spot mode or let you choose which focus sensor to use,
Use those features if your subject matter is indeed in the middle of the picture or somewhere
within one of the focus zones. Or, switch to manual focus if your camera offers it.
You might want to use aperture-priority mode and select the smallest f-stop available to
increase the depth-of-field. And keep in mind what you learned about how depth-of-field
is arranged: Two-thirds is allocated to the area in front of the plane of sharpest focus, and
only one-third to the area behind it.
■ Watch alignment. If you’re shooting your subject head-on, check to make sure the back
of the camera (where the sensor is located) is parallel to the plane in which your main subject
lies. That’s the plane you’ll be focusing on and where the maximum amount of sharpness
lies. If the camera is tilted in relation to the plane of the main subject, only part of
the subject will be in sharp focus. In Figure 7.13, almost all the image components are
located in relatively the same plane so that all of them are in sharp focus..
■ Stop that jiggle! If your subject is inanimate and you’re using a tripod, consider using
your digital camera’s self-timer or remote control to trip the shutter after a delay of a few
seconds. Even if you press the shutter release button cautiously, you may shake the camera
a little. Under incandescent illumination with a small f-stop, your camera will probably
be using a slow shutter speed that is susceptible to blurring with even a little camera
shake. Use of the self-timer or remote control will let the camera and tripod come to rest.
(You may also want to lock up your mirror,
■ Stop, look, listen! Wait a few seconds after you hear the camera’s shutter click before
doing anything. You might have forgotten that you’re taking a long time exposure of a
couple seconds or more! The click might have been the shutter opening, and the camera
may still be capturing the picture. If you have picture review turned on, wait until the
shot shows up on the LCD before touching the camera.
Tips for Macro Shooting
There are a few things you can do to help yourself in the Macro Photography area.
- Use a tripod. 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.
- 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.
- Check your Aperture. 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.
- Watch the light. 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.
- Watch the weather, specifically the wind. This goes along with the tripod suggestion. 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment