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01/10/2007 09:56:37 AM · #1 |
Hey all. Just came across this technique, and was wondering if anyone uses it, and any thoughts on the matter. Basically a problem with many macro shots is the lack of DOF. Therefore, you take a number of frames, all with slightly different focus points, and combine them together to create one sharp image.
The programs i've read about are CombineZM, CombineZ5 (older), and Helicon Focus.
Here are some examples
//www.flickr.com/groups/macroviewers/discuss/163367/
//www.crystalcanyons.net/pages/TechNotes/3DMicroMacro.shtm
//forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1022&message=21478165&changemode=1 |
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01/10/2007 10:15:33 AM · #2 |
| I haven't gotten around to doing this yet but I thought about doing this technique or something similar for a Cityscape. Maybe with a 9 or 12 image composite. |
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01/10/2007 10:28:41 AM · #3 |
| It is an old technique, and much easier to do with Photoshop and layers. Just have to be careful and takes some time. |
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01/10/2007 10:42:21 AM · #4 |
I'm sure it works well in a studio setting, but man oh man, try to get a bug to sit still while you refocus 3 times!
I wonder if a TSE lens works well for DOF after adding a few spacer rings? |
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01/10/2007 10:50:26 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by kyebosh:
I'm sure it works well in a studio setting, but man oh man, try to get a bug to sit still while you refocus 3 times!
I wonder if a TSE lens works well for DOF after adding a few spacer rings? |
It can work for bugs, you just have to fire the shutter several times while carefully moving the camera very slightly. Not easy at all, but doable (I did a very crude example of it a long time ago).
A TSE lens with extenstion would work. As a matter of fact, Zork makes a system to do just that for macros. It is pretty expensive, though.
Message edited by author 2007-01-10 13:56:46. |
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01/10/2007 11:23:33 AM · #6 |
I just read an article in either Rangefinder or Digital Photo Pro about David Yager of the University of Maryland using this technique to create his award winning images of cockroaches.
Years ago I attempted macro images with increased DOF by placing the subject on a focusing rail and with just a slit of light from a 35mm projector as the light source. With the camera at a fixed focus point moving the subject thru the prime focus point while lighting only that point. It would have worked better if I had had a stepping motor on the focusing rail, as I had inconsistent overlap. I gave up as Velvia & processing was quite expensive for a struggling college student at the time. It would be interesting to give the technique a try again now with digital both for the shoot and especially in the post processing blending.
Of course this wouldn’t work with live or conscious bugs.
Message edited by author 2007-01-10 12:49:01. |
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01/10/2007 11:31:38 AM · #7 |
And you can confuse people by making two frames with focus on different sections, front and back of a subject, then combining them; it looks like the front and the back (of the subject) are in focus and things in front of the front and in back of the back and in the middle are out of focus, which isn't possible, and makes peoples eyes go googly.
Message edited by author 2007-01-10 11:33:24. |
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01/10/2007 11:49:30 AM · #8 |
I've only every really used this technique to stack multiple points of focus, to play with point light source effects and blooms.
So I'm not really trying to increase the depth of focus, but to layer multiple planes of focus into a single image. Works well for things where the OOF highlights create interesting bokeh, that then ends up as a halo around the sharp object.
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01/10/2007 11:55:58 AM · #9 |
This one is about 5 stacked images if I remember correctly.
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01/12/2007 07:05:27 AM · #10 |
Hmmz.. so its not a completely random technique :P ... might have to give it a go... what program do people use other than manual photoshop?
btw nice image falc :) |
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