Page 118 - (DK) Advanced Photography Guide

116 APPLYING | FOCUS STACKING

PERFECTING FOCUS

A common problem when shooting close-up and distance between each shot starting at the front of
macro is a lack of depth of field. Even when using the subject and ending at the back. Then you blend
the smallest aperture, it is often impossible to achieve (stack) the sequence using editing software. During
front-to-back sharpness. One solution is focus stacking, this process, the out-of-focus areas are discarded,
a technique that consists of two stages. First, you so the final image should be sharp all the way from
shoot a sequence of photos, altering the focusing the foreground to the background.

* x5

SET UP YOUR CAMERA SELECT MANUAL FOCUS PLACE THE FOCUS POINT
Your camera should not move as It is essential that you have Focus the lens so that the closest
you shoot, so mount it on a heavy tripod complete control over how your point of the subject you want to be sharp
and attach a remote release. Select camera focuses. Switch to Live View is in focus. The rest of the scene will be
Aperture Priority and set a midrange so that you can zoom into the image out of focus. When you’re ready, take
aperture, fixed ISO value, and WB preset. to check focusing. the first shot of the sequence.

Photomerge
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Auto Use: Files
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Perspective Remove
Add Open Files
Cylindrical

REVIEW THE SHOTS MERGE THE SHOTS
Import all of the photos into the software of your choice. Click the File drop-down menu, select Automate,
Here, Adobe Photoshop was used. Check that the exposure and and then Photomerge, and add all the photos. Uncheck
WB are consistent, and alter them if necessary. Review the shots Blend Images Together. Select OK and the individual photos
and check that the focal points are sharp across all the photos. will be added to a new file, stacked as a series of layers.

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