Still photography has it a little easier but focus stacking has it less
easy than single-shot photos because consistency of light is a
factor in processing stacks. It seems we almost always have too
much light or too little and we need to be prepared for both ends of
the pendulum.
With too little light we can always open the aperture, slow the
shutter, and boost the ISO, although we would rather not stray too
far from optimum ISO conditions. It is tougher when there is too
much light as in full midday sunshine in an open field. Yes we can
narrow the aperture, run up the shutter, and zero-out the ISO, but in
my work that is not enough. I depend upon diffusers to handle too
much light. And that means carrying them around with me
somehow.
I can store all kinds of things in my car but I don’t do much shooting
in my car so sooner or later I have to decide what to carry with me?
Should I take a couple of small diffusers or also bring a big one.
And how are they to be positioned. Remember I need two hands,
one for turning the focus barrel and the other for clicking the
remote. And what about wind?
Wind is a real party pooper for focus stacking and even a small
breeze will end my hopes and send me scurrying back to trying for
single-shots again. Should I bring the light tent to stop the wind?
And what size light tent? This means carrying the tent (collapsed of
course) through fields and woods, never something I look forward
to. What are the answers?
In my case the most-common answer is “Play it by ear!, use your
imagination, innovate, etc.” At least that is what I tell myself. Wind
is the great enemy of focus stacking. Michigan, where I live, was
scraped flat millions of years ago by huge glaciers so there is not
much to stop the wind around here. Wind is almost a constant and
that is a pain if you need and want to get out in the field some each
day to photograph.
So what I do is the obvious. If there is no wind I try to focus stack.
As I walk around my home my eye is always peeled at the Tibetan
Prayer flags hung outside our center. Are they moving or are they
still. If they are still, I should get outside. Is there light and what
kind? I am a perfect barometer for photo conditions and all of this is
aside from: do I feel like it and is my eye capable of seeing beauty
on demand? Not always.