Sky stacking, macro stacking?

[philslizzy]

I've read these terms on this forum and would like to understand what they are.

I think macro stacking could be blending different images with different points of focus am I correct?

So what's sky stacking and indeed what other things can be stacked



Heres a photo of an orchid, I focused on 5 points and blended the photos in PS's blend layer mode. Stacking?

edit: I took 5 separate photos



Softened in PS too, the image was shot specifically for my wife to her spec

[Himself]

[philslizzy]

Perhaps I missed something in your reply but I thought how you described it was what I did with this picture. I thought stitching was for panoramas.

edit: just edited my first post so you understand I took 5 images first

I'm still not wiser. What is sky stacking and someone mentioned stacking photos of the moon in this topic

http://forum.mflenses.com/tokina-300mm-f-5-6-for-moonshots-t55777.html

Thanks for your quick reply!

[David]

Stacking is where one takes multiple images of the same subject from the same perspective with different focal planes and then uses a photo editing software to assemble them into one image with everything (or at least more) thing in focus.

Macro stacking is doing that with a macro image.

That can also be done with, say, a tree branch or highway or something with a long depth of field that isn't a macro.

Stitching is composing a larger scene from multiple smaller images, like a mosaic.

[David]

Regarding moon and sky stacking, same basic concept. With a telephoto lens, even at f22, the entire moon won't be in sharp focus. So, using that telephoto, focus on the moon and then move through the lens' focal range on the moon (horizon, mid-range, near-surface, etc.). Then stack them in a photo editing software.

To do this, open each image as a layer in a photo editing program. The software analyzes the images and determines what regions are most in focus in each image (compared to the other images.) It then removes everything except the most-in-focus portions of each layer.

[Himself]

You said "different images" that's why my answer.
David explained it better.
I don't agree with the moon part. Even with a 5000/2.8 ( assuming it's possible) DOF is that huge considering the distance that you won't need multiple images to stack them.

[David]

Lens variations may factor into how the moon focuses. For instance:


400mm, f8 or f11.

To my eye, the edge look to be much more in focus than the middle.

[philslizzy]

[Pontus]

I'm not sure but I think Sky Stacking is using several exposures and merging them for a well exposed subject AND sky. Basically emulating the use of a graduated neutral density filter.

[philslizzy]