Stacking images to remove people from Images.

[dave0010]

Im soon off travelling again and I've heard of the above technique used by architectural photographers to remove people from images.

My understanding is you take multiple shots without moving the camera then stack them in PS to remove the people. Is this correct? also does anyone have any links to anything that would explain step by step so I could learn this technique.

[Zoon]

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/image-stac...

[DIW35]

I've done this sort of thing before. I can't remember how many shots I actually took, but they were all taken on a tripod. All images were then imported to Photoshop as separate layers. At the very bottom of the stack I had a simple layer filled with bright pink, so that as I erased people, I could see parts of the image that still needed scenery filling in to cover the gaps left by the missing people.

It's a lot simpler than it sounds, and doesn't take very long either. I keep meaning to use the technique on other projects but never seem to get round to it.

[dave0010]

thanks for the replies, very much appreciated. I'd just like to try and get some good photos without hundreds of people in each one!!

[missingman]

Make sure you work with a fixed exposure and white balance. Focus musn't change either. (Obviously the camera should be on a tripod).

Unless you keep those things the same then there will be variations in the images which will be obvious when you paint from one layer to the next.

[JSS 911]

Or you could use a long exposure, this was 67sec .As long as people are moving you should loose most of them.

St Pauls by John, on Flickr

[Mr Will]

DIW35 said:

I've done this sort of thing before. I can't remember how many shots I actually took, but they were all taken on a tripod. All images were then imported to Photoshop as separate layers. At the very bottom of the stack I had a simple layer filled with bright pink, so that as I erased people, I could see parts of the image that still needed scenery filling in to cover the gaps left by the missing people.

It's a lot simpler than it sounds, and doesn't take very long either. I keep meaning to use the technique on other projects but never seem to get round to it.

No need to do it manually, just use the "Median" layer blending option. This chooses the most common from the underlying layers, which will be the ones without any people in.

[dave0010]

stacking for me is going to be the best option as I could get away with hand held photos in most occasions. I'd love to buy some good ND filters but I'd also have to carry a tripod and a shutter release remote. In time I will but not just after christmas. Awesome shot though

[_dobbo_]

If you've got the latest version of PS, don't rule out the option of content aware fill. You would be astonished at how well it can remove people from photos - albeit sometimes it goes a bit wrong!

[sgrimshaw]

dave0010 said:

I'd also have to carry a tripod and a shutter release remote.

Carry a bag which you can fill with rice or other dried grain/bean purchased locally - good, light and cheap if you don't have/want a tripod.

Self timer can be used in place of remote release.

[james_tigerwoods]

JSS 911 said:

Or you could use a long exposure, this was 67sec .As long as people are moving you should loose most of them.

St Pauls by John, on Flickr

I have to ask, how did you do a 67sec exposure in the day?

Nighttime, I know, but daytime?

[droopsnoot]

Dark ND filter?

Interesting thread, one of my biggest issues is with people getting in the way, or me not being able to be bothered to go to places when people won't get in the way, at least.

[rich888]

james_tigerwoods said:

JSS 911 said:

Or you could use a long exposure, this was 67sec .As long as people are moving you should loose most of them.

St Pauls by John, on Flickr

I have to ask, how did you do a 67sec exposure in the day?

Nighttime, I know, but daytime?

EXIF info shows:

Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Aperture: ƒ/9.0
Focal length: 43.0 mm
Exposure time: 67 secs
ISO: 100

Is very impressive indeed, I often wondered how this effect was achieved, I always thought the photographer crawled out of bed at some ungodly hour!

[Lucas CAV]

As stated above - an ND filter will do --- or a piece of welding glass if you are a cheapskate like me -- just remember to do a custom white balance too!

rich888 said:

james_tigerwoods said:

JSS 911 said:

Or you could use a long exposure, this was 67sec .As long as people are moving you should loose most of them.

St Pauls by John, on Flickr

I have to ask, how did you do a 67sec exposure in the day?

Nighttime, I know, but daytime?

EXIF info shows:

Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Aperture: ƒ/9.0
Focal length: 43.0 mm
Exposure time: 67 secs
ISO: 100

Is very impressive indeed, I often wondered how this effect was achieved, I always thought the photographer crawled out of bed at some ungodly hour!

[Evolved]

Great thread and impressive results too.

[JSS 911]

I was using the Hoya NDX400