As we already mentioned Digital Camera magazine is running its Photographer of the Year competition and we thought we'd join in the fun and perhaps learn a bit more about photography while we were at it. We got some tips from the Digital Camera team, and set Pete Gettins, production editor Miriam's infamous husband the challenge of seeing how well they worked on yarn.
Macro – Up Close and Personal
“The closer the better as far as I’m concerned,” says Pete. “As long as it’s sharp and well lit you can get really nice pattern details without much effort.”
Top tips for close up shots:
- Keep the camera absolutely still. Rest it on a table, a box or a chair if you haven’t got a tripod.
- Even lighting is key. Shoot in natural daylight but out of direct sun, outside if possible or near a window.
- Large sheets of white paper make a good backdrop.
- If your camera has a “macro” mode (often symbolized by a flower), use it.
- If the camera’s wobbling when you take a shot, use the timer so it snaps the picture once you’ve moved away.
- Take lots of shots – some will come out better than others.
- Change things around, try different back drops. Did you knit wristbands to wear at the gym? Why not shoot them with your trainers, or show your latest on-the-go sock on the bonnet of your car.
“The great thing with this is that you don’t even need a clever camera to do it. All you need is a cheap second-hand lens that you can pick up for £10 or £20 and hold it backwards in front of your built-in lens. The only problem is that you can now focus only by moving the whole camera backwards and forwards.”
The Creative & Vision category is ideally suited to interesting close-ups. Have a go – you could be Photographer of the Year 2008!
