Category Archives: Helicon Focus

Helicon Focus – Spider Web

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Helicon Focus Spider Web - D700, 70-200 w/1.3 + 500D

Helicon Focus Spider Web – D700, 70-200 w/1.3 + 500D

I have been experimenting with Helicon Focus lately trying to add some depth of field to the garden close ups. This spider web is a 8 image stack shot at f/6.3. I want to keep the background as soft as possible but also want some very sharp detail in the focus of the image. Works pretty well as long as things don’t move between images in the stack. Here is a full size 100% view of the spider, see the web and tiny drops of water, not happening in a single image shot…click to view a little larger.

Helicon Focus Spider Web, full size view - D700, 70-200 w/1.3 + 500D

Helicon Focus Spider Web, full size view – D700, 70-200 w/1.3 + 500D

Great Mantis Shoot – 2013

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Newly Hatched Mantis - 70-200mm w/500D

Newly Hatched Mantis – D700, 70-200mm w/500D, 3 image stack

This first image is some newly hatched mantis from the second of four egg sacks in the garden this year. These guys are only a couple of days old and about 3/8th of an inch long. I used Helicon Focus to stack three images together to get more than the head of one mantis in focus.

The next two images also use Helicon Focus to add some more depth of field to the images, shooting with a 70-200mm with a 1.3 teleconverter and a 500D close up lens doesn’t give you much d-o-f, maybe a 1/8th of an inch or so even at f/8 or f/11.

Click on the images to view a little larger…

Male Mantis, 3-4 Weeks Old - D700, 70-200mm w/500D

Male Mantis, 3-4 Weeks Old – D700, 70-200mm w/500D, 6 image stack

Male Mantis 2, 3-4 Weeks Old - D700, 70-200mm w/500D, 2 image stack

Male Mantis 2, 3-4 Weeks Old – D700, 70-200mm w/500D, 2 image stack