Digital Photographer Magazine

Focus stacking has become a popular part of capturing awesome detail in macro subjects for many photographers. In this feature we will run through how new camera features and software can make this process quick and accessible for everyone. We have used the olympus oMD EM-1 Mk II camera fitted with a 60mm macro lens because, like many new cameras, it has an excellent ‘in camera’ focus bracketing’ feature. Many other manufacturers are also including similar features on their latest models, but if your camera does not have this setting, you can still follow the process, but will need to focus the camera manually through the operation of capturing the multiple images that focus stacking requires. the process essentially entails two steps, the acquisition of multiple images, all with different parts of the subject in focus, and then the blending, merging or stacking of these images in appropriate software. We have chosen to use Adobe Photoshop and its powerful layer blending feature to create this image of a tiny garden fly. Focus stacked fly We shot this tiny fly on the picnic bench outside our office. At only 4mm long, the stacking process has really helpedbring out some fantastic details, whichwouldhave been hard to see using just a conventional single image All images © David Southard, Wild Arena Ltd What you’ll need Focusing Bracketing ability Macro lens Adobe Photoshop 83