Macro in the forest with flash and focus bracketing (with Canon R5)

In this tutorial, I use both LED light and flash to create dreamy macro photographs in the forest, along with using auto focus bracketing to create a sharp focus-stacked image. I show how I use all these tools and how I use some extra tricks for some creative results.
I also show how I edit my images in Lightroom and take them into Helicon Focus to create the finished shots.
The video has been a bit of a challenge to get out because I'm an idiot who forgot his SD cards, so please excuse not just the slightly more rough nature of this video but also the slightly...off...colours that I've had because Premiere and working colour spaces are a minefield.
Check out my longer video on how I edit my macro photos in Lightroom: • 7 easy macro editing t...
Here's my guide on the best tripods I use for macro photography: • Macro: The best tripod...
Follow me on Instagram: / batteryhq
#Macro #photography #tutorial

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Sorry this video is so messy. Premiere played havoc with the colours of the footage AND the images and there are some simple mistakes I made too (most notably, forgetting a damn SD card!). It’s been a real hectic one to put together and I really appreciate everyone’s patience on these weeks when I struggle to put videos out! Thanks friends!

[@LookCloser]

No worries Andrew. Love that you embraced the mistake and made the best of the situation. We've all been there!

[@stevef1314]

Great video! I was happy to see you using the R5 focus bracketing feature. The manual is quite vague on the settings for that feature and how to best choose the appropriate settings. Would love to see a video with more details on its setup and usage.

[@peterc2248]

Thanks to you videos I have finally managed to capture some decent focus stacked mushrooms using flash and natural light this last week. Many thanks indeed 👍🏻

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Glad to hear it, Peter! Thanks so much for watching!

[@bensandford900]

Great video, could explain a bit about how you used the flash alongside the focus bracketing? How was the flash fired? Cheers

[@fjrodrick]

Thanks! Very useful as I begin to use my R5 focus bracketing functions.

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Thank you so much!

[@iantaylor4115]

Thank you for continuing to provide details on your setup and how you photograph macro Andrew! Cheers!

[@ChrisHunt4497]

Lucky to get the ladybird on the mushroom. 😀😀😀 Made a lovely shot. 😍😍😍😍😍

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Thanks so much, Chris, I appreciate that!

[@jpaden8515]

You had me at the buffoon comment at the end lol. Who hasn't been there before?

[@66xtopher]

You’re not the only one Andrew I get to lots of shoots and realised I’ve left my SD card At home!

[@5RustyBin]

just first class - keep em coming Andrew.

[@datalifter]

Fantastic video! Thank you for sharing, I learned something today.

[@jordaneva4062]

You're great - I can't tell you how much I appreciate the content as a budding mcaro photographer! wish my sony a7iv did fous brackting but alasa. Maybe in an update....

[@jozeflazer]

It’s amazingly beautiful work

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[@patanjali307]

Good stuff! Just starting Macro so I'll be watching...

[@darrenjennings]

Had a mate who would constantly say "You just have to hang around to see what happens next!"😁 Which in part is why I have subscribed but also, I do learn some good stuff and get to see some great images.👍

[@dradmin792]

Try placing the fallen leaf from the tree before the flash. Very interesting effect!

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Great idea!!

[@-WhizzBang-]

I have the Canon R7, and it stacks the images for you in Camera! And it does a great job.

[@carltanner9065]

Forgetting to take an SD card...been there, done that, far more often than I care to admit😝 Great pics!!😊😊

[@marcmurison]

Macallan 15 -- good taste!

[@StefanOffermann]

Haha, I can totally relate to missing SD cards. Since I got my 4th one, I have always at least one inside my bag.

[@steveking6204]

Yet another great video. Love your channel.

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

I used to use "method B" for focus stacking all the time but this weekend I got some results that I was not happy with. I tried methods A and C as well and actually wasn't happy with any, but all methods had different problems! I tried changing step-size of the focus bracketing, aperture, but nothing really fixed it. There were areas were one mushroom was in behind another that were not sharp in the output, and there was ghosting around the mushrooms. In the end for some of the shots I ended up merging the output of methods B and C using Affinity Photo.

[@franmol01]

thanks for the video Andrew. that slime mould that looks like guts is called purple jellydisc....

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Great knowledge! Thanks so much for identifying!

[@nawar9261]

Thank you so much for the tips .. Great one

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Thanks for watching!

[@nawar9261]

@@AndrewLanxonPhotography 🙏

[@skipsadler8137]

So I have a r6 which I love but I also have a godox tt685ii c flash........my question is there anyway to set up the flash with focus bracketing so that the flash goes off everything when the camera takes a picture and changes the focal point. Right now the flash works but will not work with focus bracketing and as you know light is the best way to get the best crisp photos with extra detail and sharp

[@scooterdoo1]

For the Macro shots are you using the flash when taking single photos and then using the light panel during focus bracketing? I can’t get my flash to go off when focus bracketing with the electronic shutter. Seems like I might need to purchase a light panel for bracketing

[@volkerbosch9078]

I highly recommend Camranger 2 for this type of Work

[@usernamemykel]

Can one use flash with auto-focus and in-camera bracketing/stacking? If so, which curtain should I select - mechanical or electronic? Many thanks!

[@kalmankocsis3039]

Thx Andrew!

[@remonh2]

Hi Andrew, May i ask.. Wich LED light projector did you use in this video? Would you give me the brand name + model? Thnx I like your videos! Greetzzz from the Netherlands Rémon

[@robgerety]

Sadly, my macro lens is the 90mm 2x Laowa with an RF mount. Great lens. But, fully manual. No automated focus stacking.

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Ah of course, manual lenses won’t be able to use it. Good old fashioned way for you then I’m afraid. That’s a cracking lens though so I won’t feel too sorry for you!

[@howlinhog]

Oh my god, I can't believe how many times I've left for an "exciting day of well thought out photography" while my sd card was still in the reader...........at home.

[@vectordnb]

Recently bought an R7 and was annoyed to find out that the in built focus stacking only works using the electronic shutter and the electronic shutter doesn’t work with flash! I’m going to have to get good with continuous lighting techniques or get some focus stacking software.

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Yeah it's a shame but you can do it the manual way using flash. If you're doing focus stacking anyway then I'd advise you try Helicon focus or similar software as the results are typically much better than the in-camera blend in my experience.

[@shajinnambiar2000]

Hi does flash works while focus bracketing

[@davideast5987]

Help please. Why did you change the colour and tone before focus stacking rather than afterwards? Thanks

[@bencoles2462]

Because after you stack, and load the stacked image into lightroom or Photoshop, it will no longer be a raw file meaning aren't able to edit it in the same way

[@davideast5987]

@@bencoles2462 thanks your answer makes sense.

[@GregShaw]

@@bencoles2462 With Helicon it converts the images to dng and can output as a dng so it would still be as processable as a raw file

[@hanklevesque426]

Thanks for the video Andrew - question: with focus bracketing some 20-60 shots, were you forced to abandon your rear flash which wouldn’t keep up with each shutter activation? Is there a way to auto focus bracket and lengthen the interval between each shot, letting your flash recycle?

[@ur3d2me]

This is the answer I’m looking for, hope he answers you

[@prakashanure4943]

nice video sir 👌🥰

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Thanks so much!

[@IamAW]

I wish my Sony A7II had focus bracketing. I have macro rings, but the best lens I have for that is too loose to manually focus small increments.

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

I never had it until I upgraded recently to my R5. To be honest it’s only sometimes helpful. Majority of my shots I still do it the old fashioned way or don’t stack at all - particularly for moving subjects that won’t stay still long enough. So I don’t think you’re particularly missing out on it.

[@IamAW]

@@AndrewLanxonPhotography Thanks for that reply, that made me 97% less worried about focus bracketing. I'll invest in a macro lens, and focus more on that! :)

[@HoldMyData]

Great videos! Has anyone had issues with not being able to fix layers in Auto-Blend in Photoshop? I try to fix a part of the blend but Photoshop doesn't allow me to paint in the layer? Almost like it turns the layer transparent and not black/white...

[@rafimmedia]

I was here to check the R5 with flash and focus bracketing but its not.. I have R6 Mii im trying to take a focus bracketing with Flash which is only available R3 :(

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Unfortunately you can't use the auto focus bracketing using a flash. You either need to use a continuous led light or take your photo stack manually by adjusting the focus yourself between frames.

[@ricomx29]

no focus bracketing with flash? is it even possible with R5?

[@scarcesense6449]

Nice pics! I think I prefered that last shot of the misty mushroom with fewer larger drops. What's the advantage of helicon over photoshop?

[@sauravpanditcfgrapher]

If camera changing focus then automatically then will it affect the magnification. How are you setting it up.

[@chazM6116]

how many frames has the flash showing?

[@lucky_paw9894]

3:55 I think it's Ascocóryne sarcoídes ))

[@ElBoyoElectronico]

How do you set up your flash to work with the R5‘s focus bracketing?

[@sherrydavis6293]

Hi Andrew, a very informative video. I have an R6 with focus bracketing, can you tell me when setting this up do you focus on the nearest or furthest part of the image first? I too would like to see a video with more details on setting up and usage of this function as I am getting a bit frustrated with my attempts.

[@GregShaw]

You start at the closest part or just in front of the subject and the camera will automatically shift the focus through to infinity or to the number of shots you set, whichever is first.

[@oastorga]

I have LEDs but now I realize they are too big. So off I go, but there’s always my phone as well.

[@laugho999]

Very informative. What's the product name of the LED light? And what lens are you using? I shoot with the Canon R5 and I just got the RF F100 macro.

[@ElBoyoElectronico]

Aputure MC. Yes, that is the RF100 macro lens.

[@lorenzosantoro2485]

I’m puzzled: how do you manage to focus stack on moving subjects. I’m shooting with a Nikon Z6 and, even if I set the shutter speed at 1/500, the camera won’t manage more than 3 shots within a second.

[@ArcanePath360]

Nice video with great ideas. I have the R7 and thought I could use focus stacking with my Godox V1, however the flash doesn't fire in this mode for some reason. Am I doing something wrong? The flash is more than capable of high speed bursts.

[@GregShaw]

Canon uses electronic shutter when focus stacking and therefore wont fire the flash. I was hoping @AndrewLanxonPhotography would have explained how he fired the flash in this video but he didn't. I suspect he either fired it manually or had it on strobe

[@ArcanePath360]

@@GregShaw Thanks, I've since found out that electronic doesn't work with flash. Not sure why, something about the timings not being able to keep up. I've since stopped using the feature anyone as I've now gone for the Laowa 100mm MF lens. MF doesn't work with focus stacking anyway so it's completely useless to me now. What I do is just hold the shutter down while moving tiny amounts to get the stack manually. Very difficult at higher than 1:1 magnification and I've had some failures. The R7 can shoot 15fps in mechanical so this helps, however I find it easier on the 6D looking though the non-electronic viewfinder that is plain glass and in real time.

[@MrPluis666]

forgeting a sd card, same happend over here grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Happens to the best of us, I'm afraid!

[@waynedorchak8259]

Enjoyed the video. What LED panel are you using?

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Thanks Wayne! I’m using the Aputure MC RGB LED light.

[@GaryReiber]

not a natie lady bug, an asian invader

[@-WhizzBang-]

I have used Helicon, and I find Zerene Stacker works better!

[@-WhizzBang-]

I will never understand WHY they don't include some built in Memory in these expensive cameras, just in case you forget a memory card. Makes no sense!

[@usernamemykel]

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