Focus Stacking and Multiple F-Stops....Help

[Crtm]

Hi,

Over the last few days I have been looking up on how to do photo stacking both for f-Stops and Focus. I went out yesterday and took photographs to practice putting them together which I have managed using a free trial of Zerene Stacker and the HDR Photomerge in Paintshop Pro x5, but the results are a little off to say the least.:shrug: I know you can't learn this in 5 mins but any pointers would be greatly appreciated both on taking the photographs and software.

Should say I used a tripod.

The following image was put together using Zerene Stacker perhaps you can tell me where I went wrong as the sky is not as strong as it was in reality and it looks washed out and blown in some parts.

Look forward to your help and any cc.


Carol


Loch Morlich and the Cairngorms by MrsR66, on Flickr

 

[Crtm]

Can anyone give a bit of advice please.

Carol

 

[Buck]

Carol

I have limited experience of stacking but when I did mine it was focus based rather than f-stop.

Having said that you mention that you have stacked and applied HDR to the photo?

What is the output when you stack the shots before HDR?

This way you'll be able to ascertain where the change that you don't want is occuring?

I don't use either of the programmes you mention but it could be that you have a setting on import or processing that applies a value such as "average exposure" across all shots hence losing some of the detail you mentioned?

 

[posiview]

Carol

I have limited experience of stacking but when I did mine it was focus based rather than f-stop.

This. From my limited knowledge of stacking for landscapes, but I used f5.6 as I recall and then took a number of photographs through the photograph. I didn't change any of the settings.

Grad filter might have helped with the sky.

Cheers.