“macro” setting. Yet, especially now with the dramatic improvements in digital sensors, it is
possible to get macro photographs with them and I’m going to show you what you need to do to
make that happen.
Let’s dive in...
Checklist
Here’s a quick checklist to consider when setting up to do a macro/close-up shot.
- Magnification – how big do you want your subject in the frame
- Distance – how close do you want to be to your subject
- Depth of Field – do you want to blur the background or make it sharp
- Plane of Focus – align the camera parallel to the subject
- Aperture – set the aperture to control the depth of field
- Shutter Speed – use the appropriate shutter speed. If there is any movement do you want to
freeze it or add motion blur. - Exposure – Ensure that your settings give you a good exposure. Take a test shot to test the
settings with the histogram feature. Do you need to use flash or increase the ISO setting? - Subject – Chose a good angle for your subject. Focus on the portion you want to be sharpest in
the frame. When photographing a living creature it is very important that the eyes be in focus. - Background – Check that your background and subject are suited. Look for anything that might
spoil the photograph in the background. - Take the photograph. Check the histogram and LCD screen to make sure you got the best
possible result. If not, recompose and take the image again until you get the image you want
and would be proud to hang on the wall!