The technique of stacking images produces depth of field that would be impossible using a single shot and macro lens. The camera is set to manual exposure/shutter speed and focus. The idea is to take a picture, move the camera closer to the object and take another. Each image shoud be within the available dof and movement can be as low as 0.3mm between shots. For a large object it is not uncommon to take 150+ images.

 

I use a Proxxon xy table to provide the the x axis movement. A manfrotto quick release attachment hold the camera to the table. The Proxxon has a graduated dial and thread pitch is 1mm (1 turn). If you always turn the handle in one direction then backlash is not an issue.

 

After capture the files are processed using Zerene Stacker (see tutorial on their website) which creates a composite image. The overall dof can be adjusted by using a subset of the files. After processing I use Photoshop CC to clean up the background etc. The whole process can be quite time consuming and if you happen to miss one or two images the result may be useless.

 

DOF is determined by the aperture and magnification so you need to find a table that suits your lens and work out how many steps it takes to cover front to back. I always add extra as they can be deleted. Generally I shoot at around f/8 which limits the dof but gives me the best quality on my Nikon 105 Macro. The St John's Wort was the hardest as each of the staymen tips had to be captured, even worse as my floor is not concrete so vibration is an issue. Not perfect but not bad !.

 

Lighting is via ringflash and maybe a softbox. Using natural light can be an issue unless it is guaranteed to be constant.

 

I wish more people would use this technique as I feel it it the only way to show off the true beauty of these plants.