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DigitalScape Photography Shooting Macro Images Shooting Macro Images www.DigitalScapePhotography.com www.DigitalScapePhotography.com Copyright © 2012 – John J. Holland, All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2012 – John J. Holland, All Rights Reserved.

DigitalScape Photography Shooting Macro Images © 2012 – John J. Holland, All Rights Reserved

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Page 1: DigitalScape Photography Shooting Macro Images  © 2012 – John J. Holland, All Rights Reserved

DigitalScape Photography

Shooting Macro ImagesShooting Macro Images

www.DigitalScapePhotography.comwww.DigitalScapePhotography.com Copyright © 2012 – John J. Holland, All Rights Reserved.Copyright © 2012 – John J. Holland, All Rights Reserved.

Page 2: DigitalScape Photography Shooting Macro Images  © 2012 – John J. Holland, All Rights Reserved

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Overview

Macro images are a challenge – Macro images are a challenge – everything comes into playeverything comes into playEquipmentEquipmentDOF (Depth Of Field/Focus)DOF (Depth Of Field/Focus)Lighting/IlluminationLighting/IlluminationExposureExposureCompositionComposition

TipsTips

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Setting up the Shot

Everything impacts everythingEverything impacts everythingApertureApertureShutter SpeedShutter SpeedFocal DistanceFocal DistanceFocal LengthFocal Length ISOISO IlluminationIllumination

No one and only way to shootNo one and only way to shoot

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Equipment

Macro LensMacro Lens Longer focal length – longer working distanceLonger focal length – longer working distance Longer focal length means shallower DOFLonger focal length means shallower DOF

Extension tubes can be used to reduce the Extension tubes can be used to reduce the minimum focal distance.minimum focal distance.

External lightingExternal lighting FlashFlash Continuous LightingContinuous Lighting

Flashlight (use a LED type)Flashlight (use a LED type) Video lighting sourceVideo lighting source

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Equipment

TripodTripodCable ReleaseCable ReleaseShooting TentShooting TentReflectors/DiffusersReflectors/DiffusersExposure MeterExposure Meter

Camera meters can “lie”Camera meters can “lie”Filters/GelsFilters/GelsAn assistant sometimes helpsAn assistant sometimes helps

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My Equipment Canon 7D or Canon 40DCanon 7D or Canon 40D Canon EF180mm f/3.5L USM MacroCanon EF180mm f/3.5L USM Macro Canon Macro Twin Light MTCanon Macro Twin Light MT

Shown with Sto-fen diffusersShown with Sto-fen diffusers SLIK Titanium TripodSLIK Titanium Tripod

Center column can be shortenedCenter column can be shortened Really Right Stuff L BracketReally Right Stuff L Bracket Really Right Stuff BH-40 LR BallheadReally Right Stuff BH-40 LR Ballhead Lucas Macro Flash BracketLucas Macro Flash Bracket Sekonic-358 Light MeterSekonic-358 Light Meter Canon Timer Remote ControllerCanon Timer Remote Controller

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DOF

DOF components/factorsDOF components/factorsAperture Aperture (increase f/stop, increase DOF)(increase f/stop, increase DOF)

Distance to subject Distance to subject (increase distance, increase (increase distance, increase DOF)DOF)

Lens focal length Lens focal length (increase focal length, decrease (increase focal length, decrease DOF)DOF)

Sensor size Sensor size (increase sensor size, decrease DOF)(increase sensor size, decrease DOF)

Focus: spot on because the DOF is Focus: spot on because the DOF is very small/shallowvery small/shallow

Use DOF to isolate subjectUse DOF to isolate subject

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Lighting

Natural lighting is great, but a lot of Natural lighting is great, but a lot of times it is insufficient for the desired times it is insufficient for the desired shutter speed / aperture settingshutter speed / aperture setting Increase the ISO – will introduce more Increase the ISO – will introduce more

noise into the captured image.noise into the captured image.This can be mitigated to some extent with This can be mitigated to some extent with

software (i.e. Lightroom, PhotoShop, Noise software (i.e. Lightroom, PhotoShop, Noise Ninja, Noiseware) Ninja, Noiseware)

Add external lightingAdd external lighting

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Lighting

Flash – for fill or primary lightingFlash – for fill or primary lightingNeed to diffuse the light to soften Need to diffuse the light to soften

shadowsshadowsSoftboxSoftboxUmbrellaUmbrella

Best to be off cameraBest to be off cameraSourcesSources

Single: i.e. Canon Speedlight 580EXSingle: i.e. Canon Speedlight 580EXDual: i.e. Canon Macro Twin Light MT-24EXDual: i.e. Canon Macro Twin Light MT-24EXRing: i.e. Canon Ring Flash MR-14EXRing: i.e. Canon Ring Flash MR-14EX

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Exposure

Subject and BackgroundSubject and Background

Both images shot at same

time of the day; ~1 f-stop

difference in shutter speed

f/11, 1/15 second, flash f/11, 1/6 second, flash

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Exposure

Use histogram display, if your camera Use histogram display, if your camera has it.has it.Don’t blow out the highlightsDon’t blow out the highlightsDon’t underexpose the shadowsDon’t underexpose the shadows

Watch color blow-outsWatch color blow-outsWhites, reds, yellows are easy to blow outWhites, reds, yellows are easy to blow outLose the detailsLose the details

Your camera meter can and will “lie”Your camera meter can and will “lie”

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Exposure

Expose for the details/textureExpose for the details/texture

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Composition

Know the various composition “rules”Know the various composition “rules” i.e. rule of thirds, leading linesi.e. rule of thirds, leading linesReally guidelinesReally guidelines

Don’t center the subject in frameDon’t center the subject in frameDon’t shoot straight on – looks flatDon’t shoot straight on – looks flatKnow when to break the “rules”Know when to break the “rules”Make the viewer’s eye move aroundMake the viewer’s eye move around

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Composition

BackgroundBackgroundDon’t let it distract/detract from the Don’t let it distract/detract from the

subjectsubjectUse DOF to softly blur; separate the Use DOF to softly blur; separate the

subjectsubjectDefine/control the backgroundDefine/control the background

f/8, 1/250 second, flash f/16, 1/250 second, flash, black background

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Composition

Centered, but has symmetry

Soft, diffused background

Very shallow DOF

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Tips

Shutter SpeedShutter SpeedFreeze the subjectFreeze the subjectFreeze any camera motionFreeze any camera motion

Aperture and DOFAperture and DOFUse DOF to blur out unwanted backgroundUse DOF to blur out unwanted backgroundAperture affects ambient light collectedAperture affects ambient light collected

Use FlashUse FlashDiffuse the light source to soften shadowsDiffuse the light source to soften shadows

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Tips

Use a tripodUse a tripodStable platformStable platformBest way to do long exposuresBest way to do long exposures

Remote release (or camera’s timer)Remote release (or camera’s timer)Minimize camera movementMinimize camera movement

Use a shooting tent for even lightingUse a shooting tent for even lightingVisualize what you want to captureVisualize what you want to capture

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Tips

Bugs/CrittersBugs/CrittersShoot in a natural settingShoot in a natural settingWatch to predict behaviorWatch to predict behaviorBring bug spray – for youBring bug spray – for youShoot at same level as subjectShoot at same level as subject

Shoot at different settingsShoot at different settingsFind the one you likeFind the one you likeNote the EXIF dataNote the EXIF data

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Tips

Time of Day / WeatherTime of Day / WeatherEarly morningEarly morning

““Golden” hourGolden” hourCooler temperatures – critters are not Cooler temperatures – critters are not

movingmovingMorning dew can add interestMorning dew can add interestLow wind speedsLow wind speeds

Late afternoon/early eveningLate afternoon/early eveningCloudy skiesCloudy skies

Soft/even lightSoft/even light

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Tips

Use focus stacking to get deeper Use focus stacking to get deeper DOFDOFPhotoshopPhotoshopZerene StackerZerene StackerHelicon FocusHelicon FocusCombineZP CombineZP

The image above was done with 6 images (slices)

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Tips

Shoot RAW formatShoot RAW formatControl of white balanceControl of white balanceCan “save” marginal shotCan “save” marginal shotCan’t save out of focus or motion blurCan’t save out of focus or motion blur

Learn to “develop”/process your Learn to “develop”/process your imagesimagesLightRoomLightRoomPhotoshop (PhotoShop Elements)Photoshop (PhotoShop Elements)Lots of plug-ins/filters to helpLots of plug-ins/filters to help

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Tips Practice, Practice, PracticePractice, Practice, Practice Patience, Patience, PatiencePatience, Patience, Patience

If you like the results – Fantastic! If others If you like the results – Fantastic! If others like the results – icing on the cakelike the results – icing on the cake

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More Examples

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Summary

Everything impacts everythingEverything impacts everythingApertureApertureShutter SpeedShutter SpeedFocal DistanceFocal DistanceFocal LengthFocal Length ISOISO IlluminationIllumination

No one and only way to shootNo one and only way to shoot

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Thank You

Any questions?Any questions?

You can contact me via e-mail at: You can contact me via e-mail at: [email protected]@DigitalScapePhotography.com