Here's the general idea. You set up on a subject (requires a sturdy tripod) and take several shots at different focus points. Overlap the focus by about 50%. Once you have all these shots, import them into Lightroom or access them through Bridge. Highlight the images you want to blend together. In Lightroom you can right click on any of those images and choose: Edit In>Open as Layers in Photoshop. In Bridge you basically do the same only you go to Tools>Photoshop>Load files in Photoshop Layers.
In Photoshop, highlight all the layers in the newly opened document and go to Edit>Auto Align Layers. Use the Reposition option.
Next, go to Edit>Auto Blend Layers and choose the Stack Images option. This will blend the layers together, creating masks on each layer. If need be, you can then edit each of the masks. Remember to click on the Layer Mask icon and paint with either a black or white brush. Use black if you need to hide more on the layer you're working on. Use white if you need to reveal more.
Needless to say, this will probably require some practice and experience.

Also, to help with your keywording chores, be sure to check out his controlled vocabulary keyword catalog.

The first week in June I'll be co-leading, with Victoria again, a trip to Shenandoah National Park. Though not designed as a Digital Workflow workshop, we'll still be spending plenty of time on Lightroom.
Then comes another Digital Workflow workshop in mid-June with Victoria . This one to the Palouse region of Washington State, a must visit place for anybody attracted to graphic landscapes. This workshop is beginning to fill.

The next workshop currently on the schedule is the Oregon Coast in September with Robert Stahl, based out of Newport. Bob was the very first photography instructor I ever had and finally, after a couple of years talking about it, we're finally leading a workshop together. Bob is one of the best instructors I've known when it comes to helping to get in touch with your own vision. I'm looking forward to working with him.
You may have noticed a big gap there in July and August when I typically lead workshops to Olympic National Park and Mt. Rainier. I'm trying to set both of those up through another workshop company, but if that doesn't pan out, I'll most likely be offering those on my own. Stay tuned on that front.

And I'm still contemplating some other trips as well, including an exploratory trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Several of you have expressed interest in that and I'll try to have more information in the next month or so.
Other trips I have in mind include a fall trip to the Tetons (late Sept) and a fall trip to Zion (late October/early Nov). And Death Valley is still on the tentative schedule but still has some bugs that need working out.
Any feedback on any of these proposed trips is appreciated as it will help me to plan and prioritize. In fact, I may just send out a separate survey email to gauge the level of interest.

And a couple of weeks ago, while browsing Amazon.com, I came across this book: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3, the missing FAQ, by Victoria Bampton, also know as The Lightroom Queen. (Not to be confused with my friend Victoria Dye, who could also be a Lightroom Queen, but since I don't want to start a war for the throne, I'll just call her a Lightroom Princess. Or Empress. She's not really the princess type.)
This isn't your typical how-to-do-this-or-that Lightroom book that explains all the modules and menus and clicks. As Victoria points out, there are plenty of good books that do that already. Her book is, as the title states, the missing FAQ, that should have been included in the first place. Got a question on how to do something? Say you want to know how to expand your Export options by adding a Photoshop Droplet to the Export? There's a whole section on post processing actions and droplets.
Questions about the Print or Web modules? It's here. She also includes lots and lots of suggestions and recommendations for things like plug-ins and other pieces of software that will make your Lightroom life easier.
There's also a list of all the known shortcuts. If you've been playing with Lightroom for awhile, you already know that some things seem to be accessible only through short cuts.

The book was written as an E-Book to facilitate searching, but you can also get it in paperback form. In fact, if you buy the paperback, you can get the electronic versions for free. Versions? Yes, versions. She has PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats. And you get them all. So I have the E-Book on my PC, my Kindle, and my iPod Touch. The price is approximately $23 US, depending on the current exchange rate.
You can get the paperback through Amazon or go directly to Victoria's web page and order the E-Book and/or paperback. Since it's the same price either way, I bought the E-Book from her site, figuring she gets more money that way.
She has the book's Table of Contents on her website so you can get an idea of what's covered.
I've already learned a ton from this book. Highly recommended.

Wishing you all a happy and fulfilling 2011.