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With close-up photography, familiar
objects become unusual and abstract … and unusual objects become
even more fascinating. Whether you want to capture flowers or ripples
in a pool of water, close-up photography reveals details the eye tends
to take for granted. All you need is a digital camera, curiosity about
the world around you, a sense of adventure, and a handful of tips and
techniques. |
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Since many digital cameras are able
to get within an inch of your subject, they’re ideal for taking close-ups. But you’ll notice that
very few close-up photos are completely sharp from foreground to background.
That’s because when the camera is really close, your depth of field
(the sharp, in-focus part an image) is shorter, which can make focusing
on your subject a challenge.
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Aperture and shutter speeds |
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To
understand depth of field, it helps to understand the basics of aperture
and shutter speeds. When your shutter speed or aperture changes, your
depth of field is altered.
- Aperture is the size of the opening that allows
light in. The numbers on the aperture control are called f-stops (f16,
f11, f8, and so on). The larger the f-stop number, the smaller the
opening. You can use a lower f-number to blur the background and a
higher f-number for more depth of field.
- Shutter speed is how long the shutter stays open;
measured in seconds, it controls the amount of time that light is
allowed in. (A common shutter speed for photos taken in sunlight is
1/125 of a second.) Very short shutter speeds are used to freeze
moving subjects. Very long shutter speeds are used in low-light conditions
(like at night) or to blur a moving subject.
Aperture and shutter settings work together. And they can be used
in different combinations to produce the same exposure.
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Using depth of field for effect |
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You could use a shallow depth of field
to your advantage to make a small object stand out sharply against a
blurred background. For example, you can have a very narrow focus on
just one thing, like a flower, and throw the background and surroundings
out of focus.
Or you can try to focus on several things at once, like
a spider capturing prey in its web. Then you might want to have the
sharpest focus on the spider, but make sure the prey in the foreground
or background is reasonably sharp.
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To deal with shallow depth of field, it's
especially important to position your camera parallel to the plane on
which you are focusing. If you're shooting an insect resting at an angle
on a blade of grass, line up your camera with the body of the insect—rather
than looking at it from an angle—or only part of it will be in
focus. (Essentially, the back of your camera should be parallel to your
subject.)
If you can't get the entire subject in focus, decide what you
want to center on, and make sure it's parallel to the back of the
camera.
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The challenge in lighting close-ups is
having enough light so your camera can focus. You can increase depth
of field by increasing the illumination of the subject to narrow the
aperture. Using a flash, for example, gives you better depth of field.
And the extremely short bursts of light at close distances prevent subject
movement from blurring. The flash also helps to stop any movement.
But
sometimes a flash will change the photo’s color or cause an
overexposure because it's too close to the subject. In these cases, it
is best to provide another source of light. Get creative. Use aluminum-wrapped
cardboard or mirrors, or, if you’re inside, try different household
lamps.
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HP digital camera controls |
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Even cameras that are fully automatic have
some level of control (through programmed photo settings and even clever
use of flash lighting).
HP cameras include several special features for close-up photography.
Many models have a macro focus mode for taking close-up pictures of
subjects less than 19.5" away. With this setting, the camera will
not take a picture if it cannot find a focal point.
Several HP digital
cameras also feature an aperture priority shooting mode. Use aperture
priority mode when you want specific control over the aperture (for
example, using a lower f-stop number to blur the background or a higher
f-stop number for more depth of field). The camera automatically selects
the best shutter speed for the situation.
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Close-up photography is just the beginning
of where your newfound knowledge of exposure and shutter speeds
can take you. Buy a book on night photography and capture the stars
in the sky or the city lights. Or experiment blurring and freezing
motion shots. Before long, you'll begin to intuitively know how
to find the perfect exposure and just the right lighting. Get a
little practice with outdoor
photography to learn more.
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