| Nature is packed full of amazing art. You should | | | | |
| learn Macro photography, because it is one way | | | | 1. Use a tripod when possible. The closer you get |
| of showing off your camera's magical powers. | | | | to your subject, the more movement affects |
| My introduction to macro photography came a | | | | your shot. A tripod will save you much frustration |
| few years back when I was on vacation in | | | | by minimizing the possibility of movement and blur. |
| Georgia. Macro photography is taking pictures at | | | | 2. Set your aperture to a very small setting, |
| about 1:1 magnification, or even closer. | | | | preferably higher than f/13. The reason for this is |
| I had purchased my very first digital camera, a | | | | that the closer you get, the less depth of field |
| 3-megapixel point and shoot model. | | | | you have. Settings of f/13 to f/32 will give you |
| And I was just getting to know the camera, | | | | the most detail in your shot. |
| playing around with settings and such. Since I had | | | | 3. Watch out for shadows and bright spots. Early |
| left my instruction manual somewhere (and who | | | | morning is the best time for shooting just about |
| reads those things anyway), I was having some | | | | any nature shot, but it is especially nice for |
| difficulty figuring out what the little symbols were | | | | close-ups. Bright sun causes harsh shadows and |
| for on the dial. | | | | blown out bright spots. You can also eliminate |
| One or the symbols was a little flower. I had no | | | | shadows and brights by using a shade. A |
| clue what that meant, but I figured it might have | | | | collapsible disc or an umbrella work nicely to |
| something to do with the flowers that surrounded | | | | reduce the effects of bright sunlight. There are |
| me, so I took a few shots of those. I tried to get | | | | even times when the shadow of your own body |
| as close as possible in order to get the detail | | | | will save the shot for you. Be creative. |
| inside the petals. | | | | 4. Avoid windy conditions. This goes along with |
| Let me tell you, those photos changed my life. I | | | | the tripod. Any movement by your subject will |
| became intrigued with the idea of macro | | | | ruin your image. This is another good reason to |
| everything. My passion was to learn Macro | | | | shoot early in the day when the atmosphere is |
| photography. | | | | the calmest. |
| Then, when I eventually stepped up to a DSLR, | | | | 5. Get a dedicated macro lens. This was already |
| the first add on lens I bought was a Macro lens. | | | | mentioned, but bears repeating. The right lens for |
| I highly recommend getting a dedicated Macro | | | | the job will make your photos so much better. |
| lens. They are well worth whatever the cost, but | | | | Lens manufacturers use special glass to |
| they are also quite versatile, because you can use | | | | accomplish the best results, and the configuration |
| them for other photo applications, such as | | | | of the glass is done so that you can get much |
| portrait. | | | | closer than when you are using any other type of |
| There are a few things to keep in mind when | | | | lens. |
| shooting close-up. | | | | |