Southwestern Landscapes all Focus Stacked with Helicon Focus software
Dec 28, 2016 17:52:58 #
I spent nine weeks mostly alone, though sometimes a companion would join me for awhile, photographing in the desert southwest during March and April of 2016. I learned to really appreciate what southern Utah and Northern Arizona have to offer, and learned to use my GPS device quite well as I constantly hiked miles into the wilderness. I was always careful as I know bad things can happen to an old geezer like me who spends so much time in remote territory. Even a broken ankle could be life-threatening while alone and out of touch with the world. Here is a tiny sample of what I photographed.
By the way, I am surprised by the ongoing discussion of stopping down for depth of field or using the hyper-focal distance to get maximum sharpness in the landscape. Such ideas are really obsolete for most landscapes because focus stacking at f/8 to f/11 works far better for anything that holds still and isn't blowing in the wind. All of these images are focus stacked, and sometimes the foreground is only a foot or two in front of the camera. And focus stacking isn't only about getting the best in sharpness for covering depth. It is also terrific for selective focus - shoot wide open and only stack your way through the object you want in focus. And I commonly use focus stacking for extending the reach of my flashes. By shooting with bigger apertures, my Canon speedlites can light things up better and then I stack my way through the scene, making sure of course that my flashes have time to recharge between shots to keep the illumination the same from shot to shot.
Just an observation. Having been a photo instructor for forty years, I often wonder why it takes the "masses" to catch on to new and I think better ways of doing things. For example, anyone who took my courses back in the slide era knew what a huge fan of spot-metering I was. Now that we have the histogram and highlight alert to work with, I have no use for spot-metering at all or any other type except evaluative or color matrix. A second example is back-button focusing. It is a terrific tool that it seems has finally caught on, but it isn't always the best way to go. I do love back-button focusing for a lot of stuff, but what surprises me is how hard it was to get everyone knowledgeable about it. I was using it with my film cameras decades ago (the old Canon F-1 had it) and been promoting its use for more than twenty years. As an instructor, how do I reach photographers quicker? I find the vast majority of my clients come to learn, but then cling to old ways of doing things because they are familiar, but are resistant to acquiring new habits and techniques that really work so much better. One thing I always try to do is look at new ways of photographing, see if there are advantages, and adopt them quickly when they prove themselves. I continually wonder what techniques I still need to adopt as I know there are many!
I hope this time I have actually stored the original for you. If so, let me know and it will be another banner day - I finally learned something new!
By the way, I am surprised by the ongoing discussion of stopping down for depth of field or using the hyper-focal distance to get maximum sharpness in the landscape. Such ideas are really obsolete for most landscapes because focus stacking at f/8 to f/11 works far better for anything that holds still and isn't blowing in the wind. All of these images are focus stacked, and sometimes the foreground is only a foot or two in front of the camera. And focus stacking isn't only about getting the best in sharpness for covering depth. It is also terrific for selective focus - shoot wide open and only stack your way through the object you want in focus. And I commonly use focus stacking for extending the reach of my flashes. By shooting with bigger apertures, my Canon speedlites can light things up better and then I stack my way through the scene, making sure of course that my flashes have time to recharge between shots to keep the illumination the same from shot to shot.
Just an observation. Having been a photo instructor for forty years, I often wonder why it takes the "masses" to catch on to new and I think better ways of doing things. For example, anyone who took my courses back in the slide era knew what a huge fan of spot-metering I was. Now that we have the histogram and highlight alert to work with, I have no use for spot-metering at all or any other type except evaluative or color matrix. A second example is back-button focusing. It is a terrific tool that it seems has finally caught on, but it isn't always the best way to go. I do love back-button focusing for a lot of stuff, but what surprises me is how hard it was to get everyone knowledgeable about it. I was using it with my film cameras decades ago (the old Canon F-1 had it) and been promoting its use for more than twenty years. As an instructor, how do I reach photographers quicker? I find the vast majority of my clients come to learn, but then cling to old ways of doing things because they are familiar, but are resistant to acquiring new habits and techniques that really work so much better. One thing I always try to do is look at new ways of photographing, see if there are advantages, and adopt them quickly when they prove themselves. I continually wonder what techniques I still need to adopt as I know there are many!
I hope this time I have actually stored the original for you. If so, let me know and it will be another banner day - I finally learned something new!
Arch in the Alabama Hills - a two shot focus stack where a Canon flash filtered with a 1/2 CTO gel was fired during each exposure to light the foreground
(Download)
Zebra Slot Canyon near Escalante
(Download)
Stud Horse Point Hoodos near Page, AZ - they make terrific night shots too
(Download)
The Wave in North Coyote buttes
(Download)
The wave - the foreground is about one foot in front of the camera
(Download)
Wahweep Hoodos - this should be on every landscape shooters bucket list
(Download)
Wahweep Hoodos - west of Page, AZ a little - fabulous place
(Download)
Lower Antelope Slot Canyon - a combination in-camera HDR and focus stack
(Download)
Lower Antelope Slot Canyon - I liked this one better than Upper
(Download)
White Pocket swirls of color
(Download)
Dec 28, 2016 18:03:32 #
Dec 28, 2016 18:04:03 #
Dec 28, 2016 18:05:16 #
Very impressive series. Particularly like the close-ups of the rocks. The abstract effect is excellent. You did something I could not do now but, truth be told, would not have even thought of doing when I was physically able. Good work.
Dec 28, 2016 18:07:32 #
Was having a pleasant conversation with an older photographer at a Blue Ridge overlook.
When i mentioned stacking he ended the conversation in a huff.
The lower slot shots are great.
When i mentioned stacking he ended the conversation in a huff.
The lower slot shots are great.
Dec 28, 2016 18:15:05 #
John Gerlach wrote:
I spent nine weeks mostly alone, though sometimes ... (show quote)
I enjoyed the arch, waves and slot canyons, beautiful!
Dec 28, 2016 18:40:01 #
Great shots and work . Great idea with the stacking and it may not be too long before the cameras do it for us automatically.
Dec 28, 2016 18:46:25 #
Fantastic! Those are some of the best pictures I've seen of those particular subjects. 
Dec 28, 2016 19:15:19 #
Dec 28, 2016 20:20:55 #
Thanks everyone. I do hope future cameras will have built-in focus stacking!
Dec 29, 2016 12:55:41 #
How do you determine the numbers of stacked frames? any formula?
as a pro did you ever give presentations in Oklahoma City, if so I have been to a couple.
as a pro did you ever give presentations in Oklahoma City, if so I have been to a couple.
Dec 29, 2016 14:28:55 #
Since the beginning of mankind, the idea of making changes has been repugnant. Once people have one way to do something, the vast majority want to stay with that way. To get people to "take a risk" and do something new is challenging. I've learned lots of new things through this forum and other informative blogs. Some of the changes don't work for me, others do. When it makes my job easier, or better, I implement the changes. Just keep throwing ideas out there and eventually something will stick.
I like your photos very much. Colors are fantastic!
I like your photos very much. Colors are fantastic!
Dec 29, 2016 15:23:23 #
This is where I have so much trouble explaining how I stack. Everyone wants to make it more difficult that it is. There are no formulas as the DOF depends on what you want sharp (maybe you only want part of the image sharp), magnification, aperture, and how close you are focusing. So it must be difficult to figure out how many images are required. I find if you estimate the distance in yards, multiply by 3, divide by 2.099, square that, and then cut the amount into thirds, you get the right number - kidding.
I will say this as simple as I can. I use f/8 because it is a sharp aperture on my lens. I don't need to stop down because I will cover the depth in my stack of images. I focus carefully on the closest point where I want sharp focus, and often use live view with a magnified image to do that. Then I don't worry about what point to focus on next. I simply turn the focus ring manually (no autofocus) in the smallest possible increment I can set manually to focus deeper into the scene and shoot another. I keep doing this procedure until I am sure I have gone to the furthest possible point I want in focus (usually infinity, but not always as I might do selective focus), and then finally stop. If I focus past infinity, it does not seem to matter as nothing is sharply focused so the Helicon focus software ignores it. Then I put each separate stack of images in its own folder. I go to Helicon focus, select the folder and then select all files, press run, method B usually, and it does the job. Very simple! Even a computer-challenged photographer like me can do it. I am giving everyone a tip. I have tested stopping down for depth with focus stacking, and now I always use focus stacking anytime it will work, which is nearly always. Talking stopping down or hyperfocal distance is ancient history now for most landscape images. Stacking is far better for sharpness! I think focus stacking will be the fifth article I post on my new web site at www.gerlachnaturephoto.com. You might want to read the first four on using drips for birds, Arizona's Golden Triangle, Changes I have Made Recently to my Photo Workflow, and one more.
I will say this as simple as I can. I use f/8 because it is a sharp aperture on my lens. I don't need to stop down because I will cover the depth in my stack of images. I focus carefully on the closest point where I want sharp focus, and often use live view with a magnified image to do that. Then I don't worry about what point to focus on next. I simply turn the focus ring manually (no autofocus) in the smallest possible increment I can set manually to focus deeper into the scene and shoot another. I keep doing this procedure until I am sure I have gone to the furthest possible point I want in focus (usually infinity, but not always as I might do selective focus), and then finally stop. If I focus past infinity, it does not seem to matter as nothing is sharply focused so the Helicon focus software ignores it. Then I put each separate stack of images in its own folder. I go to Helicon focus, select the folder and then select all files, press run, method B usually, and it does the job. Very simple! Even a computer-challenged photographer like me can do it. I am giving everyone a tip. I have tested stopping down for depth with focus stacking, and now I always use focus stacking anytime it will work, which is nearly always. Talking stopping down or hyperfocal distance is ancient history now for most landscape images. Stacking is far better for sharpness! I think focus stacking will be the fifth article I post on my new web site at www.gerlachnaturephoto.com. You might want to read the first four on using drips for birds, Arizona's Golden Triangle, Changes I have Made Recently to my Photo Workflow, and one more.
John Gerlach wrote:
Thanks everyone. I do hope future cameras will have built-in focus stacking!
Dec 29, 2016 19:48:42 #
Dec 29, 2016 23:12:51 #
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