Basic Digital SLR Photography - The Magic of Macro Or Close Up

Nature is packed full of amazing art. You should learn Macro photography, because it is one way of showing off your camera's magical powers.

My introduction to macro photography came a few years back when I was on vacation in Georgia. Macro photography is taking pictures at about 1:1 magnification, or even closer.

I had purchased my very first digital camera, a 3-megapixel point and shoot model.

And I was just getting to know the camera, playing around with settings and such. Since I had left my instruction manual somewhere (and who reads those things anyway), I was having some difficulty figuring out what the little symbols were for on the dial.

One or the symbols was a little flower. I had no clue what that meant, but I figured it might have something to do with the flowers that surrounded me, so I took a few shots of those. I tried to get as close as possible in order to get the detail inside the petals.

Let me tell you, those photos changed my life. I became intrigued with the idea of macro everything. My passion was to learn Macro photography.

Then, when I eventually stepped up to a DSLR, the first add on lens I bought was a Macro lens.

I highly recommend getting a dedicated Macro lens. They are well worth whatever the cost, but they are also quite versatile, because you can use them for other photo applications, such as portrait.

There are a few things to keep in mind when shooting close-up.

1. Use a tripod when possible. The closer you get to your subject, the more movement affects your shot. A tripod will save you much frustration by minimizing the possibility of movement and blur.
2. Set your aperture to a very small setting, preferably higher than f/13. The reason for this is that the closer you get, the less depth of field you have. Settings of f/13 to f/32 will give you the most detail in your shot.
3. Watch out for shadows and bright spots. Early morning is the best time for shooting just about any nature shot, but it is especially nice for close-ups. Bright sun causes harsh shadows and blown out bright spots. You can also eliminate shadows and brights by using a shade. A collapsible disc or an umbrella work nicely to reduce the effects of bright sunlight. There are even times when the shadow of your own body will save the shot for you. Be creative.
4. Avoid windy conditions. This goes along with the tripod. Any movement by your subject will ruin your image. This is another good reason to shoot early in the day when the atmosphere is the calmest.
5. Get a dedicated macro lens. This was already mentioned, but bears repeating. The right lens for the job will make your photos so much better. Lens manufacturers use special glass to accomplish the best results, and the configuration of the glass is done so that you can get much closer than when you are using any other type of lens.

Source : Ezinearticles