tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post596575210002520667..comments2024-03-28T19:45:08.560-05:00Comments on TYWKIWDBI ("Tai-Wiki-Widbee"): Focus stackingMinnesotastanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-15304429080292437082012-12-14T11:59:43.787-06:002012-12-14T11:59:43.787-06:00As an old-school (ie. pre-digital) photographer, I...As an old-school (ie. pre-digital) photographer, I must admit to a wry chuckle while reading this. This kind of "hyper"-focus has been possible for decades using a large-format view camera like a 4x5 or 8x10.<br /><br />These cameras were essentially two flat boards, one of which held the lens; the other was a frosted glass plate to preview your image before committing it to film, and a bracket to hold the carrier for sheets of film. These boards were connected by a light-tight bellows and were mounted on multi-directional swivels and geared tracks that let you raise and lower them. The technique is called Tilt/Shift, and it enables you to position the opposing boards so as to ensure the entire image is in crisp focus.<br /><br />The currently-available software which replicates this technique merges multiple shots into one using numerical value interpolation. The old-timers did it in one shot using their eye and brain.<br /><br />I chuckle because, once again, we've had to re-invent a wheel that's already been around for decades, just to "catch up with technology". Talk about an endless cycle!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-71613856959406099972012-12-11T18:17:14.562-06:002012-12-11T18:17:14.562-06:00I highly recommend zerene stacker for stacking ima...I highly recommend zerene stacker for stacking images - http://zerenesystems.com/ as it works really well, and has a faster workflow than the photoshop stacker. e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CwiEmTi-ew<br /><br />I haven't had a chance to use it yet but the Magic lantern (http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Magic_Lantern_Firmware_Wiki) has a focus stepper script for automatically taking shots at different focal lengths. Video example at http://vimeo.com/5879032#Danackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02601944007304070805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-78275522879156611552012-12-11T09:53:21.435-06:002012-12-11T09:53:21.435-06:00For me the biggest issue is time - time to learn, ...For me the biggest issue is time - time to learn, and time to employ. You put a lot of work into well-composed photos, while I'm more of a "documentary" take15photosthrow14away-type of photographer.<br /><br />Tx, steve.Minnesotastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-68551897097507639812012-12-11T09:51:22.821-06:002012-12-11T09:51:22.821-06:00That's a good video. Thank you, Jeremy.That's a good video. Thank you, Jeremy.Minnesotastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-71887146692172584192012-12-11T09:33:45.144-06:002012-12-11T09:33:45.144-06:00Photoshop Auto Blend Layers is great when it works...Photoshop Auto Blend Layers is great when it works, but has no user-controllable settings and often messes up with stacks of more than 3 images.<br />Combinezm is a free program that is not very user friendly and crashes often, but it's actually quite good when it works. <br /><br />That being said, you're right...not many butterflies stay still long enough to make it work. <br /><br />The closer you get, the more necessary it becomes. I often stack a dozen or so frames just to get relatively narrow depths of field like these<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenbegin/3997836702/" rel="nofollow">butterfly</a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenbegin/7307492336/" rel="nofollow">skipper</a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenbegin/5883687139/" rel="nofollow">evening primrose moth</a><br /><br /><br />stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-71503936731228573302012-12-11T09:02:23.904-06:002012-12-11T09:02:23.904-06:00I was thinking about this process the other day wh...I was thinking about this process the other day while brainstorming a photo idea. <br /><br />Here's a tutorial how to achieve it in Photoshop and an application of Focus Stacking in Photography from local Chicago group Phlearn (Photoshop Learn): http://vimeo.com/46841511<br /><br />There's a Photoshop took called "Auto Blend Layers" that helps the process along. <br /><br />If you don't like clicking links, they take a toy unicorn, shoot it with focus stacking and make a quick scene mixing a miniature toy with regular-sized people. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com