Stack Focus is a technique that involves capturing multiple images and layering them to achieve the desired effect. But what exactly is this desired effect? Before diving into that, let’s first explore how a camera lens focuses.

Common Misconceptions About Focus in Photography

Many photographers hold two common beliefs:

1. When a lens is focused at infinity, everything will be sharp.
2. The more you stop down the aperture, the sharper the image.

Unfortunately, neither of these statements is entirely true. A camera lens operates on an analog system, meaning there are no absolute values—only relative ones. Even a slight adjustment of the focus ring can alter sharpness, especially at long distances.

Every lens has an optimal sharpness point, known as the “sweet spot,” where it delivers the best focus across the entire frame (both center and edges). This sweet spot typically falls between f/8 and f/11, depending on the lens. Stopping down to f/22 in every situation can actually degrade image quality rather than improve it.

Optimizing Focus with Stack Focus

Now that we’ve debunked these misconceptions, how can we ensure maximum sharpness in landscape photography? The answer is Stack Focus.

Challenges in Landscape Photography

• Varying distances in a scene: The foreground, midground, and background often exist at different distances. The foreground may be too close, while the midground and background are far apart.
• Edge vs. center sharpness: Due to the curved nature of camera lenses, edge sharpness is usually lower than center sharpness, particularly in wide-angle lenses.
• Where to focus? If you only take a single shot, determining the ideal focus point can be challenging.

How to Execute Stack Focus

There are multiple ways to perform Stack Focus. Here’s a simple method:

1. Identify the key focal planes: Determine the foreground, midground, and background. You can take as few as two shots or several depending on the level of precision you want.
2. Use the same camera settings for all images to maintain consistency.
3. Stabilize your camera: Use a tripod or keep the camera as steady as possible. A touchscreen camera can make focusing easier.
4. Capture images with different focus points: Focus on each identified point and take separate shots. Remember their order for post-processing.
5. Stacking the images in Photoshop:
   • Open all images as layers.
   • Go to Edit → Auto-Align Layers (to correct minor misalignments).
   • Then select Edit → Auto-Blend Layers → Stack Images to merge them.

Personal Insights

• Don’t limit yourself to a single setting—experiment with different approaches.
• Always be meticulous and try multiple shooting techniques to maximize quality.
• A camera is just a tool; your creativity determines the final result.

Advanced Techniques

Perfect sharpness throughout an image isn’t always the best approach. A strong composition needs depth and contrast to engage viewers. What creates this depth? Lighting. Shadows and highlights define shapes and add dimension to a scene.

To enhance your image further:

• Try adjusting exposure for each focus plane to control lighting effects.
• If your lens isn’t wide enough (e.g., 24mm) to capture both sky and ground, combining Panorama and Stack Focus can produce breathtaking results.

By mastering Stack Focus, you can elevate your landscape photography, capturing images with stunning depth and clarity.