Focus stacking for landscapes - question
Apr 5, 2018 09:59:35 #
Hello again,Technohogs,
I have been reading and watching a lot of videos on landscape photo stacking. A problem (for me, anyways) is that the issue of proper exposure for each image in the stack is not discussed to my satisfaction. Some seem to suggest a tweak in the exposure depending on what area you are focusing on. Does that mean that each focusing area should have an optimized exposure and, if so, are you depending on your visualized interpretation in live view? You cannot start taking images to check exposure during your stacking process. Or, are folks saying you should be in evaluative metering mode for the whole scene for all exposures regardless of the dynamic range of the scene? Or - should one start by setting up your scene and then, before stacking, establish the proper exposure for each area that you will be focusing on?
I know that you eventually make corrections by using layer masks but shouldn't at least one image have the proper exposure for each focus area?
Thanks to all who jump into this one,
Photodoc16
I have been reading and watching a lot of videos on landscape photo stacking. A problem (for me, anyways) is that the issue of proper exposure for each image in the stack is not discussed to my satisfaction. Some seem to suggest a tweak in the exposure depending on what area you are focusing on. Does that mean that each focusing area should have an optimized exposure and, if so, are you depending on your visualized interpretation in live view? You cannot start taking images to check exposure during your stacking process. Or, are folks saying you should be in evaluative metering mode for the whole scene for all exposures regardless of the dynamic range of the scene? Or - should one start by setting up your scene and then, before stacking, establish the proper exposure for each area that you will be focusing on?
I know that you eventually make corrections by using layer masks but shouldn't at least one image have the proper exposure for each focus area?
Thanks to all who jump into this one,
Photodoc16
Apr 5, 2018 10:16:24 #
photodoc16 wrote:
Hello again,Technohogs, br I have been reading and... (show quote)
On a very rare occasion, I will do a combination of both HDR techniques and focus stacking but it is a painful PP task. Normally, I focus stack with a single EV for all the required images.
Apr 5, 2018 10:21:09 #
jackpinoh
Loc: Kettering, OH 45419
I focus stack in manual mode. I only change focus distance--nothing else.
Apr 5, 2018 10:21:27 #
I did HDR on all the images first, then assembled the focus stack. Yes, it was long and painful that way. The result was a huge very sharp photo. To what end (?) I ask myself after doing it.
BobHartung wrote:
On a very rare occasion, I will do a combination of both HDR techniques and focus stacking but it is a painful PP task. Normally, I focus stack with a single EV for all the required images.
Apr 5, 2018 10:31:25 #
jackpinoh wrote:
I focus stack in manual mode. I only change focus distance--nothing else.
I agree. Make all other adjustments in PP.
Apr 5, 2018 10:53:50 #
TheDman
Loc: USA
This one is a 3-shot focus stack, ISO 100 on the mountains and lake and I think 800 or 1000 on the flowers, each different exposures, apertures, etc. Just make sure when you're piecing them together that the edges blend.
Apr 5, 2018 11:09:59 #
TheDman wrote:
This one is a 3-shot focus stack, ISO 100 on the mountains and lake and I think 800 or 1000 on the flowers, each different exposures, apertures, etc. Just make sure when you're piecing them together that the edges blend.
It worked quite nicely for you.
Apr 5, 2018 11:13:02 #
The only thing wrong with this photo is, it's not mine.
TheDman wrote:
This one is a 3-shot focus stack, ISO 100 on the mountains and lake and I think 800 or 1000 on the flowers, each different exposures, apertures, etc. Just make sure when you're piecing them together that the edges blend.
Apr 5, 2018 11:15:37 #
Hello Dman,
Beautiful image. My question to you is were your exposure values based on intuition and knowledge or did you arrive at them prior to shooting the focus stack?
Thanks,
Photodoc16
Beautiful image. My question to you is were your exposure values based on intuition and knowledge or did you arrive at them prior to shooting the focus stack?
Thanks,
Photodoc16
Apr 5, 2018 11:33:41 #
Apr 5, 2018 11:35:18 #
TheDman
Loc: USA
photodoc16 wrote:
Hello Dman,
Beautiful image. My question to you is were your exposure values based on intuition and knowledge or did you arrive at them prior to shooting the focus stack?
Thanks,
Photodoc16
Beautiful image. My question to you is were your exposure values based on intuition and knowledge or did you arrive at them prior to shooting the focus stack?
Thanks,
Photodoc16
They were based on the same thing most every shot is based on - the light meter reading and histogram. Just tried to get a good exposure of each element I was focused on.
Apr 5, 2018 13:04:31 #
[quote=photodoc16] Or, are folks saying you should be in evaluative metering mode for the whole scene for all exposures regardless of the dynamic range of the scene?
I have never had to adjust exposure in camera when doing a stack, since I think that would unnecessarily complicate the process. In Lightroom, it is very easy to adjust exposure for 1 image then sync with the rest. It would not buy you anything to adjust as the stack is completed. With the Nikon D850, it is a completely automatic process, so you could not easily disrupt it mid stride to correct exposure.
I have never had to adjust exposure in camera when doing a stack, since I think that would unnecessarily complicate the process. In Lightroom, it is very easy to adjust exposure for 1 image then sync with the rest. It would not buy you anything to adjust as the stack is completed. With the Nikon D850, it is a completely automatic process, so you could not easily disrupt it mid stride to correct exposure.
Apr 5, 2018 13:17:35 #
Fotoartist wrote:
I did HDR on all the images first, then assembled the focus stack. Yes, it was long and painful that way. The result was a huge very sharp photo. To what end (?) I ask myself after doing it.
That is beautiful. Do you set up bracketing, take the shots and then do the focus stacking? I have to see if the automated feature in the D850 can handle that.
Interesting.
Apr 5, 2018 13:22:42 #
TheDman
Loc: USA
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
quote=photodoc16 Or, are folks saying you should... (show quote)
Mother nature tends to complicate things, though. For my shot I had to stop the flowers from blowing around, so a higher ISO and larger aperture were necessary to get my shutter speed up. Didn't want to shoot the whole thing that way though. Why use ISO 1000 on the mountains when you can use 100?
Apr 5, 2018 13:29:01 #
Fotoartist wrote:
I did HDR on all the images first, then assembled the focus stack. Yes, it was long and painful that way. The result was a huge very sharp photo. To what end (?) I ask myself after doing it.
Just so you can say you know how and did it!
I have done HDR and Panorama but almost never do them as a normal thing. Guess I should try them combined just so I can say I did it.
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