My FOCUS STACKING Technique for SHARP PHOTOS | The Landscape Photography Journals E8

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TAGS: #FocusStacking #FocusStackingPhotoshop #FocusCamera

[@jimthode]

Good video! The other things for sharp photos that folks sometimes do not think of. When the camera is mounted on a tripod, set the vibration reduction ON/OFF switch to OFF. And use the camera mirror lock up if the camera has it. These two things can make a huge difference.

[@viveknoble4258]

This is hands down the best video in this category that I have seen. Very clear and straight to the point. I like how you talk about your entire process rather than bits and pieces. Perfect for beginners like myself.

[@gillgrubb9249]

Lots of experienced photographers and trainers on photography workshops have tried to persuade me to use back button focus. Now you explained good reasons why. Now I understand the benefits I will set it up and persevere to get used to it. Thank you.

[@DaveMorrow]

Glad to hear that, Gill. It's essential for landscape photography. This guide will help you with the step by step while out shooting: www.davemorrowphotography.com/back-button-focus Have fun!

[@gillgrubb9249]

@@DaveMorrow Your camera sensor guide really helped me to choose my next camera. Again, you explained it in a way that made logical sense to me. I have chosen a full frame mirror less and look forward to it's arrival to develop my skills. Thank you.

[@msgaltman3075]

Hi Dave. I wish I had found you vlog a year ago when I started my photography journey. Your style is unique among all other instructional photography videos. While there are others doing on location instruction, your smooth blend of technical and creative, where one compliments the other is unique. I don't know if you do it intentionally, but you instructional technique of "tell then what you're going to show them", "show them", and "tell them what you showed them" is perfect (and rather like the military). I'll be watching more of your videos.

[@DaveMorrow]

Thanks! I did it intentionally at first, now it's just second nature:) I like the military process for doing things. Step by step order of operations is how to improve quickly

[@JCJR0411]

Thank you for teaching this, Dave. I agree with you when you say that technique is an exception. For most shots, it would be more confortable and convenient to use the "hyper focal" clue. Cheers, mate

[@griffenboy41]

You have a very effective teaching style. I have viewed several of your tutorials and have learned more from those than a couple of years of flailing around in Photoshop. I appreciate your very clear presentation and patience. That really helps. Thanks and continued success.

[@DaveMorrow]

Good to hear! Thanks man.

[@stephen9092]

While there are loads of tutorials out there for camera technique and post processing, I always defer back to you Dave. You remind me of one or two engineers I’ve worked with through the years, incredibly thorough, highly technical, always seeking improvement in efficiency, overall extremely competent. Ill very likely be signing up for your website membership in the near future. Currently an engineer but with aspiration for photography.

[@DaveMorrow]

Really glad you like them Stephen. It would be great to have you on board the membership! As an engineer I think you'll really enjoy the membership design. Take care, Dave

[@luap1983]

Finally someone explaining it so simple people like myself can understand 🤣🤣👍👍 thank you

[@DaveMorrow]

That's great! You're welcome. More stuff here: www.davemorrowphotography.com/2013/01/tutorials-photography-post-processing.html

[@miguelholguin123]

Great way to teach. You explain what you're going to do, you show how to do it, you do it, and then you follow up. I've learned so much. I have been doing photography for about a year now, your tutorials are by far some of the best. Keep doing what you're doing and I'll keep watching and learning. Thank you for sharing.

[@jindiparks3767]

You’re a very good teacher. I especially love the speed of your voice. You give me just the right amount f time to think about what you are doing. Thank you🌸

[@DaveMorrow]

Thank you! 😃

[@sailidaho2724]

Really useful technique for when you need it. When focus difference too big to just close down F-stop.

[@rasicaphoto6450]

This movement between this two different focus distances images is called "focus breathing" and scale of shifting depending from lens to lens. For some complicated examples of focus stacking that can be a big problem. Nice video btw.

[@royceahr]

Dave, came across this video on focus stacking which got me looking through my Photoshop notes because I recall there is another way to do this which is perhaps a little simpler. When I tried this other method on 3-5 shots I got some really good results. I do everything the same that you did up to the auto-align. Following auto align I click Edit - Auto Blend stack images with seamless tones and colors and click OK. This method seems work work well because as you will see in the layer masks following the blending it picks off only those areas that are crisp to blend. Give it a go...

[@DaveMorrow]

I've given it a go hundreds of times, that's why I don't recommend it:) There are other comments that explain under the video

[@JeepsterGal]

I could not be more excited to have discovered your video series. I just got Lightroom last year and started taking Milky Way photos in the summer of 2016. I have SO much to learn both in the field and in post processing. Thank you for these tutorials.

[@DaveMorrow]

You're welcome:)

[@TonyNeat]

Being in a similar situation I couldn’t agree more JeepsterGal This is the best channel I’ve discovered in some time 😉

[@JeepsterGal]

Agreed. I am literally following along in Lightroom and taking notes. LOL. I have been blending wrong and also didn't know you could sync alignment like that...I've been changing opacity and nudging and transforming. Sigh. LOL

[@DaveMorrow]

Hi Tony! Nice to meet you & thanks for watching. Is there anything you want to learn in the future? I'm always looking for new idea for vids. Just let me know.

[@DaveMorrow]

I was just on your channel. Nice vids from Colorado. I was just up on engineers pass this October. Got a lot of snow. The San Juans are so nice! Have you ventured down into the Southwest? PS: Repetition & taking notes are key for me too!

[@fccfly]

Dave, another to the point informative video. I appreciate your depth of knowledge and dedication to photography. Your ability to summarize the key points of your workflow certainly has helped me improve my skills.

[@ChrisBishop0303]

Another fantastic video. I’m a Canon user. It doesn’t appear documented, but by accident I found the expose to the histogram technique you use. It’s magic, really improved my shots. Thanks

[@markgotchallphotography]

I have seen the technique before, but you re-enforced why and when I should use it, Thanks!

[@mrhallphotography]

Another Great Tutorial. Greatly appreciated that you take the time to explain how a well focused image is made. You have greatly improved my skill. Looking forward to more!

[@7Eggbert]

Dave, I want to thank you for your great videos. Learning your technique has broaden my horizon while trimming down my emails and videos I want to watch. I've unsubscribed from many a websites which has left me more time to pay attention to whats important. Photography! I still need to re-watch your training and practice, practice, practice. Thank you in advance for your up coming efforts. ...Chris

[@DaveMorrow]

Hi Chris. That's awesome! Love to hear it. Those are great decisions. I always try to do the same things in my life, less choice, but overall more efficient learning /work. Nice to meet you Chris!

[@onthecorneroftheoryandtrut7951]

There are few great photogs on youtube. You are one of them. On point, and thorough. Thank you.

[@DaveMorrow]

Thanks Miles!

[@bruceblaylock8682]

Bravo, Dave! Thank you for a detailed, yet straight forward explanation of your blending process.

[@DaveMorrow]

You're welcome.

[@WiseUniqueCreations]

Thanks Dave. I always leave with new insight to producing better photographs and post-editing procedures. Looking forward to the next one.

[@JuanFrank]

Thank you Dave and be safe out there.!!

[@DaveMorrow]

Thanks Juan. Will do:)

[@sparkysteele]

You are an excellent teacher i have learned and remembered so much thank you ever so much for your time and effort

[@annettethomas5781]

Thank you for taking time to explain things in such detail. An easy to follow and understand tutorial looking forward to Tuesdays. Now I'm off out with my camera to concentrate on BBF. Thank you.

[@DaveMorrow]

You are welcome!

[@MrTanker10a]

Thanks a lot Dave! Even a "CaveMan" can follow your instructions...Cheers To A Good Vid.!

[@dougvarvil6435]

Another very helpful tutorial. You must have been a teacher at one time. Well done.

[@DaveMorrow]

Thanks. Used to be an aerospace engineer, never a teacher, but I'm happy that you thought I was;)

[@edc5338]

Your videos are always very informative with step-by-step information. Great job Dave!

[@DaveMorrow]

Good to hear from you Ed. You're welcome. Glad you like them. Take care buddy, Dave

[@davidshickle4072]

Superb work, I'm really enjoying these Photo Journals! I'm definitely benefitting from all of your tutorials. Thank you.

[@oic165]

You are very thorough in your explanations bro, much much appreciated.

[@DaveMorrow]

Thanks SP. You're welcome buddy. Lots of tutorials and written guides here: www.davemorrowphotography.com/2013/01/tutorials-photography-post-processing.html

[@daviddick8369]

Great video!! Really explains focus stacking in an easy to understand way. Thank you Dave, the videos are great.

[@SteveGreenCRMDeveloper]

Just found your channel and this was the first video recommended to me. Love it and I've subscribed. Quick tip with photoshop. D changes your foreground and background colours to black and white. X switches between them so you can flip black to white and vice versa.

[@DaveMorrow]

Thanks. You are right they do, but shortcuts & teaching don't mix:)

[@ivanjohnston5239]

dave your videos are awesome, I never ventured out of lightroom but now I will, you make Photoshop look easy

[@DaveMorrow]

Hi Ivan. Thanks. Photoshop can be easy, the problem is, there are so many tools. The hardest part is determining which ones you actually need as a photographer. I currently use 10 different tools in Photoshop, max. I'll release some more videos in the future, covering PS techniques. It's a must use for landscape photographers!

[@davidbenitez1263]

Dave, I'm really enjoying rewatching these videos, I catch something new each time. Can't wait to see your new videos! Can you share a little bit of what we'll be learning in your next video series? Thanks man!

[@DaveMorrow]

Love to hear that, David. Thanks for watching. Nope. Top secret;) Talk soon ,Dave

[@butterfly081]

Amazing talent you posses, even baby can understand anything which you explain.Thank you for the great vedio

[@DaveMorrow]

Thanks so much Shahul! You're welcome.

[@Snowcatnz2]

Great tutorial Dave, very informative, I always wondered how it was done and now I know and can apply the technique to my own images. Thanks!!!👍👍👍👍

[@davidthomas670]

Superb video Dave and I love it that you do not waffle on, you keep straight to the point, Thank you.

[@savvasm5]

Dave your videos are awesome as always!Continue to inspire us!!Thanks again!

[@DaveMorrow]

Thanks Savvas. Much appreciated & you're welcome. Enjoy the week:)

[@SandraBassin]

Great video! You see amazing places and teach so clearly. Thanks for the weekly programs and I would like to see more of your adventures in future shows, especially experiences that have taught you Life wisdom.... which you seem to have plenty.

[@petelarkin7922]

I love your videos because they don't doddle. Right to the point, no blah, blah, blah. One thing I missed, and it might be a Canon-Nikon thing. It looked like you were using a button on your camera to focus and that you were in manual focus mode and then pushed a button to auto focus. Is that right? I don't know if my Canon 5DIII does that, or if I simply misunderstood what you were doing.

[@DaveMorrow]

Thanks. That is correct. I cover it here, in a previous episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIKnmYKNmN5pnJI

[@noriuslephotographe8220]

Thanks for your time and passion for photography !

[@DaveMorrow]

You're welcome!

[@SandraBassin]

Ohhhh, your photography is sooo inspiring! Thanks for sharing places we'll mostly likely, never see.

[@luciomaggiolini2792]

Grande Dave grazie davvero per questo video tutorial !!!

[@clark7894]

Wow! Just what I needed. Thanks for another great tutorial.

[@simonbaker6794]

Dave Thank you another excellent video and answers a problem that I had, cheers!!

[@SeanThompson1977]

I found your Lightroom and Photoshop stacking instructions so easy to follow. Thank you!!! Just what I needed 👍

[@mariojelena5438]

Excellent explanation

[@DaveMorrow]

Glad it was helpful!

[@RussellMcCollom]

Very well explained as usual. Good work.

[@ewelinap221]

Excellent as always. wow this is what I wanted to learn, I am soooo happy now. Thank you Dave . I love your videos.

[@geotaco]

Dave, awesome as usual. Thank you for your superb series.

[@coryjeffreys5146]

You explain things very well to the point where I understand thank you...

[@DaveMorrow]

Thanks. Glad you like it

[@mariommarques4503]

Parabéns Dave, mais um fabulosa video muito bom e bem explicado, mais uma vez parabéns e bons registos.

[@silvertonguedaywalker9116]

Love the intro to your vids. I am the new girl, my fave flower is the Rose, and i love Black and White pics x Looking forward to seeing more of your vids. Took the profile pic so long ago x

[@barryryan8267]

Excellent teaching..thank you.

[@volker44hruby]

Thanks for explaining it all. I own a Nikon D750 full frame camera so should be able to somewhat follow directions......

[@DaveMorrow]

Sure, anytime. That's a great camera. Enjoy

[@hankypanky9380]

Hi Dave, thanks for the great video!! very understanding and clear

[@sdgreen1960]

Very helpful as ever...& always with that superb American scenery as a backdrop. Thanks Dave. (from the UK) Particularly interested in when you changed the exposure as well. Is the metering area linked to the focusing square? If not, is there any way to link them? I'm wondering if there's an ideal way to meter properly at each focus setting (taking out the guess work). Exposure bracketing for the whole scene at each focus zone would be very wasteful. Changing exposure values with focus stacking seems mind bending to me!

[@DaveMorrow]

Glad you enjoyed it. Check out the whole series and I explain the shooting technique: www.davemorrowphotography.com/landscape-photography-journals If you're interested in my high level learning material & video courses, after going through all the free stuff, shoot me a line [e-mail] Enjoy! Dave

[@SidneyPratt]

Very good, thanks.

[@nunoneto23]

Great tutorial. I have one doubt however: shouldn’t you have applied a layer mask to the other photo too? To conceal the background?

[@DaveMorrow]

Thanks. & no. The masks were applied correctly.

[@dansigouinCAD]

Hi Dave, it almost seems like you are reading my mind with your videos and when you release them, timing them exactly to provide solutions to the issues I am facing when I am out with my camera. I can't think of anything more annoying then images that are not sharp. I have heard the term "focus stack" many times and after watching your video, the mystery of stacking focus has been solved. I noticed the TK panel on your interface, do you have any videos planned outlining your methods for luminosity masking? Great work again!

[@ronnychristianwiik]

Not aware of the Match Total Exposures option. Thanks.

[@javierleyba]

Awesome explanation. Thank you.

[@Tuomimaki]

Thanks, Dave! Learned a lot from your video.

[@DaveMorrow]

You're welcome Juha.

[@paulmetdebbie447]

I always thought that those superzooms like the 28-300 are a bad compromise regarding image sharpness. I can understand that you travel light, but still, next to the 28-70 would a 70-200/2.8 not be a much better lens that would honor your method of working better?

[@DaveMorrow]

I'd need the 28-70, 70-200, plus 1.7X converter to cover the same range. Not worth it. The 28-300 is plenty sharp otherwise I wouldn't shoot with it.

[@barbaralivieri9091]

Another great video Dave. I'll have to watch it again later. :)

[@danneukirch4486]

Great tutorial, Dave. What would you suggest to do if 'auto align layers' does not work i.e. I expect because the focus shift is too strong? I'm trying to blend 2 images, the photos were taken at night, foreground is very close to the camera, the background is the stars / infinite, both background and foreground are made up of a number of stacked images for a cleaner shot. I might try just one photo of foreground and background to see if the stacking process is part of the issue, not just focus breathing. Thanks!

[@RS.Outdoors]

Good stuff Dave and very helpful as always. Going to give it a go tonight with an image I have been meaning to process for a while. Normally use the Auto feature and a few times it doesn't match images very well. Atb

[@iczemi]

Thanks

[@juul-sam]

Hi Dave, Am I wrong, or is the 'Match Total Exposures' option you show in Lightroom, not available in Camera Raw? Thanks!

[@Chaumaerik]

As always great video! Thanks

[@dongreyatindra]

Great Video Dave !!!! Can you please make a video for Photopills usage .

[@capricorn1ne]

Great video but I don't understand why in some circumstances you use the hyperfocal technique where as in this demonstration you stack. Is it because of the extreme difference between the furthest and the nearest point.? Carry on the great work!

[@DaveMorrow]

Thanks. That's why I linked the guide: www.davemorrowphotography.com/back-button-focus

[@screenglobe]

...I believe you're doing a great job, Dave!... I'm a new photographer and I like very much your videos!... Thank you, Dave!... :-)

[@reillybt]

great video thanks for sharing helps a lot

[@kennywilkes6978]

Recently found your channel. Bravo and many thanks

[@DaveMorrow]

That's great, Kenny. Good to hear from you buddy! Dave

[@leosmithphoto847]

Thanks Dave!!

[@giltubul]

Thanks for this video! and I love that feathered friends jacket :)

[@juaniq86]

Great, thanks for the tips.

[@kenleppek2351]

Another great video Dave keep them coming. One question what did you do to the digital display on top your camera?

[@Royalbengal_photography]

How to click night scene at very dark without flash? It's making greenish tint on DSLR while on mobile it's exactly what the scene is. If u want I can upload two pics taken on dslr and mobile of the very same composition

[@DaveMorrow]

Not really sure. Here are my guides: www.davemorrowphotography.com/Night-Photography-Tips

[@nickscott6139]

Morning Dave (from England). Thanks for you wonderful videos and tutorials. They are really appreciated.A question. Could you have used the lasso tool to cut out the area you wished to hide and if so, what are the benefits of blending over this option.Good luck on your journey.

[@chaddownum1393]

Thanks for all the great videos Dave! I've learned a lot of new and very helpful techniques. What are you thoughts on the Nikon 28-300 lens you use to create this focus stacking photo? It covers such a long focal length and am thinking of adding it to my bag.

[@DaveMorrow]

You're welcome. It's an okay lens. Not as sharp as others, but light and versatile. I love it for backpacking. I only own 2 lenses.

[@propertyunboxiing]

awesome video

[@DaveMorrow]

Thanks!

[@wilmavanheerden9177]

Hi Dave, thanks for this excellent tutorial! Is it possible to do the whole process from start to finish only on Photoshop? Or do you need Lightroom for the first steps?

[@ulyuly9744]

Nice video. One question. Is there a reason why you don't just right click on your photos and select Edit in Photoshop, open as layers in photoshop? You still get the copy of the image and you skip the bringing it into Bridge.

[@MarcDanielKlotz]

Awesome Video Dave! I have heard that some photographers also use the hyperfocal distance. Is it better to use the focus stacking technique or the hyperfocal distance technique? Anyway, keep up the great work Dave. You and your lifestyle keep on inspiring me a lot, thank you for that! Marc

[@Nivenization]

Thank you.

[@orchardhillband5949]

Sorry I'm late to this post but I just recently discovered Dave and his awesome videos. Absolutely love all of them. But I do have two questions with this one that I'm hoping someone can help me with. First, Dave took two photos for focus. But my TPE app says that with his camera at 70mm and f11 (I believe those were his settings), the hyperfocal distance is 48 feet so everything from about 25 feet to infinity is in focus. It didn't appear that there was anything closer than 25 feet in the view finder. Wouldn't this be easier that taking two separate shots? Well, Dave very nicely showed how to then set the exposure for each of the two photos - one for the sky (distance) and one for the shadows (near). My second question - why not just bracket a series of photos (say seven shots at 0.7 stops apart) and then pick the two shots when you get back to your PC that have the sky and shadow histograms that essentially match how Dave set up his shots? I'm sure there's a good reason why my suggestion is not the better approach. So perhaps someone (Dave - do you still read these?) can help enlighten me. Much Thanks - Phil

[@DaveMorrow]

Bracketing doesn't give precise control over each exposure. It's a guess. That means sometimes it will under or over expose by half a stop or take 3 images when you only need two. I prefer to manually "bracket" for dynamic range. If you want to dive deep, read all these guides: www.davemorrowphotography.com/photography-fundamentals They will give you an expert level knowledge of light & exposure. Dave

[@georgestancl2283]

Thanks Dave for the video! :-) One question raised in my head. You as a landscape photographer and especially mountain lover, do You use polarizing filters? Mountains tend to have that blue haze around them very often, do You fight it with those filters or You are working with the ''real'' scenery. I haven't seen You using them in any of your videos so the answer could be clear, yet I want to know what do You think about them? By the way - yes yes yes. Waiting ALREADY for the next week video :)

[@DaveMorrow]

You're welcome. I don't use filters for 99% of cases. I do own a CPL which is sometimes used in the forest. Usually I'm cutting weight for backpacking and don't take anything. The past year my standard kit has been, 1 body, 2 lenses. That's all I own for camera gear. I'd say that the 5% upside of slightly better colors, isn't worth the 95% downside of the hassle and weight. More info on camera gear here -- www.davemorrowphotography.com/p/whats-in-dave-morrows-camera-bag.html

[@EricEJohnsonTN]

Very helpful video. Would creating a virtual copy in Lightroom and using "edit in Photoshop" on the copies instead of export have any downside?

[@andychattaway1361]

Great tutorial.

[@TheMaddman187]

When metering for a scene do you use matrix meter, center weight or spot?

[@heavenscape]

Hi Dave, thanks for the great video!! Could you please do a review on the Nikkor 28-300mm lens. Happy Easter!!

[@derekmidgley]

Great video, Dave. Just found your channel and subscribed a couple days ago. So impressed with your 70mm composition in this video. Wanted to ask if you had compared this 'layer-masking' technique with 'simply letting photoshop auto-focus-stack' images. I recently captured a 20 shot macro image of a sea shell. Photoshop auto-stacked them in a minute or two. End result was superb. Would have taken forever to do it manually. However, maybe their are advantages to the manual approach with landscapes?

[@zoe20641]

Thanks for making this video. I am a little confused by one of your steps. Could you please explain why you lightened the foreground exposure, only to match this exposure to the darker background exposure. It seems you could have just shot both photos with the same exposure in camera. What am I missing? Thanks again.

[@DaveMorrow]

I cover it in the Histogram shooting video & live view video, a technique known as Expose to the Right. It's also covered in my exposure triangle guide --> www.davemorrowphotography.com/exposure-triangle

[@Outdoor.pixels]

Do you have to have your lens in manual focus or did you just pick the focus using your screen?

[@DaveMorrow]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIKnmYKNmN5pnJI

[@AmeriMutt76]

another great video Dave, thanks. I didn't see you mention, which Bristle-cone forest wast that? Looked like you could be above S. Park, Colorado?

[@50deserteagle]

WoW outstanding dude I think you got the wrong job. You should teach photography! Thanks for sharing!

[@DaveMorrow]

Hi Stan. Thanks. I don't have a job, I take photos & travel full time.

[@50deserteagle]

=o)

[@scotty4418]

Dave, great tutorial as always and definitely seeing some improvements in the last few weeks by following your vlogs each week. One question I have following this vlog, is the use of 2 images to focus stack. When would you elect to use more than two images, is it principally the performance of the lens or would it influenced by the different in contrast across the composition or some other reason?

[@DaveMorrow]

Glad to hear it:) The larger the depth of field, the more images. If you have something 6" - 2 feet in front of your lens, plus a distant landscape, you may need 4-5 shots, slowly focusing closer and closer to the bottom of the composition. This is rare, but it happens.

[@scotty4418]

Thanks Dave. For clarity I meant improvements in some of my images. Your vlogs as always are an excellent source of inspiration and teaching.

[@leosmithphoto847]

Great video Dave! Which GoPro do you use? Also, do you use the built-in mic, or an external one? Many thanks!