photoartflightDamselfly 8 Image Focus Stack
When I was photographing this Damselfly, I decided to shoot with the aperture wide open. I wanted a very smooth background to highlight the Damselfly and the water drops and keep a smooth background. So I shot a series of 8 images focusing on the Damselfly and the water drop covered stem. I shot a series focused on 8 different focus points, going from left to right. I was using a Sigma 150mm Macro with a 2x teleconverter. With the 2x teleconverter on my 150mm f/2.8 lens, my maximum (Aperture) f/stop was f/5.6 wide open. (With a 2x teleconverter you loose 2 stops). I loaded the 8 images into 1 Photoshop layered file and used Photoshop to automatically align the 8 layers in the file. Next I used Photoshop to automatically pick the the sharpest areas & soft background areas in each layer for the final image. I saved that file in case I need to make minor touch ups here or there. After that I flattened the layers for my final image.
photoartflight 
You have definitely succeeded!!! Gorgeous shot, beautifully composed. Incredible detail and perfect colors.
Thanks so much! They are fun to do! Especially when it all works!!
Bright and beautiful!
Thanks Eliza! Sometimes I try to think of ways to photograph my subjects in different ways to make The main subject stand out more.
Gorgeous shot and thanks for explaining the technique.
Thanks Greta! It is fun to try different ways to photograph your subjects!