From Clicking to Creating-Focus Stacking
Clicking to Creating-Focus Stacking
Have you ever used focus stacking in your photography? I have experimented with it before, so when this week’s Dogwood 52 prompt came up, I knew what to do.
Focus stacking is done in Photoshop, and allows you to have multiple focus points in an image, so everything is clear. This is especially useful in landscape photography, if you want the foreground, and the back of the image to be sharp. My photo for this weeks prompt isn’t a landscape, but is a good representation of how this technique works.
I took one shot focused on the tipi, and another focused on the bison. Then I blended them in Photoshop to create this image. (the bison in the back was having a bad hair day)
Focus stacking can be done with multiple images, but for this tutorial, I will just use 2. I took these photos the other day at Jenny Lake. I love the rocks in the foreground, but the reflections in the background were amazing. I took a photo focused on the rocks, and another focused on the mountain.
I realize these differences are subtle, but they do make a difference.
I did basic editing in lightroom, then moved the photos to photoshop. After they were both imported, I moved one of the photos on top of the other to create the layers.
Click to enlarge.
Click, shift on the layers so they are both highlighted. Then go to edit, auto align layers.
After the images are auto aligned, and still highlighted, go to edit, auto blend layers. Be sure to choose stack images.
Photoshop will work it’s magic and you will have two, or more, blended images. This is what the layers will now look like. They are automatically masked, so if you need to make more refinements you can.
The end result is an image that is in focus from front to back.
These photos show focus stacking pretty good. This first one is focused on the flowers.
This is focused on the mountains.
Blended together, I got this.
Focus stacking is a fun technique to try, especially when there are multiple things to focus on.
This weeks 2 Lil Owls prompt is Symmetry. This reflection shot is perfect, and symmetrical.
We are headed to South Dakota today….or tomorrow. Time to renew our drivers licence, so we are going to the buffalo…bison….roundup in Custer state park. They have an art show that we will participate in, plus I am super excited to get photos of the roundup.
What has you excited this week? What are you creating?
Great post and photos. The last moose photo is my favorite, awesome reflection. Enjoy your day!
Some great photos with the reflections! Never heard of stacking, but it would be a really useful tool. Happy travels to SD. We are going there in November for a scent work trial.
Focus stacking, hmmm. Interesting! Wish I could afford Photoshop…there are a few pix from my time in Islamorada earlier this year that I would love to play with. Oh well. I do love the way your pix came out!
Just curious: do you have a special photo printer that you use that can print on larger-size photo paper?
I cannot wait to try this! Your images are stunning!!!!! I adore the last two – the moose and reflection; and the Tetons with the flowers. Wow!
Wow, I never heard of focus stacking, isn’t that cool! What a great option to have for scenery shots like those.
I can’t even open photoshop. LOL I will live vicariously through your photos.
What do you mean roundup? Are they killing more wildlife?
Focus stacking is a great way to expand the perception of depth of field. But it takes a static subject to make it work. Can really create stunning images.