Oftentimes, I create several versions of a subject, lighting different portions of the subject or making small changes in each image, with the intention of compositing them into one final masterpiece. But the biggest problem I have with the technique is repeatability. Using a shutter release cable and mirror lock-up will eliminate the possibility of camera shake, but you have to remember to actually use them. It also relies on the photographer’s estimate of how far to turn the knob between each shot. With a macro focusing rail the photographer has to physically touch the rail (which is connected to the camera) introducing the possibility of camera movement or misalignment. The problem with a macro focus rail is that it doesn’t do anything to combat the biggest complication in the technique: human error. But, if you’re just testing the waters, it’s worth a shot. This is not as accurate and can produce some less than optimum results due to the optics changing in the lens as you turn the focus ring, distortion of your subject, large difference in perspective, and a myriad of other problems.
HELICON REMOTE STACKSHOT SOFTWARE
Adobe Photoshop is capable of this, although I’ve found third-party software like Helicon Focus and Zerene Stacker to be more accurate.Īlternatively, if you don’t have a macro focus rail, you could just refocus on the subject, taking photos after each turn of the focus ring. Then we take all those images and dump them into software that detects the portions of each image that are sharpest, and combines them all into one really sharp image. Sometimes it can be as many as 20–30 images depending on focal length, aperture, distance, and size of subject. Basically, you back the rail all the way up, focus on the near portion of your subject, take a shot, turn the knob so the camera moves a little closer to the subject, take another shot, and repeat as many times as necessary to move through the entire subject. The movements created by turning the knob are very fine adjustments, allowing the photographer to have finite control over how much movement is being used. Basically a focus rail is a rail on which a camera mount slides forward and backward via a threaded shaft that’s turned with a knob. There are other manufacturers, but I like RRS products because they’re bulletproof. In one of my previous videos on Jewelry Photography for Catalogs, I introduced the technique using a Really Right Stuff Macro Focusing Rail. But when we set our aperture to that sweet spot, and shoot several frames, we are able to achieve the impossible (or at least our clients will think so). This kind of sharpness is normally not possible with just a single frame.
HELICON REMOTE STACKSHOT SERIES
The technique is pretty simple take a series of photos, each focused on a different portion of the subject, and merge them all together in postproduction to get one really sharp image.
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