Focus Stacking

I do a lot of macrophotography. Among others I take pictures of jewels for a site ( Chantale Beaudet Collections ).

A common problem encountered when photographing object from a very short distance with a large aperture is the shallowness of the depth of field. Most of the time part of the object is out of focus. Look at the following images.

In focus on the left

In focus in the middle

In focus in the middle

In focus to the right

Résultat

Result

The technique

We take several photos at different distances adjusting the focus on every shot so that in each photo one plane is sharp and the rest is out of focus. Now we need a special software to combine these images in a single one where the whole image is in focus.

The photos must be taken in manual mode (aperture, speed and focus) preferably in Live View mode in order to better control the focus.

Equipment

• A digital SLR in manual mode (I used a Nikon D90)
• A sturdy Tripod (I am using a Manfrotto)
• A uniform lighting system preferably at 5000K
• Possibly Bellows or extension tubes for macro photography
• Possibly a focusing rail (I did not use a rail for these photos)
• A special software to process the images (I am using Photoshop CS4)

Took part in the TRAM Salon d’art 2012

Once again I participated to TRAM’s salon d’art this year.  There were 58 participants with more than 250 works.  The system that I developed to manage the registrations online and produce the different documents (lists, labels, reports etc) significantly simplified our task.  The fact that we had access to the showroom Wednesday, made our life much easier on Thursday when we were receiving the works and hanging them.

Third Prize at the Mont Royal Commemorative Services

Once more this year, I participated in the photo exhibition at the Mount Royal Cemetery.  I presented 4 photographs  and one of them was awarded the Third prize.

Award photo: From here to eternity

Le panneau d’exposition

Remise du prix par Andrew Sarrasin

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Trip to Lebanon

In mid-June we went on a 2 weeks journey  in Lebanon.  It had been 10 years since our last trip and we want to see again some cousins. 

Bay of Jounieh

We were a little anxious because of the situation in Syria and the repercussions in Lebanon, but finally everything went fine and we spent very pleasant holidays.  We went several times to the mountain; Deir El Qamar, Harissé, Qlaïaât, Hemlaya and we spent 3 days to the beach with Batroun, known for its ruins and its lemonades. ( http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/45998 )

View fron of Our Lady of the Sea church in Batroun

I reconnected with 2 former colleagues of IBM with whom we spent a marvelous evening. To go back to Lebanon is to find a completely different way of life, contrasts at every moment and at each street corner, an indescribable lunatic traffic, where people circulate more by reflex than by respecting the Highway Code! Districts of amazing wealth, a city centre completely rebuilt where all the great names like Hermes, Chanel, Cartier, Tiffany, and Ferrari have their own stores….All that next to dilapidated buildings often riddled with bullet holes, testimony to the civil war and various skirmishes that shook this country. Lebanese Architecture  In Hamra where we were, Christian and Moslem live and work side by side.  Young women dressed in very fashionable western style work alongside other wearing the hijab, everyone attends to his business and a social peace, which seems precarious, reigns.  Of course I took a lot photos!  I did not want to take my backpack of photography with the D90 the various lenses and the flash of fear of being hindered in case or the situation got dicey… I thus took a small Nikon Coolpix S6200; 16 Megapixels, a zoom of 10 and a lot of practical functions.  I do not regret my choice, the quality of the photographs is good and I hope to be able to exhibit some of them this year and to put some on site HIL-AIR  ( www.hilair.com ).

At the Bain Mathieu

L’effet est surprenant quand on rentre à l’exposition. D’abord les 2 niveaux ensuite les tentures noires et la décoration spéciale de l’espace.

Ma première impression a été WOW!

Cliquer sur les images pour les agrandir

Ce qui frappe c’est la qualité et la diversité des œuvres présentées, beaucoup de mediums, de styles très différents, des tailles allant du tout petit au très très grand…

Pour ma part j’ai essayé d’exposer quelque chose de différent; 4 photos prises en macrophotographie présentées comme un ensemble.

Les photos ont généré beaucoup de commentaires et de compliments, bien sûr, cela fait toujours plaisir de savoir que ce que l’on fait est apprécié, surtout quand les commentaires viennent d’autres artistes.