As the name suggests, focus stacking is a technique where you take multiple photos of the same subject, but at slightly different focusing distances, and “stack” them. When we merge these images in post processing, we produce one overall sharp image where the whole frame is in focus.
The basic idea is to mount your camera on a tripod, compose the shot, and then take a sequence of images while slightly shifting focus between shots.
visit PetaPixel for their comprehensive introduction to focus stacking, what it is, how to do it, and the equipment and software you may want to consider to help streamline your photography sessions…
This was my first blind attempt at focus stacking. No rails, not even moving the camera. I actually just manually focused on different points of the butterfly and crossed my fingers it was going to work!
I got lucky this time…there were some areas like the outer edges of the wings that kinda lost focus a bit, but for a first attempt, it definitely went better than my efforts at stacking astrophotography images…lol
