Capture That Closeup

Posted by frankb on Dec 1, 2010 in Creative Photography Blog | 3 comments

These days with the modern zoom lens on basically all cameras, inexpensive to very expensive, it is very easy to take exciting closeups of subjects.  There is no need to get down on your hands and knees to get right up close to capture your subject.  You can get a few feet away and zoom in on the subject for the closeup.

I find the best way to capture a closeup is take the zoom lens out to its maximum magnification and have the camera focus on the center of the subject. That way your depth of field (more about that later in another blog) will be at its shortest view and everything outside the center of your photo will be blurred and out of focus….aiming all the attention at the center of the subject.

Your camera, set on automatic exposure, will determine your exposure.  I do not take many closeups, but the ones I do take are mainly of flowers.

The photos with this blog show a Camellia blossom in our back yard. The black & white view is more dramatic that a color view, I think.

The photo of the rose bush, also in our back yard was taken early in the morning and I captured a bit dew on the blossom. (A hit for those of you who want take closeups of flowers is to sprinkle a little water on the blossom just before taking the photo.. I did not do that with the Camellia although there were a couple dew drops on it.)

I am showing them one both in color and in black and white. You may chose which ones you like best.