Computer-aided photos for Sweethome Alabama

[Jon Grant 4472]

Following a discussion on photography and depth of field in another forum, I downloaded a 4-week trial of some computer software called Helicon focus

http://www.heliconsoft.com/heliconfocus.html

Simply put, the software takes a number of partially-focused photos and layers them on top of one another to produce a single perfectly focused shot.

Here are my first two attempts. The first photo used 16 layers and a tripod, the second used 8 layers and the camera was perched on the layout. I think a tripod is the way to go.

I had to reduce the size of the final images to get them under 2mb and I dare say I could have edited the photos further using Photoshop or Picasa3

I still have a way to go but am quite pleased with the results so far.

Jon

 

[tomstockton]

Nice work, Jon! Love the depth of field you've achieved -- makes models look much more like the real thing!

Regards,
Tom Stockton

 

[tankist]

yep, those photos are a really good candidates for "model or real life" competition. nicely done.

the tool looks comfortable, but the price structure is strange. 30$ would be doable, but only for a year? what are limitations of demo version?

 

[Jon Grant 4472]

Thanks for the favourable comments and helpful tips, guys. This is definitely the way to go.

I 've uploaded the third photo to Railimages, showing a CSX SD35 passing the West Yard at Sweethome Alabama. I used the Helicon Focus software again but also cropped and edited the photo in Picasa3, as well.

The full sized photo is on the SWA facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweethome-Alabama/201342969884638

Hopefully time for another one tonight

Jon

 

[Jon Grant 4472]

I've had a bit more practice with the new software and am finding new capabilities and functions all the time. I also decided to try a photo or two at Sweethome Chicago for comparison purposes. The photos were also cropped and edited using Picasa3.

Jon

 

[Jon Grant 4472]

A few more practice shots

I still have some issues with re-sizing, but that will come with practice

Jon

 

[tankist]

i like thanks for sharing

 

[tankist]

obviously the layout is of very high level. but i just looked up exif data on the images and want to say special thanks to the author - the images were taken with 5-6 year old "point-and-shoot" camera (albeit with some manual overrides hidden deep inside the menus ). these pictures are pretty much an answer to all the "oh the pics look bad because i used cheap point and shoot camera" . oh no, your camera is fine, its the operator who could have done better