Macro tutorial

[koputai]

Hi Guys,

A while ago there was a macro thread and I think two members posted links to macro tutorials. I thought one of them was a powerpoint.

I've searched everything I can think of but can't find them. Can anyone remember the thread and point me to it, or if you saved the links, let me know?

Many Thanks,
Jason.

[troypiggo]

Don't recall if it was me involved in the tutorials you're referring to. I have written some tips here:
http://troypiggo.blogspot.com/2010/09/macro-tips-id-like-to-share.html
but as you can see down the bottom, there's some more things I'd like to post about but haven't had a chance to get back to yet.

Other very helpful sites/pages I've come across are:
Macrophotography by LordV (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=807056) - Brian "LordV" Valentine is one of the best macrophotographers in the world IMO.
No Cropping Zone (http://nocroppingzone.blogspot.com/) - by John "Dalantech" Kimbler, another top macrophotographer and very helpful site.

They're the main ones that come to mind at the moment for me.

[koputai]

Thanks Troy, that's great, some good stuff there.

There was a powerpoint I'm sure, possibly from Dennis, but I can't find it.

Cheers,
Jason.

[troypiggo]

I do seem to recall a powerpoint presentation by Greg Carlisle, a macro buddy of mine. Just looked at his website but can't find it. I think it was actually posted on one of the Brisbane photo club websites. I'll let you know if I find the link.

[troypiggo]

Here. The first link is the one I was thinking of. Not sure if it's the one you had in mind, but suspect it is.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=52972

[koputai]

Found it!!

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=52972

Cheers,
Jason.

[troypiggo]

Is there an echo in here? :D

[koputai]

That's weird, your post (#5) wasn't there when I put mine up. Anyhow, thanks!

Cheers,
Jason.

[Dennis]

No – not by me…I still have my “P” Plates on! :lol:

Cheers

Dennis

[troypiggo]

Mate, you're well and truly off your "P" plates.

[Octane]

P for professional.

Ask Ken Rockwell.

H

[troypiggo]

Every time someone asks Ken Rockwell a question... God kills a kitten.

[bloodhound31]

Listen to Troy, he is a good teacher and gives great advice!

[mangrovedutch]

I agree with Troy - LordV is an absolute awesome Macro photographer. He has helped me a fair amount, and it made a noticable difference staight away. I have found him most willing to help and share experiences and offer solutions. His tutorial on POTN is definitely worth a look.

Regards, Dutch

[Octane]

Brian's recent abstract macro work with ice sheets is sublime.

H

[dannat]

I notice on one f the pdf's they talk about stacking various parts of in-focus images to get a greatervrane of focus with a subject, anyone know what program to use?

[troypiggo]

These are the more popular ones I'm aware of:

CombineZM (http://www.hadleyweb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/CZM/News.htm) - free, Windows only, CombineZM tutorial by Brian Valentine (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=61316) himself. He used to use this exclusively, but now uses Zerene Stacker last time I spoke to him about it.

Zerene Stacker (http://www.zerenesystems.com/stacker/) - not free, but does have 30 day trial version. Windows, Mac and Linux versions. This one is much more intuitive than CZM above and does a neater job of stacking.

Only other one I've come across is Helicon Focus, Mac only, not free.

You can also do it manually with Photoshop. I've done this before. Put the different focus "slices" in each layer, turn off all layers except bottom and next one up, drop opacity of the top one so can see both to move and align the layers, turn it off and turn the next layer on and repeat so all layers lined up, then just hand layer-mask the in focus bits in. Too tedious for many layers, but ok for just 2 or 3.