While working on this additional lichen picture from yesterday, I realized something: Prior to this experience, I never really liked lichens. However, after this close-up encounter, I feel they’re growing on me; I may actually start liking lichens.
A biologist friend told me they’re not plants. Without roots, stems, and
flowers, and lacking photosynthesis, they are more closely related to non-green algae and fungi. So that got me wondering if all those tiny little round orange things in the image I posted yesterday could be like spores: I sure hope I didn’t get any on me.
In working with this 19-image stack in Zerene’s retouch mode, I found myself making lots of tradeoffs, scrolling back and forth to find pieces in component files to replace the artifacts in the DMap composite image. I now more fully realize why Michael Erlewine concluded that a short focus stack, necessarily infused with such inaccuracies requiring processing inputs and compromises, yields but an
impression of the subject, not a true record as given by single “analog” photograph. (His four free e-books on macros and focus stacking are available to download at macrostop.com).
I kind of like this one because it looks so different close up compared to the greenish-gray disk on the tree you see from a distance. Pentax K-5, tripod / 2s delay, f/22, ISO80, 1/125s, 31mm extension with Tamron 90mm 1:1 macro, uncropped, the subject measured 20 mm wide on the tree, and the magnification factor is about 1.2X. Again, it seems as if the extension significantly reduces DoF. All advice and observations appreciated.
Cheers!
Tomorrow the zoo! That should be fun.
Comments
4 commentsLichens are growing on you is tongue in check I hope
To your point, Rick, while I was using "growing on me" in the colloquial sense of gradually becoming more familiar with and liking more, when you asked about my tongue and cheek, it made me wonder whether I had perhaps gotten some spores on my hand and then transferred them to my mouth.
I brushed my teeth very thoroughly, but I'll definitely remember to ask my dental hygenist if she sees anything unusual growing in there when I go in for my next cleaning. Thanks for the heads up.