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Jan 12, 2012 20:14:16   #
photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee
 
I have been trying all day to get an experiment done with no luck at all ....
I am trying to do some focus stacking and no matter what I do I can't seem to get the focus to change to different parts of the scene.
I can either get the front in focus or the whole thing in focus (which is normally what I would want right LOL)
I want to get the flower and leaves in one part then the spiky things in another part and the evergreen in another part ....
I guess I'm not grasping the concept.
I have the camera on aperture priority because it's the f/stop that is supposed to change
I have taken about a hundred photos of this today with the camera on every manual setting available including completely manual and still no luck
Can somebody explain to me how to go about this ?



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Jan 12, 2012 20:21:32   #
Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.
 
Are you using the lowest f stop then going up? How far are you from the back drop? Have you changed you metering mode? I have not tried any thing like this just some thoughts.

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Jan 12, 2012 20:32:15   #
photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee
 
I tried every f/stop available.
no I didn't change the metering mode... does that affect the focus ?
I don't have a macro lens so I'm using the 28-105 zoomed out. I even tried with my 100-400 but that wouldn't focus at all ... way too close.
This is a frustrating experiment lol ... but I'm determined to get it

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Jan 12, 2012 20:38:04   #
RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa
 
I dont really know too much about STACKING...but I do know a little about Depth of field which in a previous explanation of stacking sounds a lot alike only stacking seems to be something you are trying post processing.

For DoF if all the items are very close to each other it is just really hard...perhaps that is the problem you are having or your actual distance from the subject.

Not really sure if this will help you

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Jan 12, 2012 20:41:14   #
photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee
 
Yes it is stacking for depth of field ... and is all done post processing ... well once you actually succeed in getting the shots lol
Stacking takes several photos each with their own section in focus and combines them to bring the whole scene into sharp focus ... I know I can do it in one shot but what is the challenge in that LOL

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Jan 12, 2012 20:53:39   #
Dria Loc: Ohio
 
I believe your arrangement of items are too close together to get the effect.. I wonder if the depth of field calculator would help

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Jan 12, 2012 20:58:05   #
photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee
 
Dria wrote:
I believe your arrangement of items are too close together to get the effect.. I wonder if the depth of field calculator would help


Thanks for the link .. that is telling me how to get the whole scene in focus and unfortunately that's not what I'm trying to do .
Well I am but I want to piece it together from several photos.

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Jan 12, 2012 22:24:19   #
docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado
 
photogrl57 wrote:
I have been trying all day to get an experiment done with no luck at all ....
I am trying to do some focus stacking and no matter what I do I can't seem to get the focus to change to different parts of the scene.
I can either get the front in focus or the whole thing in focus (which is normally what I would want right LOL)
I want to get the flower and leaves in one part then the spiky things in another part and the evergreen in another part ....
I guess I'm not grasping the concept.
I have the camera on aperture priority because it's the f/stop that is supposed to change
I have taken about a hundred photos of this today with the camera on every manual setting available including completely manual and still no luck
Can somebody explain to me how to go about this ?
I have been trying all day to get an experiment do... (show quote)


If it was me and I was trying to create an image with multiple focal planes in this manner I would 1) use the widest aperture on my lens and keep it there 2) focus manually, 3) this is the hard part - you have to learn to see to distinguish various possible focal planes - and that takes more than a good lens - it takes a bit of training the eye to see and the mind to slow down enough to notice subtle differences. So 4 would be practice, be gentle with yourself, do not rush to judge or criticise yourself - it takes time to see this stuff so have fun doing it....If you can allow that that is.

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Jan 12, 2012 23:03:53   #
photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee
 
docrob wrote:
photogrl57 wrote:
I have been trying all day to get an experiment done with no luck at all ....
I am trying to do some focus stacking and no matter what I do I can't seem to get the focus to change to different parts of the scene.
I can either get the front in focus or the whole thing in focus (which is normally what I would want right LOL)
I want to get the flower and leaves in one part then the spiky things in another part and the evergreen in another part ....
I guess I'm not grasping the concept.
I have the camera on aperture priority because it's the f/stop that is supposed to change
I have taken about a hundred photos of this today with the camera on every manual setting available including completely manual and still no luck
Can somebody explain to me how to go about this ?
I have been trying all day to get an experiment do... (show quote)


If it was me and I was trying to create an image with multiple focal planes in this manner I would 1) use the widest aperture on my lens and keep it there 2) focus manually, 3) this is the hard part - you have to learn to see to distinguish various possible focal planes - and that takes more than a good lens - it takes a bit of training the eye to see and the mind to slow down enough to notice subtle differences. So 4 would be practice, be gentle with yourself, do not rush to judge or criticise yourself - it takes time to see this stuff so have fun doing it....If you can allow that that is.
quote=photogrl57 I have been trying all day to ge... (show quote)


Yeah from everything I've read it's not an easy technique to perfect .... I'll keep trying and keep researching

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Jan 12, 2012 23:08:34   #
Hoss Loc: Near Pittsburgh, Pa
 
photogrl57 wrote:
Dria wrote:
I believe your arrangement of items are too close together to get the effect.. I wonder if the depth of field calculator would help


Thanks for the link .. that is telling me how to get the whole scene in focus and unfortunately that's not what I'm trying to do .
Well I am but I want to piece it together from several photos.


I agree with Docrob
Shoot wide open for shallow depth of field
Turn off the auto focus
Work thru the object one plane at a time.

I have never tried this but that is how I would give it a try!
Mike

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Jan 12, 2012 23:22:27   #
photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee
 
Hoss wrote:
photogrl57 wrote:
Dria wrote:
I believe your arrangement of items are too close together to get the effect.. I wonder if the depth of field calculator would help


Thanks for the link .. that is telling me how to get the whole scene in focus and unfortunately that's not what I'm trying to do .
Well I am but I want to piece it together from several photos.


I agree with Docrob
Shoot wide open for shallow depth of field
Turn off the auto focus
Work thru the object one plane at a time.

I have never tried this but that is how I would give it a try!
Mike
quote=photogrl57 quote=Dria I believe your arran... (show quote)


Auto focus is definitely off .... my problem is getting it to switch planes .. I either get one part in focus or the whole thing in focus

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Jan 13, 2012 00:07:26   #
docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado
 
photogrl57 wrote:
Hoss wrote:
photogrl57 wrote:
Dria wrote:
I believe your arrangement of items are too close together to get the effect.. I wonder if the depth of field calculator would help


Thanks for the link .. that is telling me how to get the whole scene in focus and unfortunately that's not what I'm trying to do .
Well I am but I want to piece it together from several photos.


I agree with Docrob
Shoot wide open for shallow depth of field
Turn off the auto focus
Work thru the object one plane at a time.

I have never tried this but that is how I would give it a try!
Mike
quote=photogrl57 quote=Dria I believe your arran... (show quote)


Auto focus is definitely off .... my problem is getting it to switch planes .. I either get one part in focus or the whole thing in focus
quote=Hoss quote=photogrl57 quote=Dria I believ... (show quote)


then you need to shift the camera position relative to your subject. If you keep the back of the camera parallel to the front of the subject that will help you 1) see a (whole thing) focal plane in focus and 2) increase the perceived depth of field.

If your camera has a relatively handy and easy depth of field preview feature start using it. This will help slow you down and train your eye to see subtle differences of focus. If you do not have depth of field preview you can still start to practice seeing just take more time - cultivate patience - which you will need anyway so might as well get it now.

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Jan 13, 2012 00:16:14   #
photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee
 
I appreciate your insight ... yes my camera does have a depth of field preview .... and you are correct ... patience ... patience...patience ....

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Jan 13, 2012 00:22:04   #
RMM Loc: Suburban New York
 
If I understand what you're trying to do, you want to take 3-4 shots with a tripod, each focused on a different plane, and then combine them into one sharp image. There's a discussion of this below which may help.

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-focus-stacking

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Jan 13, 2012 00:23:19   #
photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee
 
RMM wrote:
If I understand what you're trying to do, you want to take 3-4 shots with a tripod, each focused on a different plane, and then combine them into one sharp image. There's a discussion of this below which may help.

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-focus-stacking


Yes that is exactly what I'm trying to do .. thank you for the link going there now to check it out :)

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