M1CDQ
Member
- Messages
- 207
I like to dabble in taking pics and I have several cameras. but what Im going to try and do here is a simple guide for taking close up pics.
I do have a digital SLR camera and doing closeup or Macro photography is a big subject in itself.But I will be working on the average small point and click compact digital cam as most people have
Most digital cams the shutter button has 2 postions
If you press the button about halfway down you can hear/see the camera trying to focus on the object your are taking the pic off.
Alot of people just point the camera at subject and press button fully.often the camers does not focus properly.If you half press the button you will see if its focused if not move back a little and try again.
a lot of cams have a focus are shown on the lcd screen with marks like these [ ] it will focus on what in between the marks
once the camera has got the subject in focus press the button all the way and take pic
It does help a lot if camera is mounted on a tripod .Dont worry if you dont have one a book or a small bean bag will help to keep camera steady. most camers have whats called a marco setting look for a button with this Icon
when the camera is in macro mode it will let you focus a little closer
the camera i will use for this demo is a Fujifilm Finepix A210
the camera is set at mix resolution 3.2 mega pixels .I never set the camera to anything else.nothing worse than getting a great pic and finind you took it at a lower resolution and find you cant enlarge it
If using a phone camera support the phone as best as you can.I use this
and get as much light on subject as poss
Here is a pic taken in normal mode at its closest where it would focus.I checked the focus by just half pressing the shutter button.Most cameras will give an indication when in focus or out of focus this one give a red AF! when out of focus
Link to full size pic http://m1cdq.co.uk/pics/migwelder/normal.jpg
now same pic taken in macro mode with the camera as close as i would get before it would not focus any more
for full size http://m1cdq.co.uk/pics/migwelder/marco1small.jpg
this pic is the same as above but I have cropped and zoomed 200%
I have not zoomed in on these pics only the last one all i have done is resize the from the original size down to a size for the forum.they are about 35% of the original size.
On both shots I turned the flash Off and only used the light in the room.
If i was to take pics in the workshop or garage i would use extra lights.Like a halogen workshop light to get as mush light on the subject as poss
if you can light the subject from 2 sides.
If you have to use the built in flash and find its too harsh.Stick a fag paper over it to diffuse the light or a bit of white toilet papet.
If your using flash and it has a shiny surface or glass.try to take pic at an angle and not straight at it other wise the flash will reflect back and make the picture darker or if you can turn the flash off and rest the camera on something.also if taking pics through Glass get as close as poss or even rest lens on glass as camera will try to focus on the glass and not whats behind it
example a pic taken of the engine room on the royal yacht through glass
taken with out flash. its a bit shakey as it was taken hand holding the camera.I could not rest lens on glass
I will try to add a bit more to this over the next few days
I do have a digital SLR camera and doing closeup or Macro photography is a big subject in itself.But I will be working on the average small point and click compact digital cam as most people have
Most digital cams the shutter button has 2 postions
If you press the button about halfway down you can hear/see the camera trying to focus on the object your are taking the pic off.
Alot of people just point the camera at subject and press button fully.often the camers does not focus properly.If you half press the button you will see if its focused if not move back a little and try again.
a lot of cams have a focus are shown on the lcd screen with marks like these [ ] it will focus on what in between the marks
once the camera has got the subject in focus press the button all the way and take pic
It does help a lot if camera is mounted on a tripod .Dont worry if you dont have one a book or a small bean bag will help to keep camera steady. most camers have whats called a marco setting look for a button with this Icon
when the camera is in macro mode it will let you focus a little closer
the camera i will use for this demo is a Fujifilm Finepix A210
If using a phone camera support the phone as best as you can.I use this
and get as much light on subject as poss
Here is a pic taken in normal mode at its closest where it would focus.I checked the focus by just half pressing the shutter button.Most cameras will give an indication when in focus or out of focus this one give a red AF! when out of focus
Link to full size pic http://m1cdq.co.uk/pics/migwelder/normal.jpg
now same pic taken in macro mode with the camera as close as i would get before it would not focus any more
for full size http://m1cdq.co.uk/pics/migwelder/marco1small.jpg
this pic is the same as above but I have cropped and zoomed 200%
I have not zoomed in on these pics only the last one all i have done is resize the from the original size down to a size for the forum.they are about 35% of the original size.
On both shots I turned the flash Off and only used the light in the room.
If i was to take pics in the workshop or garage i would use extra lights.Like a halogen workshop light to get as mush light on the subject as poss
if you can light the subject from 2 sides.
If you have to use the built in flash and find its too harsh.Stick a fag paper over it to diffuse the light or a bit of white toilet papet.
If your using flash and it has a shiny surface or glass.try to take pic at an angle and not straight at it other wise the flash will reflect back and make the picture darker or if you can turn the flash off and rest the camera on something.also if taking pics through Glass get as close as poss or even rest lens on glass as camera will try to focus on the glass and not whats behind it
example a pic taken of the engine room on the royal yacht through glass
taken with out flash. its a bit shakey as it was taken hand holding the camera.I could not rest lens on glass
I will try to add a bit more to this over the next few days
They become mirrors and show what is all over the room. Using a piece of paper between the flash and the lens (usually slanted up at 45 degrees) will hep prevent flash flare. Also, hold a piece of paper above and behind the piece to reflect the flash down from another angle. Will give better depth perception.
