Taking a Closer Look at Macro Photography
The world is a marvelous place, especially when viewed close up. A small area suddenly becomes huge when you think of all the close-up shots you could take. Yet macro photography is quite different from normal photography for a number of reasons. There is a limited depth of field. Working very close causes its own set of problems, such as the creation of shadows, and a special lens must be used.
To get the best effects from your macro photography, keep the following tips in mind. Check your camera's manual to see what the range is for your macro mode. It can vary from a few inches to as much as eighteen inches. Then stay within that range. In fact, read everything in your manual about the macro mode, because this feature may require special settings.
If you are planning to take a lot of close-up shots, be sure to check the minimum focusing distance of any camera you're thinking of purchasing. The minimum focusing distance specifies how close to the subject you can place the camera. That is, it controls your ability to take close-up shots.
For a variety of reasons you're better off setting up your shot with the LCD screen. Both depth of field and parallax become serious problems with macro photography. However, the LCD monitor should show you true focus in review mode and also correct framing, which a viewfinder will not. Take a test shot before tackling any serious work. Because macro lenses focus so close, depth of field is critical. If your digicam has an adjustable ISO setting, set the sensitivity higher. This increases the depth of field, bringing your macro shot into focus. Using your onboard flash may or may not work. Usually the flash is designed to work farther than the macro range, but it doesn't hurt to try a shot or two to see what you get.
It's essential to keep the camera steady. Use a tripod or set the camera on something solid like a table or a stack of books.
If your camera offers a manual focusing feature, use it to take a great close-up shot. Some people find it easier to set the focus manually then move the camera to the point where the subject is in focus. This is because focusing in the macro mode can be very difficult unless you are experienced.
Virtually all digicams offer autofocus. Sometimes an autofocus camera also will offer focus lock. This feature lets you stipulate exactly what object the camera should focus on. Usually this is accomplished by centering the subject in the viewfinder, pressing down the shutter button halfway to lock the focus, then reframing your shot and taking the picture. Review the play-back to make sure the focus was exact. Note that this feature usually also locks in the exposure. If the object you use to focus on produces an incorrect overall exposure, you will have to rethink the shot.
In addition to shooting close to the subject, the macro mode allows you to use your camera like a scanner to make digital images of illustrations, film photographs, and other objects that could otherwise be scanned on a flatbed scanner. Make sure that the back of the camera is parallel to the illustration or the resulting shot will be distorted.
