Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

Happy Valentines Day.

The first shot is 3 images stacked together for the picture using one softbox light.

The second is 2 sets of stacked images.
First set was 6 stacked images then masked to open just the focused areas. Did this in Photoshop. When I finished I noticed 3 areas that were not in focus, would need to take add 3 more shots. I had not moved the camera so it should still work. I couldn't figure out how to align my 3 new layers other than manually so I merged the first 6 and saved. Then made a new file stacking the saved file and the 3 new shots I needed to add. Once I had all the files merged I did some clean up on the front of the heart just using the spot healing brush.

BTW on the second shot I used a softbox front and above along with a small strong LED flashlight aimed inside the back opening.

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Toleman

Was all the stacking etc necessary? Not sure I can see what advantage it has in this case over one well lit and executed shot. Bit of a fan of the keep it simple principle but maybe I am wrong.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Looks good, Jim! Do you have a dedicated room for your still life photography?

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

I was filling the frame for this shot using a 50mm lens. If I had shot further away and with a long lens you could be correct on the DOF but I don't think you would have ever seen the wood grain inside of the trunk doing it that way.
Thanks for stopping by and asking. I will take one more shot with a long lens see what happens and let you know.

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

This is a funny question. We have a 3 bedroom house. Main is ours, second is office and spare and a third, the smallest has a day bed in it. This third one is the one I use for many of the still life shots. My wife keeps the house very clean but she lets me do what I want in this third bedroom. Now to respect my wife cleaning habits I will pull everything out of the closet and set up a shot. I might work on it for 2 somethings 3 days. At the end of shot I put everything up and clean the rooms as it was. Work on some pp work for a day or two look for something to shoot and start the whole process all over again when I get the itch, happens a lot in the winter months. The bedroom m is only 11 x 11 and on larger projects I will move to the dinning room table. There I only have one day to completer the shoot.😏

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

LOL, no pressure with the dining room shots

Many thanks!

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

I tested your theory and used a different lens further back. I found that this would reduce my shots to about 3 to get everything in focus. So yes it would have made it more simple to shoot and stack.👍