5 Ways to Get More From Your
Macro Photography
Macro photography is getting a lot of attention these days. When you take a picture up close with your digital camera the macro setting is the one to use. Usually you can find this setting by looking for a little flower on the back of your camera. The flower has the letters MF next to it.
Examples of Pictures Using the Macro Setting
Dew Covered Rose This close-up of a pink rose covered in dew was captured while I was in California. |
Black & White Background combined with a little photo editing to create this beautiful rose picture. |
Pink Floating Rose One minor adjustment in my photo editor made this pink rose appear to be floating in the air. |
When I first started playing with macro photography, all
of the pictures I took came out blurry. They
looked like blobs of color instead of the beautiful flowers in front of me. I nearly gave up on the whole process. But I kept trying, and today I would like to share a few of the tricks I
learned about macro photography with you. The main characteristic of all macro photography is the
focus of your main subject in the picture. The background becomes blurred
and the subject stands out in more detail. As you can see in the examples
of rose pictures on this page.
Steady that camera - I am sure you have read that a tri-pod is a must have,
especially in macro photography. If
you do not have a tri-pod (which I seldom have with me) try balancing the
camera on some part of your body. I have heard the suggestion of the face. But I found
using anything solid to steady the camera will do. I have used my knee, arm, a rock, or even just the intent of focus
works. Tri-pods are still the best method though. You can pick up a mini tri-pod at places like Wal-Mart or Target usually under $20.00. And the funny thing is if your camera is attached to a tri-pod you can hold it more steady even just by holding the legs. But really nothing beats a good steady focus with a good sturdy tri-pod. You will be glad you took the extra time and effort. Using
LCD Instead of Viewfinder - LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. When I first got my camera I would use the viewfinder to take
all of my pictures. This was a
carry over from my film camera days I think. Then as I learned more about
the digital camera I discovered that my pictures come out better if I use
the LCD display. This setting
uses up the batteries faster but the results are worth it. I have talked to some people who say it is hard to use the LCD because they can't see the picture. And I must admit that there are times when I am not sure if my shot is clear or not. Needing glasses to read, there are times when I don't notice that my picture is blurry until I load it onto my computer. But even so, using the display instead of the viewfinder at least helps me to compose my pictures before I take the shot. Turn
off the flash - There are a few things that are common in almost every point and shoot camera. The pictures on this page were taken with a 3.5 mega pixel the Canon Powershot A510. One of the first things I noticed was that the flash distorts colors. The flash seemed to give an orange cast to my pictures. The best pictures are produced with a low, natural light. While using the flash can give your pictures just the effect you are looking for, I wouldn't say it is natural. You can purchase separate lighting that will bring in a whole different look and feel to your photos. But for that natural soft look that enhances the beauty of your flowers it is best to turn off that flash. Step
Back - I recently discovered that when the flowers are really tiny, the
macro photography setting works best from farther away. So step a little
back and zoom in to get the best focus on that tiny flower. As we nature lovers know, some wild flowers are amazingly beautiful
when you bring them up close. This step is where using the LCD for taking your pictures really pulls its weight. You can actually see your tiny flower come in and out of focus as you move your camera back. Take your time with this and eventually you will be snapping faster and faster. Once I realized the smaller flowers are better from a distance it became second nature to check my display for clarity. Play
with the brightness - One really handy tool on your point and shoot camera is the light meter. This tool is only available in manual mode with my Canon S5 IS. It is true that the most creative pictures can be taken when you have your camera set to the manual mode. Not all point and shoot cameras come with this mode though. My old camera was not as easy to adjust the light settings as this new one. But even if you don't want to use manual mode to adjust the brightness of your picture, it can wait till you upload your photograph. Use your photo editor to enhance the photo to look the way you
envisioned it in the park. They
can sometimes even look a little better. I find that if I lower the brightness, and raise the contrast, I get
some very impressive results. Most of the macro photography examples used on this page happen to be roses but you
can use this setting on any type of flower. I have even used the macro
setting on insects, mushrooms, and a variety of other nature pictures. Macro photography may seem a little hard at first but
the rewards are well worth the effort. I
hope these tips will help you to bring nature into a close-up focus.
Enjoy those beautiful wildflowers, roses, daisies and more in a different light.
When you are using the Macro setting on your camera there is one thing you must keep in mind. The eye of your camera seems to have a mind of it's own sometimes. Notice in these three images how the focus was off just a little. It doesn't take a lot to alter the focus of your picture. In these pictures it appears that depth of field got confused with macro doesn't it? Sometimes the results can be fun to play with in a digital art atmosphere. But when you have in mind to take a clear picture of the flower in front of you it can be frustrating to upload your picture to find that the flower is out of focus and the background very clear. Playing with the f-stop and aperture can correct this.
Return from Macro Photography Are you a photographer looking for tips to selling photography online? Here is a course that will get you started on the road to success. No matter what your service or product, 7 Keys to Creating Online Success will get you moving in the best direction. And best of all it's free when you join today! Your lessons will arrive in your inbox once a week. You will also receive the Nature Tales Ezine twice a month that will keep you up to date with tips, tricks and stories worth sharing. You will also receive 7 Days to Better Photography a must read for beginner or professional photographer.
5 ways to get more from your macro photography:
When The Camera Gets Confused
Join Nature Tales And Turn Your Hobby Into A Successful Online Business
