A New Skill A Week

[DigiDiva]

Have decided to learn (or try to) a new skill a week. Anyone is welcome to join me (but you have to choose the same skill as me, and it has to be one you haven't yet mastered). This week, I want to try 'stacking' (I think that''s what its called) to get pin sharp macro shots. If I (or anyone who joins me) gets stuck, will you guys be willing to help? I/we can post our before and after shots and get critique and advice?

Anyone up for it? To join me or help me?

Cheers

[jet_kit]

Hi Chris,
Never tried it, but I've got an article on it somewhere and it's on my list of 'stuff to do'

[DigiDiva]

Just had a go. It's time consuming doing the post processing. Will have another couple of goes before I post any photos. Giv it a try. We can compare notes lol

[MattUK]

I'm sure plenty of people will be willing to help

[Reinardina]

I need help straight away.

What is stacking?

Do you need an SLR to do it? If so, I'm out.

[Cathus]

focus stacking as basically taking a whole load of photos each with a very slight focusing point then using software to keep all the sharp bits from each photo & throw away all the out of focus bits, then stack all the sharp bits together to get an image which is sharper across the range of the focal lengths.

It's used in macro photography to get much more of an insect, for example, in focus, than you could with a single photo.

You might focus on the antenna, then the head, then the body then the tail and get a final image where the whole thing is sharp, you wouldn't be able to do this normally because the depth of field is so limited.
(that's a bit of a simplification because in reality, with a 5x1 lens you might need 50-100 photos to get a whole wasp in focus)

[Reinardina]

Originally Posted by Cathus

focus stacking as basically taking a whole load of photos each with a very slight focusing point then using software to keep all the sharp bits from each photo & throw away all the out of focus bits, then stack all the sharp bits together to get an image which is sharper across the range of the focal lengths.

It's used in macro photography to get much more of an insect, for example, in focus, than you could with a single photo.

You might focus on the antenna, then the head, then the body then the tail and get a final image where the whole thing is sharp, you wouldn't be able to do this normally because the depth of field is so limited.
(that's a bit of a simplification because in reality, with a 5x1 lens you might need 50-100 photos to get a whole wasp in focus)

Thanks Cathus! I think I might just about be able to do this, in principle, but with my eyesight (or lack of it rather) it would be torture.

[DigiDiva]

Reinardina, I'm having MAJOR eyesight issues and its getting that without live view, I can't get an image in focus, let alone pin-sharp.

[eysha]

Sounds interesting and never tried that before either. Would my non DSLR be ok? I have a Panasonic FZ38. I am with DD in that i have to use live view too due to wonky headlamps (eyes)lol.
Need more detail and how does an insect stay around long enough to do all that Cathus, doesn't happen in my garden, at least not when i am on the look out for them anyway, lol.

[DigiDiva]

ok..maybe a skill a week is too much, lets make it a skill a month! lol.....Im working on my 1stskill as we speak!