A few days back, I wondered if I could achieve focus stacking doing the macro rock-your-camera-to-focus trick. For the uninitiated, the idea is that slight movement of your camera toward and/or away from your subject is an easier focusing method than using the focus ring on your lens.
I thought my logic was straightforward:
- Focus breathing means that even if you’re using a tripod photo stacking software will still have to deal with shot-to-shot variation in framing/perspective
- My body does not support focus bracketing
- My body does have high burst rates
Put the three together and here we are. The daisy in the post is 39 images fed into helicon focus 9. I’ve now spent a total of 10 minutes with this software and it’s super easy. Here’s one of the photos in the stack to give you a feel for how thin the depth of field was:
For kicks, here are two more stacks. They’re not super compelling photos, but they do show that the concept is viable.
Everything in this post was shot at f/4 on a Sigma 35mm f/2 with 26mm of extension tubes in the great outdoors with no additional lighting.
I wish I was in to photography, as this sounds like fun stuff to play with.
Another technique I’m curious about is shooting some memorable public locale, then taking enough shots of it such that software can then edit out all traffic of various types.
But I suppose there are other kinds of software-enhanced tricks possible…
You can do this without software, even. I have seen people take mega long exposures of busy city areas by using dark filters and tiny aperture settings, and the final result is all the buildings being there but anything that moves effectively disappears.
Odds are very strong that you have a phone in your pocket with a camera in it. The best camera in the world is the one you have with you, so you’re off to a good start.
What you’re describing is another good application for stacking/compositing. You can totally take multiple photos, put them into layers, and selectively remove content from each photo. There might even be automated tools that can do this vs doing it by hand. The more steady you can keep the thing taking the pictures the better off you’ll be.
The only real hurdle would be things like parked cars, or very high traffic areas where you never get a clear shot of a specific portion of the frame, but if you choose the right spot this could lead to some very surreal looking photos.
Odds are very strong that you have a phone in your pocket with a camera in it.
That would be a successful prediction on your part! The real issue is that I’m mainly housebound due to my disease, it’s not easy for me to get around, and doing physical stuff outdoors can be rather draining. A big part of why my hobbies have shifted towards reading, writing and online reviewing.
There might even be automated tools that can do this vs doing it by hand.
There absolutely are from my understanding. Take enough photos and the software does all the work. Other software can also re-create blind or blocked spots via their AI.
Try macro shots of random items around the house, that’s always fun to play with. One of my nicest around-the-house shots is of the ball on a ball point pen
The level of precision that goes into every day items is truly amazing.
I’m sorry to hear that friend! I’m happy that you’re still finding outlets to engage with.
Macro photography might be worth a quick glance at depending how mobile you are. Life in miniature can look otherworldly.
Yeah, I hear you and @ryannathans@aussie.zone about the macro photography. I like looking at others’ stuff (ever hear of “Eyeball Benders” from Games Magazine?) but I deal with so much image handling as part of my other projects that I’m just not looking to branch out at this time. Or if I did, I’d prolly want to get back in to what I used to do, which was watercolor and art experiments.
Anyway, thank you for the good wishes. 🙂
