| Nature is packed full of wonderful art. Macro, or | | | | shooting close-up. |
| close-up, photography is one way of exposing | | | | 1. Use a tripod when possible. The closer you get |
| your digital 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 initial digital camera, a | | | | that the closer you get, the less depth of field |
| 3-megapixel compact digital 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 |
| actually even scans those things anyway), I was | | | | any nature shot, but it is especially nice for |
| having some frustration figuring out what the little | | | | close-ups. Bright sun causes harsh shadows and |
| icons were for on the dial. | | | | blown out bright spots. You can also eliminate |
| One or the symbols was a little flower. I was | | | | shadows and brights by using a shade. A |
| clueless as to what that meant, but I ultimately | | | | collapsible disc or an umbrella work nicely to |
| figured it might have something to do with the | | | | reduce the effects of bright sunlight. There are |
| flowers that were all around me, so I took a few | | | | even times when the shadow of your own body |
| photos of those. I attempted to get as near as | | | | will save the shot for you. Be creative. |
| possible so as to get the details of the beautiful | | | | 4. Avoid windy conditions. This goes along with |
| flower petals. | | | | the tripod. Any movement by your subject will |
| Let me tell you, those images transformed my | | | | ruin your image. This is another good reason to |
| existence. I became intrigued with the idea of | | | | shoot early in the day when the atmosphere is |
| macro every thing. When I eventually moved up | | | | the calmest. |
| to a DSLR, the first add on lens I bought was a | | | | 5. Get a dedicated macro lens. This was already |
| Macro lens. | | | | pointed out, but bares repeating. The correct lens |
| I seriously recommend getting a dedicated Macro | | | | for the application will make your photos so much |
| lens. They are well worth whatever the price, and | | | | superior. Lens producers use special glass to |
| they are also really multipurpose, because you can | | | | accomplish the best results, and the configuration |
| make use of them for various other photography | | | | of the glass is done so that you can get much |
| applications, such as portrait. | | | | closer than when you are using any other type of |
| There are a few things to keep in mind when | | | | lens. |