How I Focus Stack MANUALLY for Incredibly SHARP Landscape Photos

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Which do you prefer? Manual or Auto Focus Stacking

[@markgoeman8139]

I typically do an automatic focus stack then look at the results. If I'm not happy, then go to manual mode! Thanks Mark - your work is outstanding!

[@Eli-lb1lc]

Typically auto because I find it normally works, but then I do touch ups on the masks if I spot any errors.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

@@markgoeman8139 Much appreciated Mark - thank you! That’s typically what I do as well.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

@@Eli-lb1lc Yep, that’s what I do as well!

[@davidaldridge3669]

@@Eli-lb1lc Me too...

[@shanesmithphotography]

Mark you ARE the man when it comes to teaching. One thing I've always liked about your videos is that you never say "This is THE way to do it" You always say "This is MY way I do it" You also guide & explain EVERY step perfectly in how we can learn your techniques in creating better images from our photos. As ALWAYS I pressed the thumbs up before watching and was NOT disappointed 👌🏻 Thank you for your time and effort you put into your videos 😃

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Shane Smith Photography Thanks so much to you Shane! This comment means a lot - much appreciated🙏

[@bobsmurf1601]

I've watched so many videos on editing manual photo stacked images but fair play to Mark this is the best of them,this one is a keeper so SAVE it people if you need to learn how to do this.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks o much Bob - music to my ears!

[@dylanevans2469]

I am just starting out with luminosity masks and stacking and it's obvious that initially there is a lot to take in. I have to say though, having watched a number of videos already, that this one is by far the best both in terms of explanation and illustration. Too many of these videos make the mistake of 'assumed knowledge' on part of the viewer and fail to break down the steps slowly and with sufficient clarity. Keep up the good work.

[@fatonib17]

by far the best explanation of manual fs thanks

[@josephl8998]

Of all the content creators I watch, your videos are always the ones I get the most value out of. No fluff and well put together. Thanks for the content!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Joseph Lee This is amazing to hear Joseph! I really appreciate you talking the time to let me know!

[@michaelmckeag960]

I’ve been using focus stacking for macro for some time, processing dozens of focus steps in Zerene Stacker, but focus stacking for landscapes involves far fewer focus steps and a different approach. Binge watching tutorials on the subject and practicing, your video stands out for covering little details glossed over by others, such as brush settings, hot key shortcuts, etc. I’ve added these details to my crib notes. Big picture, I group the layers, then duplicate the group, then apply auto blend to the duplicate. If auto blend fails, then delete the duplicate, make a new duplicate and apply the manual method. A backup of the original aligned layer set is always readily available if a do over is necessary.

[@dannycarter9994]

No fluff. Straight to the point. Love it!

[@addsy6396]

This was so well explained. You didn’t gloss over anything. Which is the big problem with so many tutorials. They usually skip over the intermediate steps and you’re left confused. Great video. Will be saving this and referring back to it time and again

[@davidgriffiths8845]

You have an absolutely flawless, precise and articulate style of presentation. For me this is a benchmark of how a tutorial should be done. Greatly appreciated - thank you.

[@margaritan6622]

WOW Mark, you're approaching the 100.000 subscribers pretty quickly! Keep up with your great work!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Margarita N It’s so very exciting - Can’t believe it’s even reality!

[@jamesvoiss7122]

Just watched your original video on auto focus stacking. Tried to send a message, but somehow, got bumped to another video (not yours), so I’m replying here. Very helpful information. I just did my first focus stack. One challenge I encountered is that, when exporting the files to Ps, they did not automatically convert to layers! (Yes, I chose the option for converting to layers.) So I had to manually convert them to layers. Then everything worked like a charm! Thank you for your videos, they are such a help. (Also appreciated the shout outs to Oregon! My home state!)

[@johanhefer3512]

Great! Light bulb moment for me. You make it look so easy. Thanks Mark

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks Johan!

[@niftytwo]

Hi Mark. I’m still learning this process but I’ve been pretty slack with my commitment. No excuses. I just have to get off my backside. Thank you very much for everything yo do for blokes like me. Neville J. Stay safe in today’s serious situation worldwide.

[@rlfisher]

Watched this again for a refresher on manual focus-stacking. Great stuff!

[@wjgraham63]

1:32 Thank you for explaining the technique with shifting the focus point. I was wondering how that was achieved and you explained it. Thank you!! Makes sense now.

[@russellhagy]

I see myself watching this at least 10 times working along with it. Thanks so much for this video. Very well done.

[@mohammadurgur953]

This is the first tutorial i watched from you. But after watching tons of other tutorials one knows when someone does it perfect. God sound. No messing around. Showing what to click and when. And straight to the point. Well worth saving. Now im going to look at some of your other tutorials. Well done..

[@melromcastro2119]

Wow! Very clear Tutorial!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad to hear it - thank you!

[@chiragukani765]

Thanks for this Video. I used to Auto focus only. But I will hands on Manual focus too.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad to do it and thanks for watching this week’s video!

[@nomind2911]

Thank you so much for the content you provide to your viewers.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

deft Glad to do it!

[@JohnMichnowicz]

VERY well done. Thanks.....

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

John Michnowicz Much appreciated John!

[@vproven]

Clear, concise and to the point. Well done.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thank ya Vincent!

[@Ginnyvick]

Thank you for the focus stacking videos. Love how you teach.

[@DonLafontaine62]

Subbed. Enjoy the way you take us through step by step. No rushing. Great job!

[@homesickphotographycomau4107]

good job bud.. your channel is turning in to some prime time content

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Harry A Much appreciated Harry - thank ya!

[@jamesvoiss7122]

I really appreciate the way you explain this process. Thank you.

[@oddsparrow8522]

This was the best youtube video I have seen around this area of photo editing

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Odd Sparrow This is great to hear - thank you!

[@inakilauzirika5076]

Hey Mark, this video mandatorily needs a big thumbs Up! 👏👏👏

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks so much - really appreciate that!

[@michelabdelkarim2524]

If I dont follow any other channel, I would still be content. You are my go-to instructor for landscape photography. Thank you!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Really appreciate it Michel - thank ya friend!

[@MLC48]

Hi Mark. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your clarity of instruction! Thanks. I usually do a manual focus, just like you taught me in another video of yours. Take care.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Really appreciate this Mary - thanks so much!

[@howardthompson7661]

I tried focus stacking and it was bleeding all manually. Many time I could not see a difference. This vid WILL help. Also working with a really blow up image to a point is of value. Also being more strict in my shooting process

[@DaveWphoto]

Thanks for the thorough explanation Mark, this technique saved an image of mine that PS could not auto stack properly.

[@Bigweave74]

I gotta do that edit sync more often. Often I’ll come back from a big shoot and start editing individually and I can never get them quite the same despite being shot in the same conditions. I learn something new from you every day.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Jared Weaver Thanks Jared! Glad to hear it!!

[@Hector95100]

Hi. I’m new to your channel. I don’t leave comments too often, but I’d like to just say the quality of your KZbin videos is stellar: excellent talking pace, information is concise, and overall just content is presented efficiently and effectively. Love it. I’m learning so much from you. I also gave you a follow on insta! Love your editing style because this is the style I been trying to mimic !

[@jimbembinster]

Thanks Mark stay well.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thank ya Jim! You do the same.

[@Bradrackas]

A relative newcomer to you channel. Thanks Mark for simply explaining all these topics that can seem so daunting but with a little know how are less so. In these times of social distancing, binge watching your content is a great way to pass the time and gain that knowledge.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Andy Bradbeer Many thanks Andy! It’s great to hear you’re enjoying the channel! Be well!

[@Gustl51]

...very well explained!! Thanks so much...greetings!!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks so much Andreas!

[@williamcharlesworth4617]

Mark, Again you have created a video that I will be watching over and over, and ...... You're the best. Thanks for being so thorough. P.S. My choice on focus depends if my subject is small or large. More apt to go auto if it's landscape, but will use different focus points. Flowers I go strictly with Manuel focus. Hope that helps. Bill.

[@MartyKramer-m1f]

Thanks for the great information and workflow tutorial. Also, thank you for a succinct presentation👍

[@pm1Chh]

Your videos are full of useful informations for me. Thank you.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thank ya friend!

[@garypowellphoto2137]

Mark, Great instructional video. I am just now adding landscape photography to my portfolio (have been doing wildlife photos). This will greatly help me. Thank you.

[@klaus_s]

Hi Mark, it´s always good to see your structured videos. So I will follow your example to do some test shots. Have fun and stay save. 😎🇩🇪

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thank ya much - you stay safe as well!

[@RafaelLopes-jy9tt]

tank you, Mark! I'm in Brazil and learning a lot with your videos.

[@andywang2444]

Thanks for the thorough and detailed instructions!

[@neild108]

Thanks for the very clear, step-by-step explanation. So often in these how-to videos, the presenter will race over details that might be trivial to the experienced, but which could leave the beginner totally stuck. That has happened to me a few times. But this was great. Successfully applied just now, and happy with the results!

[@warrengh5647]

Excellent thank you Mark, have struggled a little with this technique but now feel a bit more confident.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Great to hear the video was helpful Warren!

[@scottbetz7892]

Well done Mark .. very well done. I watched another video that showed this process and I really wanted to do this. Unfortunately, that host bounced around so fast without detailing the Photoshop tools that even after watching it 5x, you still could not grasp what procedure he was doing. This was VERY informative as I would much rather prefer manual focus stacking over automatic. Thank you! ..

[@stevenbytheway577]

Hi Mark, I really enjoy your educational videos. I've been an amateur photographer for several years but I learn something new from every one of your tutorials. I do have a suggestion though...you may want to put a new battery in your clock on the wall. Every video is frozen in time at 7:50. Just an observation.

[@wk278]

Another awesome tutorial Mark. Thank you sir!

[@bradrobertsonimagery9964]

Mark I’m so glad I found your channel. Your vids would have to be the most relaxed and easy to follow I’ve found. Thank you so much, my editing has become so much easier and faster. Love your work mate.

[@morgan74999]

Awesome teaching techniques as always 👍 thank you and stay safe

[@lmaddox]

Mark...I really enjoy your videos. They are concise and to the point along with being easy to understand when you're learning Photoshop. I particularly appreciate your focus stacking videos. Keep up the excellent work.

[@eefvelthorst4127]

Compliments. Great video/vlog. Clear and calm explanation. 👍👍👍

[@fix4eyes]

Again.... Great video. Thank for all your help. Love your work. 👌👍👍

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks so much Carlos!

[@edwardsherwood3854]

Brilliant for the likes of me, just learning about how to use photoshop to get the best from my images. Such a strait forward, easy to understand approach. A breath of fresh air!

[@skipperpup]

Fantastic tutorials Mark. For a complete beginner you make it very easy for me to understand, thank you 👍

[@johnager9446]

Great tutorial Mark, thank you for all your help

[@kolkmeiester]

Thank you for this video! I was able to do the same in PS Elements.

[@suxxesphoto6419]

Very helpful Mark. You have a skill for getting complex subjects across as simple as possible. I would love to see your take on the other form of blending, that of Luminosity masks. Thanks

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks very much for that!

[@paulkay8986]

Really clear explanation Mark, thanks! I'm going to give it a go!

[@michealpociecha8351]

As always thanks for a great video.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks for checking out the video Michael!

[@KngsPwn4]

Really clear instructions…bravo!!!!

[@jacklowther5981]

Just completed this lesson. Worked great. Thank you. for this. Learn much more from Manual Focus Stacking

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad to hear it was helpful Jack!

[@rgarlinyc]

Great stuff, very well explained. Thank you!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

R Garlin Much appreciated - thank you!

[@dougnelson423]

Thanks Mark, excellent tutorial as usual.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks so much Doug!

[@Snowcatnz2]

Great clear explanation. Probably the clearest one I've seen in a while. Great stuff!!!

[@veronica0406]

Great tutorial, thank you! I prefer this method.

[@billpritchard2779]

Now I have something new to work on! Really like the video.

[@paulgoodey3478]

Thanks for the clear and helpful tutorial.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Happy to do it Paul!

[@lindahenderson2113]

Thank you, Mark for a very thorough focus stacking video. My photo buddies and I have monthly photography “tasks” that we work on and Focus Stacking was for March. We are behind in our goals, so your vlogs came at a good time. I enjoy your step-by-step teaching style and you make it look so easy. Thanks again and we look forward to the next one!

[@fakatebi]

thank you Mark for your great video, great content for learning with good quality video. keep it up.

[@rosenbergsimon3170]

Hi, great video ! Could you also present a framework where you first use autoblend from PS and then to micro ajustements from there ?

[@brendonriha4332]

Amazing tutorial and video. Thank you for explaining it in so much detail.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad to do it Brendon!

[@AlexanderTheFirstMate]

Love the way you explain things! very easy to understand please make more ps tutorials :)

[@jacobweaver3716]

Your tutorials are very thorough, so much detail on each and every step. Great to learn from 👍🏻

[@2002ec]

This is awesome Mark! Thank you for doing this video. I saw the automatic focus stacking video from you earlier and went out to take some photos at the beach. I used an ND filter to make the water look silky and tried using the automated version of the method through Photoshop to focus stack. I was not able to achieve a good image due to some areas of the image being strangely in focus and out of focus at the same time. Now I know what was wrong and how to fix it using the manual method! I was about to delete a bunch of photos, but I think you saved them for me. I was about to say to myself, "well, maybe I just can't understand how to focus stack..." but this video helped a lot! Thank you!!

[@StephenMilner]

Hey, what an incredible video. Keep up the superb work! I look forward to your next video.

[@MThebean]

Great teaching this week's video, thank you ! It is going to improve my photography for sure because I was always taking pictures at max aperture the lens has to get the sharpest image possible but I was always disappointed in post when you realize the pictures are not sharp. I will definitely put this in practice for sure. Thanks again.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

MThebean Happy to do it & glad to hear it was helpful👍👍

[@samking7178]

Perfect! Just what I was looking for. Thanks so much!

[@patrickparisienne1917]

As ever Mark, you make it easy to follow and understand. Great idea to create practice images too. Keep up the great work! Might need to reward yourself when this crisis is over and treat yourself to a photographic trip / workshops and holiday in Australia!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thank ya Patrick! I would love to head over to Australia one day!

[@ilesmic]

Mark - Great Job very easy to follow - Thank you

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks so much Michael!

[@M9rkAnthony112]

Great tutorial!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Mark Anthony Loria Thanks Mark - really appreciate it!

[@M9rkAnthony112]

@@MarkDenneyPhoto now to go out and look for an awesome landscape shot!

[@ianw73iw]

Thank you for this, simply put and I may even attempt it now. Cheers.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Ian Walker Great to hear Ian - if you have any questions just let me know!

[@G0FUW]

Thanks for showing that Mark. Much as I have done it but with a few shortcuts. I have had issues with the auto on some images, particularly one seascape. I guess the moving waves confuse PS. I will be revisiting that seascape before submitting it to a competition, not that I am competitive, just nice to get some peer validation. Stay safe and stay healthy!

[@adamhewitt8763]

Great video, easy to understand thank you!

[@sjzhang2008]

Very useful video! But for mid ground (middle image), in the layer mask, you don’t need to paint the upper half black since the background image is shown on top already. Thanks

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Many thanks Steve, glad you enjoyed it! That was mainly for continuity of demonstration really.

[@michaelhull1813]

You're always concise.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thank ya Michael!

[@ChrisEdgecombePhoto]

Great easy to follow video Mark.

[@davidadams421]

Mark, brilliant video, as usual. You are such an inspiration to follow. Quick question regarding changing the focus, you are doing this on the camera itself, thereby risking movement of the camera. Is there a reason why you don't use your smartphone to manipulate the focus point and take the shot? Feature not supported? Easier to do manually?

[@rocketmanab]

Great video Mark...thanks for this!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Many thanks!

[@Paul-jq5jh]

Excellent as always. Much appreciated

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Many thanks!

[@Bwanar1]

Thanks for the video, Mark. Always enjoy them. I have a few questions about the manual stacking. I don't understand a couple things. First, why did you change the order of the stacking to reverse, what you started with? I don't see how that can make any difference to Photoshop. Secondly, you painted out the parts that are less sharp in the back and mid-level but did not do the same to the front layer; before you flattened them. Why would you not paint the mid and back out of the front layer if it effected the other two? Thanks in Advance!

[@mallberry41]

Hi Mark, Another great video. I notice you have a Lumenzia panel in Photoshop. How about a beginners guide to Luminosity masking? Something i've struggled with from Lumenzia through to creating my own in Photoshop. I'm not sure whether its the process or the 'Why' behind it that I struggle with. Thanks.

[@alexk4023]

Amazing video! thanks

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad you think so! Thanks Alex!

[@howlinhog]

Great job Mark! Too often this is taught with the annoying habit of placing the cursor or clicking an option without explaining what's been done, Expecting the watchers eye to have seen what was done.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

howlinhog Thank ya much! Great to hear the video was helpful!

[@oliviersherpa996]

Merci pour cette super vidéo ! 👍📸

[@ricardomagath3640]

Great video! Thanks so much!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thank you!

[@mikehirst3294]

Awesome Mark. Looking forward to trying this.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Many thanks Mike!

[@rasesh4u]

Great content and a wonderful explanation. Thank you, Mark.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks Rasesh!