Can You Bracket AND Focus Stack for Perfectly Exposed & Razor Sharp Landscape Photos?!
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In this week’s episode, we discuss if you can exposure bracket and focus stack for perfectly exposed and razor sharp landscape photos. It's a question that comes up from time to time, whether or not you can apply both of these extremely helpful landscape photography techniques at the same exact time. And, the short answer is yes, yes you can and the process in which you can accomplish this is much easier than you might think.
In this video, I'll walk you through how I go about creating an exposure bracketed series of photos and at the same time creating a focus stack series as well. The on-location portion of this process is very straight forward and so is the actual post processing aspect of combining the images together which I walk you through in this video as well. Exposure bracketing and focus stacking might be two of the most powerful techniques in landscape photography. And understanding how to accomplish both at the same time is something that can prove to be extremely useful in certain situations that you could potentially find yourself in while on-location.
So the next time you find yourself setting up a shot that requires focus stacking and is also a high dynamic range scene that also requires multiple exposure brackets, I hope the information in this week's video will help you to accomplish both at the same time! Thanks for watching! - Mark D.
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I would like to thank all the computer programmers that have made this video possible. And you Mark, for making sense of it all.
I don’t know why but the intro was so calming
For years I had envied artists and their ability to 'make their own light' in their paintings and have their scenes perfectly light balanced, while photographers had to meter for either the light or the shadows and accept the result, or result to dodging and burning which often times was either very time consuming and/or resource intensive (darkroom days). Now, with HDR and focus stacking, what your eye sees in the field is now what you can get in the final product. Pure genius. Thanks for the tutorial.
My biggest takeaway was "Just go out and shoot." I get stuck with Analysis Paralysis when it comes to weather conditions. The rest of the tutorial is just the frosting on the cake. Thank you for posting these. I'm learning a LOT!
The beginning setting up the tripod changing lenses is it just me that finds the sound so satisfying, another great video👍😁
I feel the same way - love the sounds of photography!
I've been wondering about this for a while .. Thanks for sharing.. very useful
I completely agree! It was my first impression - very calming and enticingly ritualistic. Yet another outstanding video in content & production.
Thank you, now l am wiser about focus stacking!
I've been doing video as part of my work for a while and realized with a slight investment I could explore photography. I've enjoyed learning to see the world around me through a different "lens".
I could hug you for that hand trick. The rest of this is way above my grade still but that simple tip was worth the trip.
For the past several months, that has been my top question I wanted answered. Thanks for making it easy to understand!
Thank you for another excellent video Mark. Brilliant work.
Informative video! It seems like you would focus at the first spot on the berries and do a bracket, focus on the second spot and do a bracket and focus on the third spot and do a bracket and you would be finished except for the processing. At home you would just focus stack the three bracketed shots once they were merged into an HDR image. Moving the focus point and taking images and then going back and bracketing seems like it would take a lot more moving around and time.
I agree! I would also do it the way you describe it except I would do the focus stack merge first in the post process, just like Mark did.
When I got my first DSLR I was fascinated by macro photography and HDR. So I did a lot of focus stacked HDR to offset my gear’s limits (because a rebel T7 and kit lens is not amazing for either). I still often use exposure stacking when doing a panorama or other situations where there’s a huge dynamic range (shooting a car with a vibrant sunset in the background for example). I’d just never made the mental jump to using focus stacking & HDR for landscapes or similar situations. Great video again Mark!
You've inspired me to go try this! I've done both types of bracketing, but never together. I like Fuji's implementation of focus bracketing - it's good for not accidentally getting too few shots. You could fairly easily set that up and run it three times with manually adjusted exposure. Thanks for sharing this technique!
The hand shot idea is so good! I recently took bracketed and focus stacked shots and they are SO hard to tell the difference in Lightroom (haha!)
Yes! I’ve been waiting for this video!
Hope yo enjoyed it!
Thank you for sharing. It's been really helpful and the taking a photo of your hand between stacks is a very good tip!
You just solved the fast lens problem of focus and blurring and not all, even close, not in focus!!! Thanks for some more play time ideas out in the backyard.
Great video (as usual) Mark... pragmatic and clear! In this case it's about the process not about the pictureitself... we got that! Thank you!
Thanks a lot Mark, it's really something that almost every photography lover needs to know about, nice job.
Glad you found it helpful!
I have subscribed and watched all of your videos. This is an older video, but it was a game changer for me. Thank you so much. Keep up the great work.
Super video tutorial....I can’t wait to try this advice! Thanks!
Very helpful, Mark. Thanks. You combined two techniques that I'm trying to master.
Mark, as always really to the point explanation , thank's much !
This information was very helpful. I just completed studying a NYIP course and the last thing I studied was focus stacking. Of course, I understood what it was. But now that I have seen your video, you make it so easy to fully understand. Thank you.
Perfect! Having the error of too few focus points in the video really drove home. Much more effective than a squeaky clean how to video . As always, thank you.
That was an fantastic explanation and video on how to do this. I just recently learned how to bracket and focus stack and was then wondering can I do both on one image. Thanks for the info Mark!
Great info and tutorisl. Thanks.
Thanks Mark, you are a great educator.
Your videos are so informative and delivered in an easy to understand, and more importantly apply tutorial. Thank you kindly.
I'll have to try this soon. Great video!!
This is what I’ve been missing!! Great video and very informative! Thank you Mark!
Thanks Ben! Excited to hear that
Great video. Nice to see how others are doing this process. I have found that when I shoot a 5 shot bracketed exposure (2 stop per bracket) I get one shot with enough dynamic range where I don't have to do any exposure blending (90% of the time). That way I do 2-5 bracketed shot sequences for focus and let the camera handle the auto bracketing exposures. Then I determine (1) which shot in the bracket meets all my exposure needs; (2) grab the same shot sequence from the bracketd shot groups; (3) apply basic settings, sync, align; (4) complete the focus stacking process with the selected shots ; (5) process the final bracketed composite with needed adjustments in LR or PS. Just speeds up the process a little bit.
Thank ya Mickey! That's a great workflow - I usually end up taking more than I need as well just to be safe.
love this style of photography.
Thank You ... Thank You... Thank You... so much for this informative tutorial , I am so happy that you made a video on this 🤩
Awesome to hear - hope you enjoy it!
ALWAYS learn something new from your videos Mark 👌🏻 Defiantly will be trying this on my next outing. You are right, it does sound more daunting than it really is. It also helps how you calmly explain the process from beginning to end. Once again much appreciate your time and effort you put into making these awesome and informative videos 👍 Hope you and the family are well.....
Thank ya friend! Hope you and your family are doing good as well!
This will give me something to learn and try for the new year.....thank you Mark....Happy Holidays and have a great and healthy New Year.
Happy holiday’s to you as well Robert!
Thank you sooo much!
This is amazing🎉🙏🏻
Great video, makes focus stacking and exposure bracketing seem easy
Really valuable information Mark, appreciate the time and effort you put into these videos to help the beginner.
Thank you.
Glad to do it Ross and a big thanks for checking it out!
Thank you for doing this video Mark. It answers the question I had a few videos ago.
Glad to hear it AJ
Great video. Very informative 👏🏻....and right there with you looking out the window wishing I just headed out instead of missing the light or great atmosphere.
Again great stuff. Keep’em coming. 👏🏻
Thanks a million man!
Great Job! For me it's a lot easier to take the exposure bracketing on every single focuspoint first, blend into HDR in the RAW converter and then do the focus stacking. This way it's a lot easier to see, if photoshop works well with stacking. 😉
Honestly, I like that not all of the branch was in focus. It added more visual interest, at least to me, than if it was all focused and razor sharp.
That was a whole lot of good information Mark! Wow 🤩.
Now to put it into practice- thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge!
Thanks so much Jackie!!
It was good to see the process play out, i focus stack, and exposure bracket but have yet to combine the two techniques. Will feel a little more confident giving it a go now. Thanks mark !
Glad to do it Timothy!
Full of information and really well explained. Has helped me understand the process. Many thanks.
Great to hear Daniel!
Love your outdoor videos. And great explanation of combined focus and exposure stacking.
Thanks so much!
Thanks for the great video. I love the idea of taking a picture of your hand between stacks. I always have trouble figuring out which pictures are supposed to go together. Usually have to dig up my old version of Nikon ViewNX-i.
Really good stuff. Thanks for this Mark!
Glad to do it Drew!
Thanks, the idea with the hand is good !
Great video , Glad for all the info you put out and keep it up
Many thanks Mark!
Lol, I was just thinking about visualising an image before going out to take photos, and making it a part of my process. Thanks for this!
Thank you I have learn a lot
Thanks for sharing.... I am learning more about this process, so many thanks for information... Cheers
Glad to do it Robert!
Good one, Mark. Nice to be walked through the process.
Thanks Stephen! Hope you enjoyed it!
I appreciate your tutorial and have been enjoying your videos. I would like to make a couple of points. First, I don't think this scene needed exposure bracketing. You could have found a better situation for this example. Second, I would like to disagree with your order of operations in capturing your exposures. Why wouldn't you exposure bracket (auto) at each focus location? By changing your focus location at each of your three "exposures", I think you are allowing for potential variability in what is in focus. This could allow for specific local patches that are not in focus, potentially being very obvious.
I have not done a lot of this myself, so perhaps there is something I've overlooked.
Wonderful video mark. Was looking for this
Thanks Raja!
You've done a good delivering on this process. I think your audience would benefit from more presentations on this process - it helps with our creativity. Thanks Mark
Many thanks Dennis!
Great video!
Clarity itself superb video
Well put across Mark....!
Interesting and helpful video. Thanks.
Do you ever use in-camera focus stacking?
Have been wanting to experiment with Focus Stacking but hadn't considered combining bracketing and focus stacking together. Your explanation of the process was clear, hopefully I can make it work.
If you have any questions after you try it out just let me know!
Honestly you had me at bookmark LOL that was brilliant. I've got an older Rebel T3 and it only does three brackets but if I get my exposure right and create different exposures in Affinity Photo and save as different file names THEN bring those files in I can easily do 5-7 brackets and avoid my cameras' limitation.
Another great video Mark. Thanks for the great instruction!
Glad to do it Robert!
Awesome work Mark, would help me a lot in future.. thanks
Much appreciated - thank you!
Keep it up mark !
Once again, this advice goes completely along with fishing. If you wait for perfect conditions, you wont get out much. If you don't get out much, in the end, you won't be as successful. Anyway, using this technique looks great :) Now do it 5 frames wide, by 5 frames tall, for a 25 shot stitch, which has, not only perfect focus and perfect exposure, but crazy high resolution too :) I want to see a shot done like this with 1+ Gigapixel resolution ;)
Another great episode with super examples explained well Pal
Appreciate ya Darren!
Great video as always Mark , really usefull. Thank you
Thanks Patrick!
I've used the focus stack bracketing in cameraa for my Fuji. it works well to pick focus points. You then stack in program
Thanks Mark, very imformative
really glad you think so Mark!
Another how-it's done 'blow-by-blow' info video. Thank you , Mark. The usual high standard. 🎅
Content is always great. What I really like most is your honest disclosure of who you are. I feel like I'm in your office and you're talking to me. Telling me, "Oops I shouda taken another set or two focused here and here." Well done Mark.
Really appreciate that Gregory - great to hear you enjoy the videos!
Yes, I like seeing the "oops" in the process, because that helps us really learn. Bad examples vs. good examples of composition, exposure, and so on.
Thanks Mark, took a similar shot recently in the UK using F16 to try and achieve a sharp image. Might return and try this technique. Now I just need the right conditions.... More importantly I need to be able to find the area where the berries were as most bushes seemed to be devoid of them.
That’s great with a touch screen focus. Mine doesn’t so I think I would do the 3 exposures first since I can auto bracket that.
Great tutorial. Thanks! PS I loved the image you came up with, even though it didn’t have all the elements you were hoping for.
Much appreciated Michael - thank you!
awesome info helpful, and issues I have with haveing to have perfect conditions just gotta go out alone or not
Great video thank you.
Thanks for watching Sarah!
Great video! As a small aside that's a bit off topic, one reason most camera bag layout systems are crap is because they force you to set dividers that allow for a particular lens mounted on the camera. Meaning you had to swap back to the other lens just to put the camera away, the alternative would have been a more annoying re-shuffle of the velcro dividers. Swapping lenses in the field is probably my biggest peeve, and bags are crap at facilitating this.
Very interesting and always wondered about covering both focus stacking and exposure bracketing of same scene. With a limited distance range like the holly could you have just set a high aperture for max DOF and then just use shutter speed to affect exposure, assuming a fixed ISO and tripod? Great info though which I will now try for sure. Thank you.
Your videos are great I’m a film shooter moving into digital
Sir i am a big fan of yours...i like the details and information of your blogs...As a beginner the photographers struggle with the watermark orb logos in their photography...it will really be interesting to listen a talk from you about the size, positioning and importance of watermarking on the photos....and what is your experience in watermarking??
Great video, very informative!👍
This is probably the only other video (after Alex Armitage's video) which covers this particular topic.
Thanks a million!
Thanks Mark
Thanks for checking out the video Gerald!
great video Mark, i used to do this photos with only three shot but i changed for more focal points. thanks
Much appreciated Gerson!
Thank you for this tutorial!! Love your work sir 👌👌🙂
Thanks so much!
@@MarkDenneyPhoto Mark I'm not gonna lie, I've been following you for a few months now and your content and teachings have really opened my eyes to what is even possible with photography. You are a true inspiration, and I feel very blessed to be able to learn from you. Keep em coming!! 🙏👊😎
Nice and all explanatory video ..what exposure communication you prefer for plus minus.....one stop or 2 stop for 3 stop compensation
This might have been asked and answered, but does it matter if you focus stack first, then blend exposures, or can you do it in either order? I was also wondering if it would be easier to auto bracket shoot each focus point and proceed from there, rather than going through the exposures one at a time with a series of focus points.
Very helpful video. Im curious if you find yourself exposure bracketing more with Fuji than when you used Sony? I had gotten away from bracketing mostly because I didn't bother to setup a tripod. I have always struggled with shadows shooting Fuji. This video has given me a couple theory's to test. THANKS!
Thank you ....👌👌👌👏👏👏
Thank you Mark! Very nice video! Also very helpful "tip" to shoot your hand between the single series'. It's sad that it's not possible to automatically do that in the camera settings or somehow else. I hope this feature will come one day for landscape photographers especially. =)
Thank you for this video. I was wondering how you would handle a moving subject in this situation without raising the ISO? Many thanks
Well that's an easier way than my first time doing it, I did a focus stack a couple of days ago of a sunset. But i did the exposure bracketed set of images first and then did each focus image at the same exposures of the bracketed sequence, then combined them but i was pretty happy with the outcome but I'll be doing it this way from now on
I have such a hard time with my camera, I can't check focus in live view, so rely on eyepiece, but when I check it afterwards, there's always a blurry area. So frustrating! Thanks so much for the info, still learning, which says a lot about the teacher!
I appreciate you so much Mark. I love your honesty 💚 thank you for all the fantastic videos.
As an x-t4 owner I always wonder why you prefer to shoot with an xt-3? Is it just a preference thing?
Thanks Alex! I have both the X-T4 and the X-T3. I use the X-T4 for video since it has IBIS and the X-T3 for stills, but both have the same sensor so they’re isn’t any difference as far as image quality goes.
Your studio looks reallu good now
I've learnt a huge amount in just 17 mins. Thanks for posting this video. I'm also currently doing that "wait for the perfect conditions" thing although I still take the camera out 'just in case'.
This is great to hear Ali - thank you!!
Hi Mark. Very helpful video, as always, so thank you. I have a question. I understand the idea of not adjusting exposure when making the initial edits before importing photos into PS for focus blending. My question is, at that point (ie. again, before importing photos into PS for focus blending) do you do any edits to things that might still affect exposure such as contrast, blacks, whites, etc? Thanks again!
Hey Mark. Another great instructional video. I have, however, one question and one comment. Question. When changing lenses with the mirrorless camera do you have a problem with dist on the sensor? Comment. Going from LR to PS and back to LR for the focus / bracketing operation then the fiddling about in PS to focus stack seems a lot of unnecessary work when the whole exercise can be done in two steps in Affinity photo and achieve the same, if not better, result.