CREATIVE PROJECTS
1
Choose a subject
Choose a flower that has a variety of colours, and some
interesting detail, and ideally one that’s positioned in partial
shade to diffuse the sunlight; if your subject is in direct sunlight you
can use the diffuser typically included in a five-in-one reflector kit to
soften the light. Set your camera on a tripod.3
Add the water
Spray your flower with a fine mist of water. You want to have
water on all the parts of the flower that will be in shot, but don’t
add too much, otherwise it will start to run off, or the flower may
become weighed down and droopy.2
Camera settings
Set your camera to aperture priority mode, and set a narrow
Aperture of f/11 to capture a good depth of field, so that most
of the flower and water drops are in sharp focus. Set a low ISO of 100
to retain optimum image quality. Even though your camera is on a
tripod, if it’s a windy day you may need to increase the ISO to enable
a fast enough shutter speed to compensate for any wind movement.4
Manual focus
Switch your lens to manual so that you can focus your shot
precisely. Enable Live View mode, and zoom in to 10x
magnification. Scroll to the centre of the flower, and then adjust the
focus until this area is sharp. Zoom out again and start shooting, using
the two-second self-timer option or a remote release to avoid camera
shake; the slightest vibration can completely ruin a macro shot.