Focus Stacking - Exercise Perfectly Failed!

[Kodiak]

•

Last year, I proposed my sons an exercise to sharpen their focus stacking
skills. Olivier (15yo then) said: "No problem… but I choose my subject"

Fair enough! …so after some last minute recommendations, I was his assistant
for the lighting, layout, decor, and other dirty works that someone must do.

He setup and configured the shoot all by himself (Dad, your in my way…
get me some apple juice.) and so I had no chance to tell him that the shot
is not only the car but also its decor…this part he omitted!

It was only at post-production that he noticed the mistake and called me
for help… I could only answer: Should I get you an other apple juice?
•••

The failed exercise was only due to the fact that the car was beautifully
shot and covered with 37 slices but he did not include the background and
its details in the computer controlled sequence. That would have been
6 to 10 slices more and require maybe 3 minutes.

The car is perfect… but the shot is failed. — He was not happy!

[Stagecoach]

We all have our failures Kodiak, it really helps the learning process but it's unfortunate a lot of effort goes in at times before we see them.

As for the image the cars spot on but is this an example of when we look at it on the screen after the work we wish we had dusted off the base beforehand?

[Kodiak]

We all have our failures Kodiak, it really helps the learning process but it's unfortunate a lot of effort goes in at times before we see them.
As for the image the cars spot on but is this an example of when we look at it on the screen after the work we wish we had dusted off the base beforehand?

Right on Grahame!

Don't get me wrong here! Even if Olivier is growing up in a total photography
environment, with the best gear and all my experience, learning is a difficult
process for everyone… because there is so much to learn and master before
one may consider him/herself accomplished. My avatar says
— always want to learn—
…there is no end to it because there is no end to creativity and imagination
and, to make it worse, technologies are developing at an ever faster pace.

Having all the experience I have does not shelter me from goofs but helps
me recognize where the traps are and foresee some way-out.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Kodiak,

Could you get me an apple juice please? - while I remove the word processor "bullet points" that cause the "Unknown Title" to appear on the Latest Threads page

Thanks, Dave

[chauncey]

That underdeveloped prefrontal cortex is present in all children...our job as parents is to mold/teach
that child, while allowing the ever-present, learning mistakes to be made during the journey.

[Kodiak]

That underdeveloped prefrontal cortex is present in all children...our job as parents is to mold/teach
that child, while allowing the ever-present, learning mistakes to be made during the journey.

You're right! And since there are no school to learn to be a dad, I am
trying my best.

One thing I learn along the way:

"As a dad, you never know what you are doing…
but you will know what you have done!

[chauncey]

One more thing on being a Dad...I have a lot of conferences with teachers/counselors who are
always concerned with what that child wants to do when they grow-up.

I always try to point out that..."what they want to do" is less important than is
"what kind of person do they want to be"

[HaseebM]

The car image looks good to me but I don't have Kodiak's eyes. :grin: This one I took stacked, just for reference and for C&C.

[Kodiak]

The car image looks good to me but I don't have Kodiak's eyes. :grin: This one I took stacked, just for reference and for C&C.

Hasseb, you made a similar mistake with lesser consequences given the nature
of the BG. Plus your car was not stacked with proper software. You have to explore
photography alone as Olivier has the best of everything professional at his disposal
and still screws it up!
Good try!

[HaseebM]

I used CombinzeZP for stacking this. I will give it another shot but this time with darker background as I quite like the outcome of your son's image. I will have to try to avoid those reflections though.

[Kodiak]

I used CombinzeZP for stacking this. I will give it another shot but this time with darker background as I quite like the outcome of your son's image. I will have to try to avoid those reflections though.

…and your front focus point should be 15mm in front of the car and the last 30-40mm behind the car.

[IzzieK]

You're right! And since there are no school to learn to be a dad, I am
trying my best.
......

Not to forget, there is no schools for Moms too. Nor do kids came with a manual either...Dr. Spock's book was a reference until his only child committed suicide.

[Kodiak]

Not to forget, there is no schools for Moms too. Nor do kids came with a manual either...Dr. Spock's book was a reference until his only child committed suicide.

Thanks for the input Isabelle, I never was a mom so I did not dare commit for them.

The only book I read on that matter was from Alexander Sutherland Neil and titled
"Summerhill School". I was lucky and grateful to have been directed toward it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerhill_School

[Caddy]

found a used book… much fun to read and very inspiring.

[Kodiak]

found a used book… much fun to read and very inspiring.

Did you like the potato incident?