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Category: Macro Photography Tip

Photography Question 

Diane Dupuis
 

Need Help with Focusing Macros


 
  focus problems
focus problems

Diane Dupuis

 
  focus problems
focus problems

Diane Dupuis

 
 
OK - I need your advice! Please see the pictures enclosed. I want to know why the middle part of the flower (I believe it is called the stigma) is out of focus in these shots, although the rest is OK. Is there anything I am doing wrong? Or is there a special setting to get it right? Any advice you have is greatly appreciated. I'm using the Fujifilm S5000 on macro mode.


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June 22, 2004

 

Jon Close
  This is typical of macro shots. At extremely close focus distances, the depth of field is measured in fractions of an inch. All you can do is set the smallest aperture your camera allows (highest f/number).


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June 22, 2004

 

Mark O'Brien
  Unless you are using a camera that has depth of field preview (somthing found only on SLRs), you really do not have much control in this regard, except to shoot at the smallest aperture possible for maximum range of focus in a macro shot. Having said that, and not knowing anything about your camera, two things you can do:
1. use a tripod so that you can use the smallest aperture in manual mode--exposure will be longer, so you need the camera steady.
2. if you can't determine the depth of field, focus at a midpoint --instead of the petals of the flower, just above them slightly so that the stamens will also be in focus.

For maximum control -- use a film or digital slr for macro shots. See my web page: http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/~mfobrien/macro/

Good luck


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June 29, 2004

 

Wing Wong
  Basically what the previous two posters have said. :)

If you look at my gallery, I just posted up a flower pic as well, "Intense red flower" or some such name. It is possible to get the stamen and the petals both in relative focus, but you end up needing to line up the parts you want in focus... which may result in a poorly composed picture. :(

One method which might help is to composite two images focused at different depths so that you get the stamens in focus in one and the petals in another and even perhaps the deep well of the flower as well. Then, in Photoshop or other, you blend the three together to create a flower which is fully in focus. This, however, can prove to be difficult due to differences in scale when the focus is aimed at different depths. :

A side effect of stepping down your lens is that your image, overall, may lose sharpness. Though I think this only ever happens at tiny apertures and long exposures. But something still to lookout for.

I don't remember if whether using an ND filter in conjunction with your smallest aperture and a long exposure would help with getting more of the flower in focus. Might be worth a try.

Wing


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July 08, 2004

 
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