Focus stacking can be accomplished using specialist software and macro rails, but what if you don’t have access to either? Focus stack by hand first before using Luminar Neo’s Focus Stacking feature to complete it all.
What Equipment Will I Need? Keep Your Gear Simple This checklist may seem redundant since most likely you already own most of this gear – I guarantee it!
Camera and lens (obviously): I used a 90mm macro lens, though you can also use 50mm or 300mm zoomed-in as closely as possible for close-up photography; tripod or something to hold steady camera (I used mine on top of glass vases or tables); clamp for holding flower (if it has long stems a glass vase would work great too);
Background — Black fabric or paper for your background is optional, though I did use black paper with my Lume Cube Tube Light Mini as my subject matter. Once again, using whatever is available is up to you; use what works!
How I Did It
For this task, I set my Sony a7RIII with 90mm Macro lens on a tripod, then placed black fabric over some board, using a plamp to keep my flower secure while placing lighting either side to ensure even illumination of my subject matter. Manual focus may be necessary depending on lighting conditions – alternatively Aperture Priority mode may work better depending on lighting situations when taking photographs of flowers or plants.
I focused my lens on the front of the plant, using peak metering or camera magnification if available, to check focus. While still using manual focus, slightly twist your focus ring until your subject begins moving toward its back end gradually and take one image for each focus point; this may take practice but be patient!
Based on your proximity, size of subject and the degree to which you twisted the focus ring, at minimum 5-15 images should be needed to create a focus stack. As far as camera settings are concerned, aperture should range anywhere between f/2.8 to f/11 for best results on tripod. When shutter speed drops below 1/80 second try setting a 2-second timer between images for extra safety against camera shake. Be mindful not to move camera while turning focus ring!
How to use the software Once your photos have been taken, load them into Luminar Neo and drag and drop the images into the Focus Stacking extension if it hasn’t already been installed; click on the puzzle piece icon for installation instructions. Next, set some parameters; I like using Auto Align (in case there’s any slight movement), Chromatic Aberration Removal and clicking “Stack”. It may take several minutes before your final images appear in a Stacked Images Folder on the left for editing purposes.
Final Image
As can be seen from my final image below, using Luminar Neo’s Focus Stacking feature I achieved detail and focus from front of plant to its tips at back – no easier with anything else!
Final Stacked Image from Luminar Neo