What is meant by 'focus stacking'?

Focus stacking is a photographic technique that combines multiple images taken at different focus distances to achieve a greater depth of field than what can be accomplished in a single shot. This is particularly useful in macro photography or landscape photography, where the goal is to keep both the foreground and background sharply in focus.

In focus stacking, the photographer captures a series of images, each with a different focal point, ensuring that various parts of the scene are sharp. These images are then merged together using specialized software or editing techniques, aligning them so that only the sharpest parts are retained in the final composite image. This results in an image that maintains high detail throughout both close-up and distant subjects.

Understanding focus stacking is crucial for photographers looking to capture intricate details in their subjects while preserving clarity across the entire image, especially in scenarios where depth of field is limited due to lens aperture settings or camera capabilities.