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Post by hmca on Sept 7, 2018 22:21:45 GMT
I tried this technique today using 11 images with an f stop of 4.5. I use the full version of PS but see that this can be done using Elements + which I know some of you have.   |
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Post by Major Major on Sept 7, 2018 22:29:59 GMT
Helen -
I've never quite understood what the goal of focus stacking is. Could you explain briefly? Thanks.
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Post by hmca on Sept 7, 2018 22:34:32 GMT
Front to back sharpness, Craig. It is used a lot in macro photography, I think. I believe tonyw might be able to provide some more info on it. I think he was the person who first introduced us to this at EV. |
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Post by Bailey on Sept 7, 2018 22:37:18 GMT
Hi hmca,
very nice photo with all the shell in focus but I am curious as to why you needed 11 images.
DOF is controlled by aperture, focal length and distance from camera to object. Assuming the shell is not extraordinarily large in size, I would have thought that at f4.5 the DOF would amply cover the length of the shell unless you used a very long focal length.
Was there a specific reason you needed 11 images in this case? I would have thought 3-4 max would normally suffice
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Post by hmca on Sept 7, 2018 22:40:01 GMT
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Post by Sepiana on Sept 7, 2018 22:40:57 GMT
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,361
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on Sept 7, 2018 22:41:34 GMT
Very nice Helen!
Really like your shell photo. Thanks.
Clive
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Post by hmca on Sept 7, 2018 22:42:13 GMT
You are probably right, Bailey. But as I wanted to take advantage of the many focus points available to me using my Canon 7D, I just went crazy experimenting!
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Post by Peterj on Sept 8, 2018 0:36:51 GMT
Nice job!
On my pc the deadhorse creek site you linked to is blocked by Malwarebytes Premium due to malware. Once I added the site to exclusions the server was not found.
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Post by Bailey on Sept 8, 2018 0:43:08 GMT
You are probably right, Bailey. But as I wanted to take advantage of the many focus points available to me using my Canon 7D, I just went crazy experimenting!
aaahhhh, that explains it 
If you set the aperture to really wide open like f2.8 or larger (for anyone unsure, the smaller the f number, the larger the perture) you might need just 2 or 3 photos - with a single focus point, 1 focused at the front of the shell, 1 in the middle and 1 at the back. If you stop down to f7 or smaller you should be able to get all the shell in focus in 1 shot, depending on the distance from front to back of course.
btw, focus stacking is also used a lot in landscape photography.
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Post by hmca on Sept 8, 2018 0:58:19 GMT
Peterj .....I am on a mac and just checked my malware and I was clean. However, I'll remove the link. I also removed the link from your post. Bailey ....yes the Digital Photography School article I linked to describes its use in landscape photography.
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Post by blackmutt on Sept 8, 2018 1:09:16 GMT
Helen - good job. I found this article at it explains it too. I was taught to use the sweet spot of the lens - ie F8. When I have done my focus stacking I don't change anything but the focus spot by using a tripod, manual focus and f8. I focus on the back or front of my subject and then after each shot - carefully change my focus point until I am confident I have focused on the entire object back to front. You can't always get super sharp photos relying just on say f22. I don't change focus points - ie the dots but using the center focus point, move the focus ring to the right or left after each shot, always having the center point in focus. www.dpreview.com/techniques/4314481850/looking-sharp-a-focus-stacking-tutorial |
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Post by hmca on Sept 8, 2018 1:19:27 GMT
Thanks, Judy. Reading your article it reminded me to use Live-View. For some reason I rarely use Live-View......next time I try this I will definitely do that!
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Post by Sydney on Sept 8, 2018 1:50:40 GMT
Wow, great work Helen. I learned something new today, thanks for sharing this.
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Post by Bailey on Sept 8, 2018 3:51:31 GMT
Thanks, Judy. Reading your article it reminded me to use Live-View. For some reason I rarely use Live-View......next time I try this I will definitely do that!
Another benefit of using live-view is that it locks up the mirror and so you are eliminating one potential source of camera-shake and vibration, even when the camera is mounted on a tripod. When I have my camera on the tripod I very rarely use the viewfinder.
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