Stack setup

STACK THE ODDS IN YOUR FAVOUR BY TAKING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT AND FINDING THE RIGHT SUBJECT

Intervalometer 1

A Nikon DSLR, mirrorless or bridge camera with a built-in intervalometer will definitely help here, but isn’t essential. You can always fire the shutter manually at your desired intervals instead. It’s worth noting that some remote shutter releases double as an intervalometer, too.

Wide-angle lens 2

A wide-angle lens, like our Nikon AF-S 20mm f/1.8g ED on a full-frame camera or a 10-20mm focal length on a DX camera, will help you frame plenty of sky and clouds, which will be the main focus of your image since this is where the time stack effect will be most prevalent.

A sturdy tripod 3

Your exposures will need to be perfectly aligned for the stacking technique to work best in Photoshop. A rock-solid tripod, like our Manfrotto 055 model, is a must to help cement the camera in place. For added stability, avoid raising the centre column unless you absolutely have to.

Suitable subject 4

Compose your landscape around a clear focal point like a lone tree, mountain, windmill or similar subject to add interest, and prevent the composition from looking empty and bland. We travelled to Normanton Church, Oakham, to take advantage of its picturesque 18th century architecture.

Shoot at the sun 5

Use weather apps to check that you’re going to get a sunset or sunrise at your chosen location. Shoot towards the sun for the strongest colours: oranges, pinks and blues, but try to compose your scene so the sun is positioned just outside the frame to prevent hot spots in your pictures.

Capture clouds 6

You need to capture a partially cloudy sky at sunrise or sunset as this will appear beautifully lit via an array of fantastic warm colours. When stacked in Photoshop, these colourful clouds will create that distinctive staggered effect used to illustrate the passage of time.