How to FOCUS STACK | Bonus Tip: How to Photograph Streams + Waterfalls

[@vimalneha]

I think you have explained it better than anyone. Learned quite a few tips like ND filters, using manual exposure with right exposure with histogram. You know what you do and want to share the way it is comprehensible. Great work.

[@johnfiott]

You explain things incredibly well. What I particularly like is that, not only do you take the trouble to go out there and take the photos to show how that part is done, but you then also show how to use just the specific tools you need in photoshop to get the job done, which I find keeps it from becoming confusing. You also speak clearly and slowly and demonstrate what you are saying. Thank you!

[@Sourav67676]

The main reasons for which I like your videos and tutorials are 1. you use the same gears and are not very expensive 2. Practical way teaching ( activity method) 3. Easy to understand. 4. In-depth teaching. Be happy and keep posting. Greetings from India 🙏.

[@collharti]

A lot of people may know their craft but few possess the ability to impart their knowledge. You are not one of those. EXCELLENT tutorial!! Thank You.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Awww - Thank you so much, Michael! 😀

[@stebobrown2893]

THANK YOU! I have been behind a lens for 5 decades and you have taught me so many new techniques. You are a talented photographer and teacher, thank you again.

[@jamshedtreasurywala]

I'm 3 years late to the game, but by far this is the best & most informative video on photo stacking. Super awesome. 👍

[@markferrell55]

I watched 4-5 other videos before I accidentally came across yours, all the others I started to watch but clicked out not far into the video because I could not understand what they were talking about. I started to watch yours and right from the get go you were making it understandable. What you've shown was a great help. Thanks and now I have a good feel for some more great lessons.

[@jonkers2007]

What a wonderful teaching style you have. Clear, to the point and no annoying fillers that so many ‘teaching’ videos seem to have. Thank you!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks so much! I appreciate that!

[@THOTHvii]

I have watched one and a half of your videos so far and learned more than I have in 4 months from other channels. THanks for sharing.

[@blaiseduff]

Best I have seen on Focus Stacking.

[@old4004]

Another "Excellent" from this "Newbie"..........you are both knowledgeable and articulate. Glad I've found your channel, Brenda!

[@gregallenphoto]

Nicely done Brenda. Clear teaching and excellent visuals.

[@allandavies1187]

Beautifully explained. You have a natural talent for teaching. Thank you, for sharing your skills Brenda.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks so much, Allan! I really appreciate that.

[@robertstancer4469]

Echo that Al.

[@capturesimmortal9055]

Greetings from Singapore! Keep safe all! Have been enjoying your vids many times over. Your delivery is clear and to the point!

[@whc389]

Ahh HA! Now I get it! I'll watch this video a few more times. You cut to the chase with your teaching method and get right to it, I like that. This video taught me more that the four hours of classes I took on layer masks. Thanks!

[@sarahmitchell7390]

Well Brenda, this is the first video i have watched of yours but it certainly will not be the last. I am so pleased to have found you. You explain everything that you are doing so very well making it so easy for the audience to understand. This was an excellent video and i will certainly watch more. Thank you.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

That's so great and makes me very happy - thanks, Sarah! Glad you found it to be helpful. More on the way...

[@sarahmitchell7390]

can't wait

[@AleciaHarris]

I have been getting more out of your videos than any other that I've watched, thank you so much

[@AndrewReynolds1]

Photoshop can do the focus stacking for you. After you have aligned the images as per the video, choose the Auto-Blend Layers (below the Auto-Align Layers) option and you have the option to "Stack Images". If you choose the Stack Images radio button and then click OK, photoshop will analyse all the photos and automatically create layer masks to show just the parts that are in focus for each image. It does a great job.

[@isiliocoelho3351]

Very well explained Brenda. New Technic learnt.

[@Nat.ImagesLarge.F.Photographer]

Superb tutorial ,beautiful shot ,great Brenda!

[@PhotoPop61]

I usually have a difficult time understanding tutorials but yours is perfectly explained. I can’t wait to do my first focus stack. Thank you for sharing 😊

[@edselharrison]

I've watched many of your videos. You are a very good communicator! Thank you.

[@davidarumainayagam9076]

Finally a video which shows how to change the focus point. I am a newbie and needed this for conformation of my understanding. Some videos talk about changing the aperture. Thanks.

[@bhaiyya21]

I happened to see your video on Hyperfocal distance. Beautifully explained. Now on focus stacking. Amazing. You have earned a subscriber. Thanks for sharing the great contents!!!

[@robfielding100]

I was holding my breath when you put the 2 filters on the camera over that fast flowing stream! If you’d dropped it that would be expensive. Nice informative video presentation. Thank you.

[@jack002tuber]

Me too. I can just see me dropping them both in the water

[@miguelortiz5270]

Thanks Brenda for this great tutorial. The amount of info and the quality of the video, incredible! Greetings from Patagonia, Chile.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You're very welcome! Glad it was helpful!

[@davep6603]

New subscriber-love your content! It’s refreshing to find a photography channel that’s focused (no pun intended) on photography, and not gear. Learning a ton by watching you. Keep up the great work!

[@jimrookphotos]

Very thorough and helpful video, Brenda. Great job!

[@yujinlandscapephotography.7787]

Awesome video, Brenda. I learn more, why i shot landscapes photography, waterfall, flower of forest, orchids. Thank!

[@dennisvanmierlo]

Excellent video tutorial, very very well detailed and clear explanation. My compliments 👌👏😊 Lot’s of greetings, Dennis 🇳🇱

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

So glad it helped you out! Thanks, Dennis!

[@pamelamumby7136]

This was great! Very useful and clearly explained.

[@wcwendychapman]

Excellent and easy to understand explanation.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Great! Thanks, Wendy!

[@mgsxmike]

This is the best step by step I have seen so far, thank you

[@BP-1988]

Great video on helping me to understand focus stack! I liked it because it showed the planning and shooting as well, not just the post production. Many posts on KZbin just show post production which to me is only half the story. Well done!

[@JCImagesBehindtheShot]

Great video Brenda! Very clear and concise.

[@karenaWarner144]

👏🏻 Finally a video that explains it in full! I had to watch 2 videos (other well known youtubers), because bits like cropping in PS had been left out. This is wonderful! Explained slowly and shows all the steps! Just how I like it.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Excellent! I'm so glad that it made sense. Let me know if you have further questions as you experiment.

[@dennishegdahl8616]

Yea, beautiful and very well explained. Cheers from Northern Ireland.

[@jeffmckeown9639]

I learned focus stacking and hyper focus techniques today from you. I've been into photography for a very long time but always learning something. Thank you.

[@markbuck2399]

Another well done video Brenda!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks so much, Mark! Hope you're enjoying the Spring finally!

[@markbuck2399]

Yup, definitely! So fun to see your videos and posts, and how well done they are. Great to see a friend doing such wonderful work. Carry on girl!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thank you, Mark! We should meet up and do some photography together sometime.

[@benspalding416]

This is the first video of yours that I have watched. I must say that your ability to explain your procedure in detail is amazing. I think that I can actually focus stack now. I look forward to watching the other videos that you have produced. You are truly an asset to the photography world.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks so much, Ben! I really appreciate your kind words. I'm glad the tutorials are helpful!

[@89lava]

This was so helpful! Sharp photos for life!

[@spencero1906]

Thank you. Great video, very concise and informative!

[@mathewshoyt1763]

great explanation on how to do it in photoshop

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thank you!

[@groshnik]

Just getting into Macro photography, and came across your video. I'll be looking for more. They are very easy to follow. Thank you!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Great! Thanks!

[@iangorner]

Ansel Adams was quoted as saying that the negative was the music but the print is the symphony. The implication being that his photos had been heavily manipulated in the darkroom. The second you compose a photo in camera you place an arbitrary frame around it......altering reality. The real question is " how much skill and talent does the photographer have" You have lots.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Wow - thank you so much for the kind words, Ian! You've made my day :).

[@AndyMc1952]

Stole all my words and did a better job with them :))

[@michelebullock9867]

Brenda, This was a fantastic step by step detailed tutorial - soup to nuts yet efficient. You answered so many questions I have had and now I am less reluctant to try this technique. Feeling empowered thanks to you!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Excellent! That's the best outcome! I hope you have fun with it and let me know if you have any questions.

[@roblawrence3325]

Well Done another positive learning episode cheers

[@makarandbokil3107]

Nice easy explanation

[@JeffsBassment]

Great video! Clear and concise explanation. Thank you!

[@lesfisher8941]

Great tutorial, if you Option/Alt click on the mask when you have finished painting, the mask will appear on the image so you can check if you have missed any where, it will also give you a better idea of the hardness or softness of the brush. You can of course Option/Alt click on the mask icon to bring up a black mask and paint with a white brush and press the X key to toggle black/white. Another method of Focus Stacking or Depth of Field blending, it has other names as well, after you have Auto-Align Layers, then go to Auto-Blend Layers, select Stack Images and tick ‘Seamless Tones and Colors' and also tick ‘Content Aware Fill’ this fills the edges and saves having to crop, click OK and Photoshop creates a masked layer for each image layer based on the focusing point. Of course how well this method performs depends how well the images were taken. I really admire your enthusiasm for this subject, keep up the good work.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Great tips - thanks so much for sharing, Les! I didn't know about the Option/Alt trick. Do you ever find that the Auto-Blend method results in artifacts? I have had some issues with it - not always, but enough to want to just do it manually.

[@lesfisher8941]

Yes artifacts can occur it can vary to how busy the image is, this is why relying on automation like this you really need to study the image afterwards, but its a quick method and interesting to compare your manual version to the automated one to see if you can improve your own version. Thanks for replying.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Totally agree! :)

[@fofdeejay]

Nice explained,tnx for sharing 👍

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You bet!

[@fabioorefice4445]

great video, great explanatory quality and really nice images. sincere congratulations. like more than deserved

[@rams8513]

Your video are very easy to follow and interesting. Thanks a lot.

[@tonybarcelo6956]

Very well explained, Thanks!

[@joaobispoaragao991]

Another excellent video, dear Brenda!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@chrisdyson57]

Excellent video Brenda,thanks x

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thank you, Chris!

[@robertstuthridge8980]

That was excellent teaching!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thank you, Robert!

[@MaxwellSmart6425]

After watching multiple videos on focus stacking in Photoshop I realized Brenda’s method is the simplest, most informative and easiest to follow instructions.. When it comes to photography tutorials Brenda I have to put you way up on top with a very select few😁

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Wow - thank you so much! :)

[@juancroccoabalos]

Outdoor Photography School with Brenda Petrella xx

[@donaldlyons7143]

Enjoyed the tutorial, Brenda. Good job noting that focus stacking is particularly appropriate when your foreground object is much closer than your hyperfocal distance. Rather than manually blending the images with masks, why not use the Auto-blend layers options in Photoshop? You'll get a much more precise set of masks that you can then tweak to taste.

[@TheDavidfowler]

Great explanation. And simple! Really like your videos as there's no "look at me" in them. Helping a relative beginner. Thanks from Oxfordshire in the UK.

[@ChrisSmith-wz4cc]

You are a terrific instructor, Thanks for doing what you do for us..

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thank you, Christopher! That means a lot.

[@thomastuorto9929]

't watched all your vids as of yet but, this is the best so far. or putting it up.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Awesome - thanks!

[@tomronollo9411]

Very scientific with gorgeous photos as the result. Also, thank you for explaining in detail the layering/mask procedure steps in Photoshop.

[@arohila]

That was very informative Brenda. Thank you for doing this. I especially like the part where you stated that you need to put the filters back on for each shot. Most of the time in tutorials, people forget to mention that part of it.

[@simoncoldwell1506]

Thanks very much for your videos ,I find them very informative and helpful 👍

[@FernandoJamesFX]

THAT WAS AWESOME !!! Never Thought To Use FS in That Way...Really Thank You Brenda!!!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You're very welcome, Fernando! I'm so glad the video was helpful.

[@herreraid2010]

Brilliantly explained. Nice job!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks so much, Dennis!

[@sel7546]

AWESOME VIDEO. Very thorough, easy to follow and well thoughtout. Thank you!

[@kahleedurdenproductions1999]

Thanks. This was the best explanation for me.

[@sporter555]

Very good video. easy to follow and detailed. You are also a very skilled selfie style videographer. I t is not easy to set up all your shots so well out on your own. But you pull it off seamlessly!

[@ramonluna4422]

Really enjoy your videos Brenda!!!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks so much, Ramon!

[@RScottNH]

What's nice is the new Nikon D850 has built in focus stacking. A sweet feature. I have the Sony A7III and you have to manually do it.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

That is a really nice feature. My Nikon D810 does not have it either.

[@mikeallen4081]

This is great - thanks Brenda, very helpful!

[@domovoii]

Boy, this is a very good way to shoot. Thank you, for sharing.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You bet! Glad you liked it.

[@gmquiroa]

Awesome, love the tutorials.

[@candaedomkowski6569]

another excellent video Brenda! It was interesting that you manually edited it versus having PS auto-blend the layers (which btw, doesn't also do a great job, which is why I prefer to manually mask it myself as you did). Thank you for sharing this very important technique!

[@candaedomkowski6569]

also, a possible tip for some: to remember which photos were designated for stacking, you can take a quick shot of your finger (or something else) before the first photo to be stacked, and then take another shot of your finger after the last photo to be stacked. Because if I don't do this for myself, when I load them into my computer, I'm sitting there wondering what I just did; which photos were supposed to be focus stacked! This saves me from a lot of confusion :)

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks, Candae! I totally agree re: auto-blend layers. I get weird artifacts if I really pixel peep and I end up doing it manually anyway. It may work well for certain scenes, but not all.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Great tip! Thank you for sharing it!

[@ChristineSiracusa]

So clear!! Thank you!

[@EarlLJ1]

Your video is great !! Thanks for posting it.

[@charlesmolt7706]

awesome idea. I know about masking but never thought using in in this manner. I always used auto blend but never had the results i was happy with. Now i got a new way of thinking.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Great! I find that this method is a little more accurate than the autoblend (even though that can work well at times too).

[@agoodjoe6910]

tip: when cropping, if you show only the layer with the heaviest crop, and then go in to crop mode, the crop will snap to the perimeter of the layer when dragging, this allows you to get the most out of your original composition

[@profoundmood]

Wow, it was just awesome tutorial, I love it! Thanks!

[@gabyisphoto2379]

love how practical your explanations are. big LIKE!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Big YAY! :) Thank you!

[@charleswayne7221]

Great videos Brenda! I love that you went after your passion in life. Also vermont is the most beautiful state I've ever been!! I miss it so much. Keep up the good vids!

[@charlenenagel7962]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I just took some images today with the thought of researching focus stacking process this evening! Can’t wait to try it!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Excellent! That's very exciting! How did it turn out?

[@charlenenagel7962]

I think I need to pick an easier subject. I tried this with a macro subject and it required far more focus point selections than I had anticipated to really make everything sharp. The process was fine, but my photos were not. I am eager to try again with a landscape image! As soon as I finish getting this vegetable garden in, I will be out with my camera again.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You are totally right! Focus stacking with macro is very challenging given the number of images you need to combine. If you are off by just a millimeter, it will be noticeable! I would start with a scene where you just have to combine 3-4 images. I think that will be more rewarding and then you can expand from there. I recently did a landscape shot with 8 images, and still had one small section (about 2-4 inches) that were a little soft. I could have used a 9th image to help with that (it was in the foreground) -argh!

[@charlenenagel7962]

Thanks Brenda! I really appreciate the time you take to answer comments. I will try something more appropriate very soon.

[@chrisroot7182]

Well presented Brenda! I have been wanting to try focus stacking and now I feel I have a good chance of success!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Great! I hope it goes well for you! Let me know if you have any questions once you give it a shot.

[@extremelydave]

Wow, I've only seen your last 2 vlogs and they are both massively awesome! I love the way you take the time to SHOW what you are doing. I'm a visual learned so this is invaluable! You rock Brenda!!!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

So great! That makes me really happy to hear that the videos are so helpful. Thanks!

[@jeffrymahns5286]

Thank you Brenda for your in depth information, I appreciate it very much. Love your work, techniques and style.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Great - thanks so much, Jeffry!

[@tomjones4145]

Fantastic video / well explained and detailed / thank you

[@edc5338]

Great video as usual!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thank you!

[@shopafelic]

Great video, particularly liked how you remembered to talk about functions and settings which were already set and you did not actually require adjustment - yet you still showed us each step to consider! Very thoughtful of you :)

[@elbrooks]

I'll have to try focus stacking! Very nice tutorial, thanks for sharing.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

It's fun! It's a little tedious, but I think it can be fun to do every once in a while (especially when it turns out well... ;) ).

[@tedcomeau2671]

Very informative as always Thanks Ted

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Terrific - thanks, Ted!

[@c2overcome]

Thank you so much for this video. I have been trying to figure how to paint away the layers and was stumped. This video alone motivated me to subscribe. I look forward to uncovering more jewels from your channel. Continued Success.

[@gidesp1]

Je découvre votre site et je me suis abonné sans attendre. Je vous remercie de ce tutoriel bien expliqué. (Luxembourg)...

[@cillyede]

Great one again! Good evening from Germany.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Vielen dank!! :)

[@jimhamilton8775]

Very well explained Brenda. I have started to focus stack myself.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Great! I think it is a fun process. Good to switch things up from time to time :).

[@HV71851]

Great technique... Love your waterfalls and streams!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thank you! We are lucky to have many here in Vermont. :)

[@eddikjuarez4769]

Excellent channel, thank you !

[@johnhurn3598]

I loved this video, thanks for sharing your knowledge Brenda

[@Snowcatnz2]

Great video Brenda. You make it all sound so simple.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Glad to help! Let me know if you have questions.