Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/01/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have been fascinated with this whole idea of focus blending and you know me I often like things not blended but sometimes I do. I'm glad to know the software (Helicon Focus) especially designed for such a task. Fascinating reading about this level of work which I don't normally otherwise come across. This whole day is getting me to get my Gitzo carbon fiber tripod out and going. I've had it 3.5 years and only used it a few times. It deserves better. And so do I. and I'm going watch my work transformed. -- Mark R. http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/winterdays/ > From: Bob Adler <rgacpa at gmail.com> > Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> > Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:48:33 -0800 > To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> > Subject: Re: [Leica] IMG: Pt. Lobos Saturday > > Hi Mark, > > Yes I do have tilts, but the technology today has some plusses and minuses > that I am trying a different approach to (this was very much an > experimental image). > > Earlier testing proved to me that stopping down further than f16.6 caused > the image to begin to break apart; significantly noticeable. So tilt can be > tricky for keeping items above and below the focal plane, is of limited use > (but not useless at all). Additionally, the Alpa cannot use tilt at focal > lengths less than 80mm. I mistakenly put it was the 80 on the data, but it > was the 35 (still Schneider APO Digitar). There was a polarizer and center > filter attached. > > So for this image I used focus blending; each of the shots of the closest > objects (about 1m away), had 3 exposures at ever increasing yet overlapping > focal points. Lets call those shots Row1, Scene Left, Exposures 1-3. Move > the back over 13mm and take 3 different focus point shots and you have > Row1, Scene Center, Exposures 1-3. The back can move over 13mm more and > repeat. > Do the same for the second row, which moves the back UP 13mm. Then for the > 3rd Row only 1 focal length is required (hyper focal works out from about > 4m - the beginning of infinity). > > Then I used software (Helicon Focus) to blend the 3 different focus point > images at each position into 1 (after adjusting the RAW file for its > histogram and clarity). The final 9 files were stitched together with CS5; > layes to taste after that. > > So the experiment was successful as far as I'm concerned. That said, no > moving objects allowed. But now I know it works and where it should be > used. AND it was a heck of a lot of fun!! > Best, > Bob > > On Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 11:34 PM, Mark Rabiner <mark at > rabinergroup.com>wrote: > >> Looks superb do you have tilts? >> >> -- >> Mark R. >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/winterdays/ >> >> >>> From: Bob Adler <rgacpa at gmail.com> >>> Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> >>> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:14:36 -0800 >>> To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> >>> Subject: Re: [Leica] IMG: Pt. Lobos Saturday >>> >>> Well, lets just say more reasonably priced than the gear you have to use >> it >>> with! Here's one shot this past summer with the same outfit. I use a >> Leica >>> laser distance meter to dial in the exact lens distance. The lens has a >> high >>> performance focus ring that is Alpa accurate: >>> >> http://www.rgaphoto.com/fleur/content/LillyCoy_MASTER_2011_10_Hawaii_CF003182>> _ >>> large.html >>> Not sure if the laser turned the coy white... >>> >>> Bob Adler >>> http://www.rgaphoto.com >>> >>> On Jan 23, 2012, at 10:58 PM, Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com> >> wrote: >>> >>>> The other interesting thing about this take no prisoners JSK optic is >> the >>>> bottom line. The price >>>> $2,642.50 at B&H! >>>> Does Leica even make a lens this cheap? >>>> It's certainly worth it spending 40K getting into medium format digital >> as >>>> after that the second to none glass is in effect FREE! >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Mark R. >>>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/winterdays/ >>>> >>>> >>>>> From: Bob Adler <rgacpa at gmail.com> >>>>> Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> >>>>> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:28:48 -0800 >>>>> To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> >>>>> Subject: [Leica] IMG: Pt. Lobos Saturday >>>>> >>>>> I finally got to take off and do some shooting. There has been no time >>>>> since November and my digital back went in for a cleaning. First >> outing in >>>>> what seems like forever... >>>>> There was a negative 1.1 foot tide at 3pm and it was a day between 2 >>>>> fronts. Large wave warnings were issued for Carmel/Monterey beginning >> at >>>>> 4pm. They weren't kidding. Though a negative tide, the sea surge really >>>>> kept me from going out on the rocks. So I decided to enjoy the exposed >>>>> beach at Weston Beach and settled in for a series of images that I >> focus >>>>> blended and stitched. Rocks are really good for this kind of image! >>>>> >>>>> >> http://www.rgaphoto.com/2012PtLobos/content/WestonBeachPanoMASTER_large.html >>>>> >>>>> Here is a 100% crop of a small section of the image, way out in the >> cove. >>>>> I'm impressed with what is captured: >>>>> >>>>> >> http://www.rgaphoto.com/2012PtLobos/content/WestonBeachPano100pctCrop_large >> . >>>>> ht >>>>> ml >>>>> >>>>> Earlier I noticed a view while having lunch. Went back after the above >> shot >>>>> when the light began to get better: >>>>> >>>>> >> http://www.rgaphoto.com/2012PtLobos/content/Stairs_MASTER_2011_01_27_PtLobos >>>>> _C >>>>> F004104_large.html >>>>> >>>>> At the end of the day the waves really started to come in with the >> tide; it >>>>> was absolutely beautiful in its power. I tried to grab the feeling >> here: >>>>> >>>>> >> http://www.rgaphoto.com/2012PtLobos/content/WaveBreak_MASTER_2011_01_27_PtLo >>>>> bo >>>>> s_CF004152_large.html >>>>> >>>>> Hope you enjoy. C&C always greatly appreciated. >>>>> Bob >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Bob Adler >>>>> Palo Alto, CA >>>>> http://www.rgaphoto.com >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Leica Users Group. >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > > > -- > Bob Adler > Palo Alto, CA > http://www.rgaphoto.com > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information