LSNED 2011: The Macro Project

I’ve finally pulled together all of my shots for the LSNED Macro Photography project. In truthfulness, I had to take a few more photos this month to fill in for the days I missed. But I am happy with the format I devised for this project. Here’s a look at the mini-book that resulted.

I’m not going to post every page, because you’d be shortly be bored, but I will share some of my favorite photos, and the things I learned. You can see all the photos (but one, which got lost in iPhoto somewhere) here on my Flickr account. I took photos with all three of my cameras:  my Rebel, my Canon S95, and my iPhone.

The first thing I learned is the difference between close-up photography and macro photography. Macro assumes a 1:1 ratio between the image and the object (or greater). I like both, but I’m sure I’ll do more close-up photography than actual macro. My first image was definitely macro, and in reality wasat least twice as  large as the real flower.

Rebel with 60mm macro lens on tripod on my patio

Here, then are the things I recorded in my book, in the order I wrote them, interspersed with some of my favorite shots.

• Macro photography requires time and patience.
• Close-up photography is much more challenging “in the field.”
• A point and shoot will get you a decent close-up.
• Keep spare batteries for the remote cable release on hand.
• Check to be sure the light source is evenly distributed across the subject.
• Even at f/22 my focus is not tack sharp across the image. Light?
• Composing a macro shot is time-consuming.

Photo below taken with my S95 at Val Kill–Eleanor Roosevelt’s retreat in Hyde Park (for some reason TypePad won’t let me type a caption under this photo!)

• A side benefit to this project is learning to use my tripod more efficiently.
• The macro lens is great for card detail close-ups.
• Even the iPhone takes a good close-up.
• Close-up and macro photography causes you to see things differently.
• A tripod would really help “in the field.” I hate carrying one!
• Today I read about extension tubes. They’re not very expensive—good idea for my Christmas list.
• This shot was handheld, but the focus and sharpness is good across the image.

Taken with the S95 at the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park; handheld

• The S95 can focus within about ½ in. of the subject.
• I’ve finally mastered all the knobs and arms on my tripod.
• It appears (but I need to test this out further) that 4 ½ in. is about as close as I can get to a subject with my Rebel (60mm macro lens) and still have good focus.
• Bryan Peterson recommends the Canon 500D close-up lens, but I can’t find one that will fit my Tamron macro lens.
• While reading my manual, I came upon the “Live View” option which is recommended for macro. So much more to learn how to do!
• Optical rule: The closer you focus on a subject, the larger the subject and the shallower the DOF.

Taken with my Rebel and 28-300mm lens in the Minns Garden on the Cornell campus; handheld

• Today I learned about mirror lock-up. Recommended to use with any shutter speed below 1/15. Always use cable release as well. Another button to learn!
• Once again, I wished for my tripod. Setting up a shot and getting sharp focus takes much longer when you’re hand-holding..
• Close-up photography is great with newborns.
• Manual focusing is becoming second nature when I’m using the macro lens. I never put it on AF any more.

Taken with the Rebel, 60mm macro lens on a tripod

• Needed my desk lamp as well as the window light for this shot. Just learned about a ring flash. Wonder if that’s what I need.
• Today I learned about the Olloclip—a macro, wide-angle, and fisheye lens for the iPhone. Right to the top of my Christmas list.
• So true:  “macro . . . requires patience, stillness, focus, and breath control.” A very different state of mind than my usual! Quote from a Mortal Muses post.

Taken with the Rebel; 60mm macro lens on the tripod

And the summary I typed up for the end of the mini-book.

Key Learnings:

• Projects requiring daily obligations are not for me. I ended up taking 30 photos, but several were taken on the same day, and a few after the end of the month.
• I understand the difference between close-up and macro. I like both!
• The tripod DOES give you the sharpest shots, but I don’t often take a tripod into the field. It’s permanently set up in my studio now, so I reach for it almost every time I take a photo here. Nonetheless, some of my favorite shots for this project were handheld.
• I learned a small aperture is critical for sharpness across a macro shot, and a tripod is essential for those shots.
• Lighting is an issue for me indoors, and I’ve ordered a ringflash to see if that will solve some of the problems.
• All my cameras—the Rebel, the Canon S95, and the iPhone—take good close-up photos.
• There’s  a lot more to learn, and regular practice does pay off.

Taken at the Wild Center at Tupper Lake with the Rebel; 28-300mm lens; handheld

I probably won’t do LSNED again, but I think picking a subject, a theme, or a technique to focus on for awhile is a good way to improve your photography.