“In focus stacking, your largest enemy is time” – Pro macro photographer Stewart Wood shares his surefire suggestions for razor-sharp close-ups of bugs

In macro images, one of many largest challenges in studying easy methods to management focus at excessive magnifications. With depth of subject measured in millimeters, even probably the most mesmerising topics can rapidly collapse with out the fitting approach.

That’s precisely why skilled macro photographer and educator Stewart Wood believes understanding focus stacking is a game-changer for anybody critical about taking pictures the tiny phrase.

Best recognized for his putting photographs of bugs and spiders, Wood has constructed a loyal following by breaking down complicated methods into sensible, real-world recommendation.

Ahead of his upcoming speak at The Photography & Video Show 2025, he shares his high suggestions for creating macro photographs with actual impression. So, let’s dive into his knowledgeable insights earlier than seeing Wood reside on stage this May.

Stewart Wood’s speak

An introduction to focus stacking
Sunday March 15 2026 – 10:30am – Fundamentals Stage

Do you battle with shallow depth of subject when working at excessive magnifications? You’re not alone! Stewart will present you easy methods to rework your outcomes utilizing focus stacking. You’ll stroll away with the information to use instantly, able to seize beautiful macro pictures, and unlock an entire new degree of creativity.

3 Top Tips

Tip 1: Use focus stacking to get extra depth of subject

In macro images, one of many first surprises is how little is definitely in focus. Even at smaller apertures, you would possibly solely get the eyes sharp, whereas the legs or physique blur away. That’s the place focus stacking is available in.

Focus stacking is just taking a sequence of pictures the place the main focus level strikes barely every time, from the entrance of the topic to the again. You then mix these photographs into one ultimate picture so extra of the topic seems sharp. It’s like constructing a photograph out of a number of “slices” of focus.

This is particularly helpful for small topics with a lot of element, like leaping spiders, beetles, and butterflies. Instead of selecting between sharp eyes or sharp wings, stacking enables you to preserve each.

The trick is to start out easy. Pick a topic that is not transferring a lot, use a gradual setup, and take a brief stack first. Once you see how a lot further element you’ll be able to preserve in focus, focus stacking turns into a device you will attain for time and again, to not make issues difficult, however to make your macro pictures look the way in which your eyes keep in mind them.

Tip 2: Stack when nature slows down (early morning and evening)

If you need higher focus stacks, the largest improve usually is not new gear, it is taking pictures on the proper time.

For reside topics like bugs and spiders, early morning or evening is normally finest. When it is cooler, they have a tendency to maneuver a lot much less. And once they transfer much less between pictures, your stack comes out cleaner, sharper, and simpler to merge.

Early morning is nice. Many bugs are nonetheless “waking up”, which supplies you a little bit extra time to seize the total set of pictures. You would possibly even get dew, which may look wonderful, simply be careful for droplets on eyes or advantageous hairs if you would like a super-clean portrait.

At evening, you get much more management. You can take your time discovering a topic, use a torch that will help you body the shot, after which use flash as your primary gentle so each body seems constant. If your stacks preserve going flawed within the daytime, strive altering whenever you shoot, it might probably make an even bigger distinction than altering any digital camera setting.

Tip 3: Speed wins (FPS beats perfection)

In focus stacking, your largest enemy is time. Subjects twitch, legs shift, wind strikes leaves and each further second will increase the possibility your stack falls aside.

That’s why I prioritize capturing the total stack rapidly: the sooner you full it, the less alignment issues you’ll have later. Think of stacking like motion images, you are freezing a sequence, not crafting a single body.

A sensible manner to enhance your hit fee is to optimise for frames per second and consistency. Use a high-speed steady mode and preserve your publicity repeatable.

If you’re utilizing flash (which I like to recommend for dependable, sharp photographs), change it to guide and set it as much as recycle quick, usually meaning decrease energy (for instance 1/32 or beneath, relying in your diffuser and distance). Then use ISO to fine-tune publicity moderately than pushing flash energy so excessive that it might probably’t sustain together with your burst.

And do not be treasured: take the stack, then take it once more. Two fast makes an attempt usually beat one “perfect” try that fails as a result of the topic moved midway via.

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If you’re into macro images, examine our information to the best camera for macro photography and best macro lenses. We also have supporting tutorials like how to use natural lighting effects to introduce drama to your macro photography scenes, or 4 macro hacks for your camera, lens and phone.