I am so glad that Mandy @emrob) came up with the Technique Challenge of Focus Stacking. I attempted to learn this on my own a few months ago with poor results. After following the instructions that she provided in her links I have had some very good results. (At least in my mind!)
This is made up of 6 photos stacked together. I purposely shot it at this angle to use the technique to its fullest. http://365project.org/discuss/themes-competitions/26822/new-technique-challenge-50-focus-stacking
@maggiemae - That is right. By focusing on different parts within the frame and then using PhotoShop to stack them as layers, you then blend the images through PS to get a sharp image from front to back. It is nicely explained in the video in the first link.
Very well done Skip. Great picture and beautiful setting. I was glad too, that Mandy @emrob helped so much with the information she provided in the technique challenge.
@leananiemand - Yes I used PhotoShop. But I see that there are other software packages for focus stacking. One is HeliconSoft and another is Zerene Stacker. If you don't have PS and are interested in buying software here is a link to a PDF file that compares 3 software packages for stacking. http://www.mindatnh.org/PDF_files/Image%20Stacking%20Software%20Comparisons.pdf
@maggiemae - You are sounding like my Aunt Marge. I was named after my father and that included the nickname. Many called me Skippy while he was alive but the second "p" and the "y" were dropped shortly after his passing. But she calls me Skippy.
Really well done, it's quite a challenging technique.
I've had a go at it without much success but I think a macro of a barnacle cluster may have been diving in at the deep end! :-D
Thank you for the links, that's very useful.
@maggiemae - That is right. By focusing on different parts within the frame and then using PhotoShop to stack them as layers, you then blend the images through PS to get a sharp image from front to back. It is nicely explained in the video in the first link.
@paulaw - Thank you so much Paula!
I've had a go at it without much success but I think a macro of a barnacle cluster may have been diving in at the deep end! :-D
Thank you for the links, that's very useful.