A macro lens enables you to focus extremely close to a subject so that it's reproduced at life-size on the camera sensor, opening up a world of incredible detail that's impossible to see with the naked eye. The drawback is that at such close focusing distances depth of field becomes extremely shallow, and will be only a matter of millimetres even if you stop down to a narrow aperture - so all that detail is lost from all but a very narrow band of sharp focus.
The solution is focus stacking. Take a series of shots, each at a slightly different focus distance, then combine the images to include the sharpest elements from each shot. It sounds complicated, but all the hard work is easily done in software, and it's a largely automated process.
You simply focus on the closest part of the image, take a shot, then twist the focus ring a tiny bit and take another shot, repeating the process until the most distant part of your subject is in focus. Some new cameras make things even easier with 'focus shift' shooting modes which automatically takes a series of shots each at a slightly different plane of focus.
Denne historien er fra March 07, 2024-utgaven av Photography week.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra March 07, 2024-utgaven av Photography week.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FUJINON GF120MM F4 MACRO R LM OIS WR
This powerful medium-format lens is ideally suited to extreme close-ups
HOW TO...CLEAN UP A SCENE WITH AI
James Paterson shows you how the AI-powered Remove Tool can revolutionise your retouching
SHOOT AN '80S PORTRAIT
Jason Parnell-Brookes recreates the neon look of the 1980s using torches and hollow acrylic rods
THE BEST MONOCHROME IMAGE OF 2024 IS A REAL CRACKER
Black and White Photo Awards announces stunning selection of winning images
88 TIPS FOR GREAT BABY PHOTOS
From lighting to posing and pacifying, here's how you get the perfect shot
THE NEW HERO13 BLACK HAS MAGNETIC APPEAL
GoPro's latest flagship arrives with new mount options and new Lens Mods
HOW TO...USE THE BEAUTY OF SOLARIZATION
James Paterson shows you how to recreate the classic darkroom effect in Affinity Photo, and use a variety of tonal tricks to perfect the look
GOPRO HERO12 BLACK
An excellent action camera - and a powerful tool for editors
VANISHING ACT
Mike Harris demonstrates a cunning trick to help you remove the crowds when shooting popular and busy locations
HERE'S A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME FROM WPOTY 2024
Leading wildlife photography contest reveals highly commended images