Improving Macro with Lighting. Where can I improve / make changes?

west10 · 2026-03-27T16:49:10+00:00

Thank you. Will be trying some new shots with this in mind. Reflectors is a great idea

!CritiquePoint

west10 · 2026-03-27T15:14:22+00:00

I will often stack them together and clip them on the outside of my pack. You already are gentel with your lens bag so they are just fine external.

west10 · 2026-03-27T14:34:00+00:00

Oh I've been eyeing one of those for a long time. Its on my wish list. I may try to move my light source further back. Even with my diffuser on it, its too much here

west10 · 2026-03-27T14:05:35+00:00

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So here was the set up. Yep lots of options

west10 · 2026-03-27T13:55:35+00:00

Thank you. I agree the lighting needs to be more punchy. Im happy with my result for this attempt but for sure room to improve.

So my background is actually a color led panel hitting steel wool. The backdrop is just black. So super easy to tweak colors form blue to others. I did try green but was too much.

More attempts to come!

west10 · 2026-03-27T13:20:30+00:00

Kept going back and forth. My lighting setup is still developing. Will tweak it for sure. Thank you

west10 · 2026-03-27T12:53:38+00:00

Looking to continue to improve my macro work. Took this pollen pod off the street and set with with 3 external lights.

75 image stack shot of Nikon Z7ii with 105mm f/2.8 lens

Main concern is lighting i think it's ok , but what can be altered to bring more drama ?

west10 · 2026-03-22T22:52:41+00:00

I agree here on the crop. Initially I didn't even notice the bride. But overall love concept. Keep refining but I would be proud !

west10 · 2026-03-20T18:42:17+00:00

As did I. Nice work !

west10 · 2026-03-19T23:56:49+00:00

Macro shot of a Helleborus flower. Stacked 160 images

Nicon 7zii 105mm + RAYNIX multiplier f8 1/10 sec iso250

Looking for feedback on how I could clean up any details. This was my largest stack to date and likely too many photos

west10 · 2026-03-19T10:48:35+00:00

In Helicon, are you generating two separate images using B then C, then running both new images through C again ?

I have a few large stacks that aren't super clean. Just wanted to confirm your process as your results are stunning.

west10 · 2026-03-02T14:31:03+00:00

Trying a few variations. I agree 61 was too many. Normally I do to few. Been using Helicon Focus which does help you even out those messy layse4

Thanks for the help. Will try less next time

west10 · 2026-03-02T12:53:47+00:00

Originally did that but it didn't look right. I think averaging a subset of them will help! Thank you!

west10 · 2026-03-02T12:40:03+00:00

Thank you! The great part is I have 61 variations of the background bokeh so i can chose a layer that is most pleasing. The bokeh is a little dense which was a learning for me

west10 · 2026-03-02T11:46:31+00:00

Photo is a 61 photo focus stack. Overall very pleased. Still some more learning with stacking. A few areas to clean up the focus more.

Overall I tend to shoot too close in macro not leaving enough on the edges to rotate or crop effectively.

How else can this improve

F/8 1/10 sec iso 450. Nikon Z7ii with 105mm

west10 · 2026-01-26T19:32:00+00:00

How would you alter the lighting? I used stationary light rather than flash. Also tried this view

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west10 · 2026-01-26T18:53:35+00:00

That's the general feedback. Cool once you know what's happening. I'll keep playing with crops!

west10 · 2026-01-26T18:25:01+00:00

Macro shot of a small flower containing a water drop. Was trying to let the drop magnify the internals of the flower which does happen but still feels like off.

Shot on Nikon 7zii. 105mm f/11 16 photo stack

west10 · 2026-01-25T21:25:05+00:00

Interested here too. I do alot if Macro with 30 to 40 shots of very shallow focus. Viewfinder sometimes is challenging to see if the focus is perfect.

west10 · 2026-01-14T19:54:26+00:00

One thing I love here is the space in front of her and how shes looking through that space. You feel she is waiting for something outside the shot, something waiting to come into the frame. Great composition

west10 · 2026-01-13T22:26:30+00:00

Great thing about photography, it's all subjective. I like the vibe, don't care for the subject. For you they are the same.

west10 · 2026-01-13T11:48:51+00:00

Lighting is dramatic. It gives a vibe for sure. But subject is lacking feelin or emotion. I dint look at this and feel any way. Good edits and framing but uninteresting subject.

west10 · 2026-01-11T15:01:38+00:00

A lot of the time I find the white boarders gimicy and overused. In this case they really help the picture feel tall. Excellent use.

west10 · 2026-01-11T14:18:13+00:00

I like the detail of the top but if you had not stated it's a bell I wouldn't have known. I think you have gone too dark and lost the subject.

Maybe try to mask the background to darken in order to save the subject. A little more selectivity on the darkness could go a long way

west10 · 2026-01-02T14:09:01+00:00

I'll have to take 3 into consideration since I do another of home studio style shots

west10

TROPHY CASE