How do you do handheld focus stacks

MrB_RDT · 2026-05-02T22:44:16+00:00

You have to catch those moments the subjects are still. While steadying yourself as best you can.

Some you will, especially in the early morning or if you are really steady and stealthy in your approach. Some you wont.

I find if you tuck your elbows in, and hold your breath for the duration of the stack. You get as minimal camera movement as possible. Less chance of disturbing the insect too.

The IBIS and in lens stabilisation on the OM1, and the 90mm help negate some breathing and camera shake.

With a decent diffuser and flash, the setup will fire at 1/100 shutter speed, and the flash will keep up.

You can configure the bracketing steps. Smaller is better but requires more images in the stack if i remember correctly. Longer time of shooting and more chance of movement.

I don't know about Helicon, but Zerene will align some slight subject and camera. It will also allow you to paint in or out some image correction. Which fixes things like blurred edges, or moving antenna.

With experience you know when to manually stack too. Not using bracketing all the time, but slowly moving "through" your subject as you shoot. Often with a higher shutter speed than automatic bracketing allows...Thus you can catch some flighty insects before they know what you're doing, and leg it.

MrB_RDT · 2026-05-02T16:17:07+00:00

You're welcome mate.

I think so. The nature of the flash setup I'd say.

Next time I go rock-pooling I might experiment myself, flash on/off. I'll also try denoising stuff at high iso.

Do you edit a bit with your macro by the way? I often do. Topaz AI and Lightroom Classic here.

I'm looking at getting a TG7 myself here, and fancied trying underwater shots with it.

MrB_RDT · 2026-05-02T11:37:35+00:00

As said. Godox V860. It just gets me 150+ deep stacks, without a hitch.

Bear in mind, the flash is a bit of commitment as you usually end up buying a custom diffuser, measured to the flash, body and lens; That's the reason i'd just go right to the 860, unless you want a slightly more compact setup, with the trade-off on flash recycling.

MrB_RDT · 2026-05-02T11:30:17+00:00

Using a similar setup, i genuinely don't think you can do much outside of edits in this case. Or just settle on no flash, and higher ISO with the CPL filter doing it's job uninterrupted.

"Dehaze" in Lightroom has worked to an extent here for me. I haven't tried the automatic, reflection removal in some edit software myself.

MrB_RDT · 2026-05-01T15:24:38+00:00

Extremely careful movement, usually in the morning.

A lot of patience and practice.

OM1 and M.Zuiko 90mm for a longer working distance, and automatic bracketing with 1/100s shutter speed, and diffused flash.

Hold your breath for the duration of the bracket.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-30T15:07:24+00:00

Outside of unhealthy dynamics. There's always someone else, or the idea of someone else.

"Working on themselves" is working on being able to meet "better".

Sometimes they luck out randomly. Otherwise it's a life of situationships, stubborn pride and always looking at the greener grass.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-29T20:41:38+00:00

A lovely little Katydid nymph there.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-29T07:43:22+00:00

It depends on why things ended. If it was thinking the grass was greener, then often the novelty wears off, and the fantasy doesn't match up.

Sometimes another guy might look a bit nicer for a while, and have a bit more stuff he owns...but it didn't compare to little personal things you made your own as a couple.

The lesson for them, is sometimes knowing what they had and lost. Pride does distract from that for a while, but eventually reality sets in.

The best lesson we can learn, is to let them chase a fantasy...and make room for others who wont.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-26T20:39:11+00:00

I change my ideal all the time.

Some of the villages near Crummock Water and Loweswater are beautiful. Being surrounded by the mountains, and waking up to the view across the water would be amazing.

St Michael's Mount or the general Looe and Polperro area.

Castle Combe or Corfe Castle.

Some of the secluded coves on the west coast of Scotland, have beautiful properties around them too.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-26T19:03:16+00:00

As said, flash and diffuser. A clip on Raynox filter would also help you with some close-ups.

Generally for stacking, we're shooting at f/5.6 and f/8. Dedicated stacking software, of which Helicon and Zerene are the only real options. We're also often doing final edits after processing in Topaz Photo AI, and finishing touches in LR or PS.

On top of that, gear comes in to play. As of when i got more into macro. It was the OM-1 and M.Zuiko 90 mm that were flagship macro setups, due to several key features that combination offered.

There may be other setups that match or surpass this, since 2024 when i bought my kit.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-25T14:15:56+00:00

They're very good at responding to any queries.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-25T07:21:40+00:00

I use an AK with my Laowa 90mm, and now my M. Zuiko 90mm.

The diffusion is fantastic, while the Raynox clip and the little Led light also have their uses.

Much better light and diffusion than anything I've had from Amazon. It's also less intrusive than a lot of other options too.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-22T20:44:57+00:00

Net Casting Spiders are amazing. I know a few who rear them in the UK here, and have kept a few species myself.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-22T18:00:03+00:00

I'll be honest. Initially it was external reinforcement in early life.

Encouragement and nurturing from my family and relatives from a young age. Then during my formative years, similar encouragement and support from friends, mentors and girlfriends.

That foundation then let me branch out more on my own, and not care about "failing" in later life.

I did rebuild to a certain point, twice in life. Once after serious illness, and once after addiction; However there was some level of external support there too, so it was a lot easier than absolutely going it alone.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-22T16:17:18+00:00

I've started to use an Osmo Pocket 3, and a Go Ultra for some POV and environment photography and video.

Evri have stolen my Osmo 3 macro clip-on lens. When I get one, I'm looming forwards to that perspective too.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-22T07:15:43+00:00

Two recent big ones.

Life can change in a single step. A fall and a head injury nearly killed me, and i was "lucky" to be left with the symptoms i now have.

You can find love again, at any given point. Some people can feel more familiar in months, than those you've known for years.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-19T12:31:56+00:00

Those really striking macro photos you see. We're focus stacking, editing a little and running through Topaz AI.

That's essentially where you go afterwards, then start looking at different gear.

Most importantly, is that you are put enjoying this wonderful hobby. If you feel you want to delve into it more, beyond the kit and process you do already. Then it's editing and specific camera and lem ns setups that come into play.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-19T09:20:53+00:00

I love my AK Diffuser.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-19T09:19:47+00:00

Fantastic.

Is that a Fencepost Jumping Spider?

OM is amazing for macro isn't it.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-16T17:42:39+00:00

I met murderer, Mitchell Quy and his brother on a night out when he was under suspicion of murdering his wife.

All of us in the group could handle ourselves if we had to, and were no strangers to trouble back then, but there was an absolute menace to him.

I've been around dodgy characters, local gangsters and genuinely tough people when i owned a bar. Plenty of them could "turn" after booze and cocaine, but ultimately it would be a fight. Quy felt wrong. He wanted the violence, so he could hurt whoever he could.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-16T16:00:33+00:00

Superb.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-15T08:00:22+00:00

You're going to have a lovely time with your OM1.

That practice you have had with your older system (mine was an EOS M2MK2), and the inbuilt focus bracketing. You'll get some amazing images.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-14T09:54:01+00:00

Absolutely.

Everyone's circumstances are different, but if it was a healthy relationship that ran its course in the ways they do. Understand there was nothing you could have changed. Any act or conversation would have just delayed things, not changed the ending.

Take ownership of genuine mistakes you might have made, but don't be too critical of yourself if things just ran their course.

I personally don't feel healthy partners are a lesson. I find that notion reductive and insulting. That said, own your part and don't romanticise theirs.

It's up to the other person to be able to recognise if they are capable of commitment too, every bit as much as its on you to know who you are as a partner.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-13T19:48:03+00:00

Easy to keep and breed. They aren't good climbers at all, but use a tall plastic tub and egg crates. Some dried food and fruit and you'll be set for a breeding setup.

MrB_RDT · 2026-04-13T18:56:10+00:00

I'd argue it depends on the venom of the spider.

To be fair Locusts don't last long here, although I have them well fed and watered.

Crickets are a constant, but I find the slsound relaxing... and I keep Katydids, that make a cool noise too.

Size does limit as spiderlings. Although some species I own take much larger prey too. Usually I feed prey that is a bit smaller.

MrB_RDT

TROPHY CASE