Is focus stacking a shot cheating?

[kennethwest]

I've been watching some YouTube videos this morning on focus stacking. I'm wondering though, seeing these finished shots are impossible to achieve with out these methods. So would you consider this cheating?

I'm still going to practice, but just wondering if you submit a photo in a contest and it's been focus stacked to get the depth of field, is that wrong?

 

[Hvr]

Why would you ask a photography question on a frequent flyer forum?

 

[kookaburra75]

I'm a bit old fashioned when it comes to photography, having cut my teeth on film a lot of years ago. So my answer is yes it is cheating. A photo to me is a single shot - well planned in advance, including aperture, shutter speed etc. A confession though, I use HDR on my phone camera as it is cool, but not on my main camera.

 

[SuePa]

There are so many processiing enhancements now, I think like it or not, it's become an accepted part of photography.
It doesn't really worry me, I just wish people would note somewhere how their photo was achieved.

 

[SuePa]

I'm a bit old fashioned when it comes to photography

Frank Hurley was manipulating his famous photos back in WW1 (without Photoshop ).

 

[samh004]

I'm still going to practice, but just wondering if you submit a photo in a contest and it's been focus stacked to get the depth of field, is that wrong?

Depends what the contest rules are. I am sure you'll find terms and conditions for what is and isn't acceptable. Almost all images submitted will have had some post-processing done to them anyway.

I'm a Canon guy and use Canon's DPP to focus stack/focus bracket. Works great after I have taken all the images on the camera. If I had correctly tagged the images in my collection I'd have a better example to show off, but this will have to do for now.

Why would you ask a photography question on a frequent flyer forum?

Because AFF has diversified to become more than just frequent flying... the very forum we are in is "Photography & Cameras" under the category "Lifestyle".

I'm a bit old fashioned when it comes to photography, having cut my teeth on film a lot of years ago. So my answer is yes it is cheating. A photo to me is a single shot - well planned in advance, including aperture, shutter speed etc. A confession though, I use HDR on my phone camera as it is cool, but not on my main camera.

Even in the days of film, creative types were doing multiple exposures to come up with interesting compositions. Obviously, focus stacking allows for a wider aperture than if you were to just take one shot, but there's still a level of skill in getting it right.

It doesn't really worry me, I just wish people would note somewhere how their photo was achieved.

I find that users on Flickr generally note what they've done to get a result.

 

[kookaburra75]

Even in the days of film, creative types were doing multiple exposures to come up with interesting compositions. Obviously, focus stacking allows for a wider aperture than if you were to just take one shot, but there's still a level of skill in getting it right.

I agree (grudgingly of course). It is amazing what can be done in the digital world. The old F11 magazine when it was going (you can get all of the back issues on line) had fantastic shots with the photographer explaining how they built the shot. I learnt quite a few tricks that I apply in Adobe Lightroom.

While I use my Samsung NX300 a lot, I still have a vintage Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521 for a bit of fun.

 

[jb747]

Of course it isn't cheating. You're interested in the final result, the route taken to get there is much less relevant.

Dodging and burning was an accepted technique when printing. Pictures have always been manipulated.

 

[Carrots]

You still have to take X shots correctly to create a stacked image.

So for me not cheating, although not something I've really done as I tend to focus on sports images.

It creates a far more natural an image than some of the editing these days which could be more akin to graphic design!

 

[samh004]

While I use my Samsung NX300 a lot, I still have a vintage Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521 for a bit of fun.

I'm predominantly using an EOS RP these days and recently bought myself a new lens for a birthday as I felt I deserved it

It creates a far more natural an image than some of the editing these days which could be more akin to graphic design!

I'll second that!

 

[bPeteb]

While I use my Samsung NX300 a lot, I still have a vintage Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521 for a bit of fun.

I have an NX500. I love that camera! Also a 100 and 300. Still dirty on Samsung for pulling out of that market and concentrating on poor quality mobile phones instead... Then there's a Sony RX10 IV, and the Pentax DSLR, and the Nikon SLR...

 

[kookaburra75]

I have an NX500. I love that camera! Also a 100 and 300. Still dirty on Samsung for pulling out of that market and concentrating on poor quality mobile phones instead... Then there's a Sony RX10 IV, and the Pentax DSLR, and the Nikon SLR...

I took a while to make the switch to digital, as I mainly shot black & white and developed my own film and prints. Of course, when I made the decision I had my old and trusty Canon A1 and Olympus OM4, plus an enlarger, trays, filters etc. The sad thing is that I couldn't even give anything away, as no-one wanted it - even on ebay. But I kept the developer tank, dark bag, and film clips so I can develop the 220 film from the old Zeiss. Scanning the negs and being able to tizzy them up and print is soooo much easier than trying to develop colour prints.

 

[jb747]

I look back at some of the air to air photography that I was able to do in the 80s, and just so wish I had my current camera, then.