First keepers of 2013

These are my favorite shots so far of 2013 in the order that I shot them. Thanks for stopping by

28-shot stack of orb weaver:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …s/gatorlinked/8​350503015/

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IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …s/gatorlinked/8​374857432/

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IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …s/gatorlinked/8​402639201/

A really nice set but I don't understand why you would need a 25 stack of images on the last shot, the leaf.

Great shots. Especially the spiders.

I'll have to try stacking... one of these years.

Great shots, fabulous light and the orb weaver is superb!

Great set Ryan, definitely starting this year off to a good start. Keep it up!

Nice series! Looks like it has been a good January so far. I particularly enjoy the colors and framing of the fly shot.

great set with great detail,ryan.
what,s on the end of your mt-24 heads?

That jumper sure looks pleased with himself.

Wonderful set!

Excellent series !
Brian v.

Great shots. But I also have the same question as Worcester Lad about why the leaf would need to be focus stacked? or at least with that many shots? I haven't done any focus stacking yet so I'm intrigued!

Great series and beautiful shots

Thanks a lot for the comments

Worcester Lad wrote in post #15517296
A really nice set but I don't understand why you would need a 25 stack of images on the last shot, the leaf.

JasonC007 wrote in post #15518932
Great shots. But I also have the same question as Worcester Lad about why the leaf would need to be focus stacked? or at least with that many shots? I haven't done any focus stacking yet so I'm intrigued!

Thanks a lot, George and Jason. There are three reasons it took that many shots:

1. This leaf is much smaller than it appears. It is approximately the size of your thumbnail. As we all know, depth of field get pretty narrow at this magnification.
2. I shot all the shots at f/4 to maximize the blurring in the background. This aperture combined with the magnification made for very thin slices.
3. This leaf appears flat in the shot, because stacking removes the depth cues that tell the brain how far each part is from the camera. This effect was by design here. However, not only was this leaf not remotely flat, but the stem was pointed almost directly at the camera. I wanted to create the illusion of flatness for the leaf all the way to the tip of the stem, and to achieve this, I had to use more than half the shots just getting the entire stem in focus.

mandokid1 wrote in post #15517565
great set with great detail,ryan.
what,s on the end of your mt-24 heads?

Thanks, Denis. I have been using the Rob Ault method of diffusion (see link below). I don't love the twin highlights that you see in the spider's eyes, but there are other advantages to this method that make it worth it to me. FYI, if you or anyone reading this tries this method, get the knock-off Gary Fongs for half the price.
http://www.robault.co.​uk …T24EX_Diffusers​_part4.php

Ryan, after reading your explanation to the query of why so many shots, I too am a little more enlightened. I did not realize the leaf was so minute... You did a truly amazing job on it!

great series!!!!