Originally posted by Doundounba What I do is pick a magnification using the focus ring, set the camera to Continuous High shooting, and then to attempt a focus stack, I brace as well as I can and fire a volley while moving the camera slowly backwards.
Even if it's been a while, thanks for describing the process. Now that it's getting cooler, I may have a chance to try it with my subjects. They may still move too much.
Originally posted by Doundounba p.s.: If I could improve one thing, I would make a better diffuser: one that would "droop" down on each side of the lens. Fill those shadows just a bit more...
You'd weaken the depth cues, your fly doesn't look like it would need any less directed light and may become too flat, a delicate balance. I started to experiment with an asymmetric (adjustable) ring flash for the same reason, but need to build an additional diffuser for it. Another thought may be to use another light to fill in off-camera. I sometimes set up an umbrella next to or even over my entire 'target area',
like this, which also helps to avoid too dark or even black backgrounds.
A sample shot, which has been lit using a single reflective umbrella, direct sunlight blocked by it, as the main light source. The diffuse daylight helps to 'fill-in' at maybe -2EV. Square crop from a 1:1 shot on a K-5.