Basic Digital Camera Shooting Techniques
Macro Shooting Tips
Always use a tripod or camera support when shooting up close as this can make a huge difference to the final result!
Also, always use the camera’s Self-timer feature. This trips the shutter ten seconds after the shutter button is pressed allowing the camera to settle and stop vibrating.
Exposure Compensation
Set the lens to Aperture Priority (‘A’ or ‘Av’) and then dial in an f-stop (aperture) to the highest number available (usually this is f8).
This should make everything in the shot much clearer than if you simply shoot on ‘Auto’.
Note: DSLR users will enjoy a far greater impact to their photo-taking than consumer camera users when employing this ‘deep focus’ shooting method…
Pretty much all digital cameras (compact and DSLR) have a feature called Exposure Compensation. You use this in Program Mode to override what the camera ‘thinks’ is an OK exposure. If you shoot subjects that are primarily white or black, you’d use this feature to compensate for the camera’s habit of averaging everything out to a yukky mid-grey.
If your subject is mid-grey, leave it alone!
Always check the picture on the LCD screen and, if it looks a bit dark, set the exposure compensation to a ‘plus’ value.
If’s too light, set it to a minus value.
Where can I find this feature? In some cameras you must press the Menu button, in others it’s a small +/- symbol button.
Stuff to remember:
Don’t trample the flowers!
Don’t try this when it’s windy.
Even in Macro mode it’s possible to go too close and it’s also just as easy to be too far away from the subject. Check the camera manual to find out your camera’s (Macro) shooting range. Try to shoot the subject square-on: this should help to get more stuff in focus than if you simply bend over the subject and shoot at an angle of 45%!
Control Your Flash Output
Flash, especially once reduced (by setting it to a minus output value through the Flash Exposure Compensation menu) might improve the look of some macro close-up shots.
Most close-up shots don’t require the flash so make sure that it’s switched Off in the menu or by pressing the flash program button to get this symbol appearing.
