Macro Photography Photo Workshop E-Book

Haje Jan Kamps

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Serie: Photo Workshop
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 306

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2007

Beschreibung

Special techniques for creating unique, artistic, close-up images Macro, or close-up, photography is gaining popularity, and this book covers all of the challenges associated with taking great close-ups: depth of field, focus, and exposure. Copublished with Photoworkshop.com, a leading online educational resource for both beginning and professional photographers, this task-oriented reference allows readers to learn by doing and offers outstanding examples and instructions.

Leseprobe

Macro Photography Photo Workshop

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: First Steps into a Macro World

What is Macro Photography?

The Challenge of Macro Photography

Can I Afford to be a Macro Photographer?

Why Anyone Can Take Great Macro Photographs

Try It Now

Chapter 2: Equipment

Macro on a Digital Compact Camera

Macro with a dSLR Camera

Flash and Lighting

Tripods

Chapter 3: Lighting in Macro Photography

Why Do You Need Good Lighting?

Making the Most of Natural Light

Minimizing Vibrations

Artificial Lighting

Using Light to Set the Mood

White Balance

Chapter 4: The Macro in Everyday Objects

A Different Way of Looking at the World

Action Macro Photography

Photographing Shiny Objects

Chapter 5: Flowers

Challenges when Photographing Outdoors

Selecting Flowers to Photograph

Working with Depth of Field

Lighting Techniques

Chapter 6: Textures

What are Textures?

Putting Textures into Context

Photographing Textures

Lighting Considerations

Compostition

Ideas for Textures Worth Trying

Chapter 7: Insects

Photographing Insects

Approaching Insects

Working with Insects in Their Environment

Moving Subjects and Shallow Depth of Field

Photographing Insects in Flight

Chapter 8: Abstracts

Exploring Colors

Using Selective Focus for Artistic Expression

Introducing Grain

Painting with Light

Emphasizing Obscure Details

Taking a Closer Look at Magazines

Chapter 9: People

Taking a Closer Look at Eyes

Macro-Inspired Portraiture

Chapter 10: The Digital Darkroom

Building a Digital Darkroom

Understanding What all the Buttons Do

Fixing Common Issues in Macro Photos

Photographing in RAW Format

Using High-Level Digital Editing Techniques

Appendix A: Internet Resources

Photography Communities

Learning More about Photography

Staying Current

Appendix B: Contributing Photographers

Anna Badley

Daniela Bowker

Katharina Butz

Matthieu Collomp

Miha Grobovsek

Jasmin Junger

Amy Lane

Chris Nering

Hilary Quinn

Allan Teger

Glossary

Macro Photography Photo Workshop

Haje Jan Kamps

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River StreetHoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2007 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 978-1-118-07930-0Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

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About the Author

Haje Jan Kamps graduated with a degree in International Journalism from Liverpool John Moores University, and resolutely decreed he would never work in journalism again. Instead, he started working as a freelance photographer and writer. As part of his company, Haje founded www.photocritic.org. The Web site became one of the most-visited photography blogs when one of his creations — a macro extension tube made out of a Pringles can — spread rapidly over the Internet via blogs and news Web sites.

A couple of years later, Haje decided that he preferred keeping photography as a hobby. Naturally, he started a career in journalism. Haje currently works as an editor for an automotive magazine and lives in Bristol, England. When he is not working, writing, or taking photos, Haje sleeps because there isn’t a lot of time left in the day.

Credits

Acquisitions Editor

Kim Spilker

Senior Project Editor

Cricket Krengel

Project Editor

Linda A. Harrison

Technical Editor

Michael D. Sullivan

Copy Editor

Liz Lamoreux

Editorial Manager

Robyn Siesky

Vice President & Group Executive Publisher

Richard Swadley

Vice President & Publisher

Barry Pruett

Business Manager

Amy Knies

Book Designers

LeAndra HosierTina Hovanessian

Project Coordinator

Adrienne Martinez

Graphics and Production Specialists

Jonelle BurnsJennifer MayberryBarbara MooreShelley NorrisAmanda Spagnuolo

Quality Control Technician

Cynthia Fields

Cover Design

Daniela RichardsonLarry Vigon

Proofreading and Indexing

Shannon RamseyBroccoli Information Management

Bicentennial Logo

Richard J. Pacifico

Acknowledgments

This book might never have existed without the help from several people. First and foremost, the priceless input and contributions from the photographers who became involved with the project: Hilary Quinn, Amy Lane, Miha Grobovsek, Chris Nering, Katharina Butz, Matthieu Collomp, and Jasmin Junger. The encouraging words and kind cooperation from Allan Teger were invaluable. Anna Badley suffered through many of the chapters in their early guises, and without her contributions and insights, this book would have been a lot less helpful. Also, a special thanks to Daniela Bowker for help, encouragement, proofreading, and the best lasagna known to man.

Hielke, Lizeth, Chris, Ashley, Matt, Elena, and the whole FC team: Thank you for your patience and for offering distractions when they were needed the most.

A big thank you to Linda Harrison, Liz Lamoreux, and Michael D. Sullivan for your work in developing, copy editing, and tech editing: The book is much better for your input.

Finally, Kim, Cricket, and Laura: I couldn’t have handpicked a better team to support me throughout the process of writing my first book if I had tried. It’s been a privilege working with you. Thank you.

For Shuu-shuu.

Introduction

The fascination photographers have for macro photography is similar to the obsession astrologers have with the sky above: There is a vast unknown to be discovered. You don’t necessarily need the most expensive equipment, but you do have to go looking for it.

Look around you. Can you see anything worth having a closer look at? If your answer is no, you might not be looking hard enough. Don’t worry, that is one of the things this book will help you with. In addition to giving you the tools, the theory, and the skills you need to be able to take good up-close photos, I hope the photos in this book inspire you to the point that your shutter-finger twitches like that of a gunslinger outside a saloon at high noon.

Throughout this book, I touch on all the aspects of macro photography. After a brief introduction, I jump straight into the equipment you need to work on macro photography. I talk about lighting for a while before getting into the proper photography stuff. Everyday objects, flowers, and insects are popular topics in macro photography, so I’ve given them a chapter each to really get your creative juices flowing. My personal favorites are photographing textures and abstract objects, so there are chapters on those topics as well, along with an interesting section about how you can use macro photography to capture the human body!

Finally, I show you how you can use digital image-editing techniques to fix small problems with your photos, and there are lots of tips on how to make your photos stand out more. If you still haven’t had enough of macro photography (and why would you—it’s a fantastic field well worth exploring), I’ve created a list of other resources you might want to look at in Appendix A.

Throughout this book, I might use some photography slang and jargon. If you find yourself struggling at any point, leaf to the back of the book, where I’ve compiled a glossary with words you might have trouble with. Learn them all by heart, and you can impress everyone at your local photography club with random technical terms!

Use this book as a technical guide and source of ideas and inspiration. However, don’t ever let it tell you what to do. Amazing photography springs from photographers who know all the rules, but break them for good reason.

Grab a camera and some macro tools, then get out there and break some rules.

About This Photo This photo of a match-head was taken with an extension tube I made myself out of an empty Pringles can. It was the birth of an obsession: macro photography.

Chapter 1: First Steps Into a Macro World

What is Macro Photography?

The Challenge of Macro Photography

Can I Afford to be a Macro Photographer?

Why Anyone Can Take Great Macro Photographs

Try It Now

You have purchased a camera, and you are ready to explore the world of tiny subjects, details, and small things. There is a whole new world out there to be explored, with a vast number of exciting opportunities. Everywhere around you there are fascinating patterns, shapes, and items that look amazing if you get close enough.

By the end of this chapter, you will have your first tastes of macro photography, you will understand some of the theory behind it, and you will see some astounding photos that give you something to aim for as you start honing your macro photography skills.

What is Macro Photography?

Macro photography is the art of taking pictures of subjects up close. Some photos might be of relatively large things — such as a hummingbird or a large flower — and others might be of minuscule objects, such as the compound eye of a fly. However, macro photography isn’t just about taking pictures of small things; it can also be detail shots of bigger subjects. In fact, some of the photos in this book are detail photos of skyscrapers!