Macro Shots: Howto?

natas · #1 (**permalink**) 03-09-2004, 04:46 PM

I was wondering if someone in here could chime in on the best way to take a Macro shot.

From my experice a Macro shot works bet without a flash. Ofter a flash will overexpose the subject.

I also noticed that when you turn the flash off, movement effects the picture greatly. A tripod is almost always required here.

Anyone got suggestions?

Here is a macro shot I took of a Hermit crab in my saltwater tank:

This pic was actually taken with out a tripod. You can see a little blur in certain parts that were cause by me moving when taking the pic, or the hermit moving.

Stormyva · #2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2004, 05:02 PM

A great photographer told me that the trick getting a pic thru glass when using a flash was to get up away from the lens of the camera and get the lens as possible to the glass as possible. The blur that you are talking about is caused by the camera moving (camera shake) or the subject moving while the shutter is open. When you are taking a picture in low light the shutter needs to stay open longer to allow the media to be exposed properly. A tripod is one way to reduce the movement. On some cameras you can set the camera to use a faster shutter speed. There are also some other ways reduce the camera shake... but I will leave that to the pros here

MythsBishop · #3 (**permalink**) 03-11-2004, 01:16 PM

John, Jules, yall aren't going to comment? Heh, yall take some of the best pics i have ever seen

John_White · #4 (**permalink**) 03-11-2004, 02:09 PM

For macro shots I prefer natural light (sun light). However, when that's not possible I use off camera flash(es). For aquarium shots I like to position the flash above the aquarium. If your photos are coming out too bright you can adjust the settings of your aperture and/or shutter speed. I try to always use a tripod.

JuliusSqueezer · #5 (**permalink**) 03-11-2004, 11:38 PM

I used to use a ring light...a flash designed for macro photography that as the name suggests, is a ring that screws on to the filter ring of the lens, but it's a pain to deal with and I have too many filter ring sized lenses to keep up with it so I have long since abandoned it. I sold the contraption onebay last year finally so I wouldn't be tempted lol. Yes Natural light is always best. If I can move the subject into my studio, I sometimes shoot in there with studio lighting - softboxes -umbrellas - reflectors etc. It is important to use off camera flash unless you use a ring light to light a macro shot with flash. If your camera does not support this by way of either a hotshoe or a pc terminal then you simply cannot do macro photos with the little builtin flash and have them come out right. when you are focusing from only an inch or two or three away, the on camera flash is not going to be angled at your subject and will over shoot most of it. What it does hit will likely become washed out and what it doesn't will be heavily shadowed. If you have an off camera flash and a pc chord, you can angle it where you need to or even hold it up and over and create something similar to natural overhead sunlight. Outside, I use a fold out reflector sometimes to direct sunlight in for fill...sometimes I get lucky and the sun has angled it's self just right...other equipment you need- either a lens with a macro setting, or if you use a point and shoot camera, they sometimes have a macro setting somewhere builtin to the camera settings...or you can use close up filters that attach to the front of the lens. They usually come in sets of different magnification so not only can you get close up but you can also magnify beyond the powers of your lens' normal range and you can even stack them and make for more magnification. Another useful tool when all else fails is to shoot as close as you can and then do some heavy cropping but you sacrifice quality for closeness when you do that in most cases.

JuliusSqueezer · #6 (**permalink**) 03-11-2004, 11:45 PM

oh...also another good tip for shooting into an aquarium is to put the lens flush up against the glass. This will eliminate glare and reflections...ESPECIALLY if you are using flash. A rubber lens hood is a great thing and will allow you some degree of swivel to get the right angle.

btw Shane, that is a great photo.

natas · #7 (**permalink**) 03-13-2004, 04:55 PM

Well I am heading to the store right now to see if I can find some lenses. I also found that they make that macro light for my camera...so I may give that a shot also. Thanks for the tips guys.

It looks as though my best bet is to defiently go buy a tripod of some sort. My hands are way to shaky for macro shots

eddie · #8 (**permalink**) 03-13-2004, 05:23 PM

Quote:

My hands are way to shaky for macro shots

I understand completely.. you can get that way when you have crabs

Lots' of info here for everyone to learn from, such as lighting techniques and that the boss has crabs

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natas · #9 (**permalink**) 03-13-2004, 08:23 PM

Yeah we need Julius and other professional photographers to come in here and hook us lamers up!

I have alot to learn...but it seems as though I may have a chance to get alot better at taking photos...I just need to learn.

Oh and I went to a camera shot that sells lenses and whatnot for Digi cams...my GOD $200 for a lense!! Guess I need to save up lol

eddie · #10 (**permalink**) 03-13-2004, 08:50 PM

This forum needs mods, why not Brett and John White as a team?

Stormyva · #11 (**permalink**) 03-15-2004, 12:24 PM

$200 for a lens thats nothing... they go way on up! I am also finding out that no matter what you have you never have the right lens for the application. I started with the "Stock" 18-55 zoom and a cheap Tamron 100-300 zoom on our 300D. Then my son got into b-ball and neither one of those lenses were "fast" enough to catch a good shot in the low light so I had to have a fixed 50mm. Then of course I had to be able to get some close ups so I had to have a 2X tele-converter and a nice set of close up filters. Now that the weather is warming up I am getting out and shooting more and want some better fixed lenses like an 85mm and 135mm .... it never stops!
The saying still holds true.... the only difference between a boy and a man is the price of his toys

mpgt · #12 (**permalink**) 12-31-2005, 02:11 PM

I have a Minolta 9xi with a Tokina 28-70 f2.8, and a 100-300 f4 lens. What's the best option for me? Should I get another lens with macro, (what focal length?), or extension tubes? I don't know about 77mm close-up filters. If they work well, they are probably expensive and hard to find.

Thanks.

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