Have you ever seen a beautiful flower somewhere and tried to capture a photograph of it, only to have it turn out blurry? This is something that many people have trouble with. Perhaps it was the camera at fault, the lighting, the wind blowing, or the photographer themselves. Almost anything can mess up a good close up photo. That is why there is a special setting designated to capturing them. It is called, “macro” and this little setting can immediately improve your chances, but even it is not full proof. A gust of wind at the wrong time or a shaky hand when you push the button can spell disaster. Before you give up, consider these tips on how to capture a great macro photo that will be worthy of showing off.
Understanding Macro
Before you push that macro button or buy a special lens for your DSLR camera, it is important to understand what a macro image is truly all about. It is a feature that allows you to not only capture an object in a close up, but it should also magnify it large enough that you can make out individual details of the item you took the photo of. This means that instead of you having a flower that ends up looking like a ball you should, when successful, be able to see all of the details of your flower. The same can be said for insects, pebbles, birds, or all other things.
Playing With Macro
The only way to ever achieve a great macro shot is to play with it. Taking a macro photo, according to most people, is best left for anyone who has a DSLR camera because you can experiment with a variety of options once you get a macro lens. For instance, adjusting wider or larger lens apertures can throw in more blur or focus in some areas while others remain clear. Playing around with it will also enable you to test out all natural lighting situations to see what you like the best.
The good news is, if you already have a more basic point and shoot camera, they are also able to take good macro photographs. If you have manual camera settings your success rate can increase drastically by following the same tips as with the DSLR cameras.
Choose Your Target Wisely
One thing people do not realize when they attempt to take a macro photo is that the background matters. Most macro photos focus on one centralized item. The rest will be slightly blurred. However, if you are taking a photo of an insect and all around it are colors that match it or a ton of grass and leaves, the focus of your photo may not be the bug. Keep this in mind, regardless of what you are taking a macro photo of. Less is definitely more when it comes to the background of your image.
Manual Focus, Auto Lighting
Using a camera flash while taking macro shots is usually counterproductive. The bright flash of light will scare away a living target, if the noise doesn’t, but it will also white them out. Natural colors are something that makes a great macro photo and you will never get it from a flash. The focus also comes into play because you want it to focus on your subject, not other areas.
Keep It Steady
Steady hands are also a requirement when exploring the macro world of photography. Most people recommend that whether you are using a point and shoot or a DSLR, you are better off using a tripod to ensure that there is no chance of shaky hands when you are trying to focus your camera. This may not always be practical if you just happen to come across a beautiful butterfly or a unique looking item while out camping. In this case, you simply have to hope that you have practiced enough to succeed without a shaky hand.
Regardless of the type of camera you have or the subject that you want to photograph, macro can be a very fun thing to play with. You simply have to take the time to learn how to capture a great macro photo.