away!

Good luck
/johan

Not only macros but in this iste all the pictures have overall great sharpness.

It's kind of relieving to hear that many might be using software like Helicon otherwise I'd RELLY feel useless or at least I'd think i have no f....clue of what I do.

hahah john, you are sooo right! most of the time it's those damn bugs that just never stand still !!! not to mention the slightest breeze blowing!

thanks for the link Johan !!

Uzay, you are right, and sometimes to an absurd unnecessary level!

If you want to shoot real insects out in the "wilderness" you will need a white umbrella or somethin like that to keep the wind away. And a sturdy tripod, a f 2.8 telemacro lens with a teleconverter and a shutter cable. If you prefocus on some of the flowers then you will just have to wait or maybe try laying out some bait, sugar, jam, honey or something like that. It might be possible to do handheld, but then you might try a little flash light to stop the movement and keep a small apperture for greater DOF.

Let's see some unaltered macro shots!

It seems photography has come to who's the best at photoshop and not photography itself.

I would really like to see some macro images without any post-p.

Click the shutter, post the image...

I have and they don't post. Even with FireFox.

In the mean time where's some of yours???

I don't understand your inability to post images. Firefox will not post anything to the internet, it displays stuff you post there through some other software and/or site. If you want to post your image get a flickr account or start your own site.

You are welcome to browse my portfolio here at 1x, not any macro shots. But, you can see plenty of unaltered macro shots on my personal website:

www.clydebeamer.com

Click through the images in reverse order or click "About" in the upper right to see a list of my galleries.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=419717635123&set=a.381231550123.168010.230715650123&type=1

I have spoken over years about how some photographers get these super close up without the dreature moving, and stacking is possible quite easily.
Insects find it difficult even impossible to move when extremely cold, the dedicated macro photographer is not above catching examples of an insect, and in a container putting it in the fridge for a few hours. Make a convincing table top set, put the cold insect on the set (do not freeze as it gets a frost coating) in the desired position and you have a reasonable time too rake your stacked pictures. When it warms up off it goes, if you haven't killed in in the process that is.
Butterflies & moths are favourite creatures for this treatment.

Patrick

Do you mean - all in focus...? Is that all you want? Everything in focus?
I have that same lens..and it is pretty easy to get everything all if focus at F22!! All you need is light.

Or are you talking about subjects so small that you cannot get to them without going beyond the minimum focus distance of the lens?

Also..what PP will you allow? I mean curves/adjustments..are they okay?

The lens itself is a real Pain..because the AF on it is absolutely TERRIBLE...on the 105mm but still if you use a tripod it should be fine..or hand hold but use manual focus.
Phyl
I wanted to add that when I was using a compact Nikon digital camera where you could get up to one inch away and still shoot..it took very sharp photos...very close in....