Digital Camera World - UK (2019-10)

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http://www.digitalcameraworld.com OCTOBER 2019 DIGITAL CAMERA^43

50 TIPS FOR AUTUMN

5 QUICK TIPS

FOR GETTING

UP CLOSE

HOW TO TAKE SHARPER SHOTS AND

MORE CREATIVE COMPOSITIONS

6

PRECISE FOCUS

Using Live View and Manual

focus, zoom in to a 5x or 10x

view and twist the focus ring

until you achieve optimum focus.

7

NARROW THE APERTURE

Shooting up close significantly

reduces depth of field. Set a

mid-range aperture of around

f/8 to f/11 to minimise this,

and a high ISO or a longer

shutter speed to compensate.

(^10)
THE RIGHT SUPPORT
Have your camera on a tripod
pointing straight down, so that
the plane of focus is as flat-on to
your subject as possible. Models
that have a pivoting
centre column
are useful for
this shot.
(^8)
ADAPT YOUR LENSES
A macro lens is ideal here, but
can be an expensive outlay.
Experiment by adapting your
existing lenses for close-up
work. Use close-up filters,
or try a reversing ring to turn
your lens backwards and
enhance its macro capabilities.
(^9)
JUST ADD VASELINE
To make your focus intentionally
soft and create a dreamy
aesthetic, smear a thin layer of
petroleum jelly onto a UV filter,
and screw it on to your lens.
COLOURS AND TEXTURES
4
Try capturing skeleton leaves – found in craft shops and under leaf piles
in woodlands – against a bright background with a narrow aperture. Place
them on a lightbox or tape them to a window to highlight their vein structures.
RING FLASH
5
A dedicated macro flash
will add illumination and
give you control over how your
subject is lit. Most ring flashes
have two lamps, which are set
independently. Make one side
brighter to highlight leaf textures.
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