Macro Photography

Dear Viewers and Fellow Photographers,

There are a lot of photos on the internet featuring close ups of plants and flowers, with the label "macro". However, macro photography is not as easy as just taking a photo with the correct focus.

Macro photography can take place in many places, not just plants or insects. For example, the if you want to take a portrait, you may use a macro lens or take it in macro mode, because that will mean that the photo will be clearer and will focus on only the face. Also, macro photography is an excellent alternative to zooming into the little details, because when you take photographs at that range then you can crop out details later, because zooming in can be a little tricky, for example the camera then experiences a lot of movement and the image blurs, or the image quality decreases and other problems like so.

Some examples of macro photography I found on the internet which inspired me quite a lot are shown below:

 

http://www.all-wallpapers.net/wallpaper/nature-insects-macro-ladybirds/

http://www.iwallpapersfive.com/blue-berry-macro-wallpaper-1080p.html

http://www.newtech-enews.com/2012/06/06/stunning-macro-photograph-of-insect-eyes/

 

 

The thing that makes macro photography special and appealing is that it shows the detail of life around us we just don't notice. This is because the focus and clarity the photo goes into is one that a naked eye cannot see. It also gives us a sense of scale for how detailed our universe is.

 

What the key is to taking macro photos like the ones above is not simply the equipment. It takes immense skill to get the right focus for such objects, and it all comes down to what you want the photo to be. The last photo, the one with the eyes of the picture, show the exceptionally well. The photographer has carefully chosen the thing he wanted to photograph, in this case it was the drops on the insect's eyes.

For taking macro photography with such detail takes time to take and set up also. Taking these types of photos seem like just going round, finding a detailed object, focus, click, and finish, however many people find it very difficult to get the best snapshot of that time, especially when they are taking pictures of moving things like pets, insects, etc.

One thing I have noticed when taking photos of close up things is it is easier to auto-focus when you are zoomed in. For example, reckon there was a flower I wanted to take a photo of, then first of all I would get up close to it, if it doesn't auto-focus and I was feeling lazy, then I would take a step back and zoom in then try to focus into the flower again. This works most of the time for me, however most of the time I would just swap my lens.
Note: This Technique only works with the manual zoom lens, so if you have a digital camera, you cannot use this method.

This is the basics of Macro photography, however, there will be more on this topic later.

Yours Truly,
Snapography. 

 

The Common Camera Types - Good or Bad?

Dear Viewers and Fellow Photographers,

We all know the disappointing feeling victims worldwide get when they buy any camera which they are not pleased with and don't do what they want it to. I am unable to list all the cameras I recommend, or even, I don't recommend, but it is a good thing to be aware. This selection of cameras are ones which can be good and bad.

http://demo4.magentocommerce.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/r/argus_5.jpg

The type of camera shown above is highly unrecommended if you want to do real photography. Cameras which are the worst of their range can have worse image quality than phones like the HTC One. In fact, not all of these types of cameras are useless; if you get well known companies such as Nikon or Canon, go to the most expensive camera of this sort, and (almost certainly it will be too expensive) cancel out from up there the features you don't need. These types of cameras don't work well at night as their flash makes the picture Over Exposed and are only suitable for still day trips where there is a lot of natural light. Indoors or at night, movement at any setting on these cameras don't work.

Also, companies like FujiFilm have a lot of quality range in their equipment. You can get really bad cameras for a relatively high price if you don't look carefully. Recommended items from FujiFilm are things like half-SLR, half-digital cameras called CSCs. The new X-10 is a good addition, however there is an issue with a white disc appearing on the viewfinder/screen. Make sure you research properly reviews of customers which have previously used the camera you want, and don't rush choices.

http://attach.forum.ge/post-58-1368199538.jpg

The next type of camera is the misleading digital camera which looks like one which could be used as a professional camera. Usually, if you buy a camera of this sort for a high price then you will get a camera with high mega pixels and good daylight landscape photography and you could end up with almost brilliant macro photos in natural light. This type of camera is highly unrecommended if you are searching for a good low light camera, and one that lets you take extremely imaginative photos. Also, in this camera you get a lot of noise in the picture, which makes your photo look digitised and very unnatural. I have this sort of camera, a FujiFilm, and it was a great camera for taking close ups in the daylight, however not perfect for indoor parties etc.

http://www.dcresource.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/gallery_large/reviews/sony-alpha-nex-7/camera-front-angled.jpg

The camera I was talking about a few sentences back, the CSC's, are for people who want a small, but professional camera. These cameras are sometimes called Mirrorless Cameras and are all rounders. It is great for experimental photography but don't have the perfect feel of a SLR. A CSC could be very good, however some of them are not the best. The best ranges for these sorts of cameras are the expensive Sony Alpha, FujiFilm X, Lumix G and Olympus OM-D. If you buy any sort of these type of cameras they would usually be good, but don't take any chances. The rapidly rising Samsung NX series have had some doubts put up, but in fact they are pretty good. These cameras have a high megapixel count, which means they have a bigger sensor. Also, you can buy different lenses, which means the lens can be taken off just like SLRs, however the only draw back is that the series has there only special lens range which can be pretty small, but for good photography, it is enough. Also you can order a special lens you wish to have by good lens makers in the market, but this is extremely expensive.
These are the most common type of Cameras, and I hope you have got a feel for what they each are like, their positives and negatives and what camera would suit what occasion.

Yours truly,
Snapography.

Object Positioning

Dear Viewers and Fellow Photographers,

Object Positioning. It is a concept many common people are aware of, and it is pretty self explanatory however it is a skill that many photographers are born with. However, if you weren't born with it, don't worry about it... you have probably already mastered the skill. The main places you can position the objects are as follows:

(P.S: All the photos used on this Blog are produced by me, unless a link is displayed below)

The red crosses shown above are positions where the object is usually placed and focused when taking a photo. These are just some of the usual ones, however there can be other ones, like this:

You can see the yellow crosses as where you could place the object you are trying to capture, or if you are trying to capture a background, then use a higher F-Point and use one of the yellow crosses to focus on it too.

Object Positioning is a very useful and a very basic technique used for good photographs. You can use this techniques to arise many emotions if you use lighting; you can use shadows and make the object on the left of the photograph and this will mean long shadows can be created on the other side. Also, you can use the sun to create a very dramatic effect:

http://annemckinnell.com/2011/01/18/8-types-of-natural-light-that-will-add-drama-to-your-photographs/

The picture above has been taken by a skilled photographer. Observe the photo carefully, and then you arouse many different feelings in you, a very touching shot. The main object in this photo are the rock stumps, I guess at Lands End in Cornwall, UK. The larger rock, the absolute focus of the picture, shades the sun half way, creating lovely, sharp rays of natural light, which goes perfectly well with the soft rays next to it.

Object Positioning is a very useful technique that you can use whenever, and although you use it almost every time you take a photo, to know the details and why it is works well.

Yours truly,
Snapography.

Photography.

Dear Viewers and Fellow Photographers,

I welcome you to the world of photography. Photography is an interesting idea and approach of an art which accepts natural wonders and abstract features. On the blog, I will be discussing tricks and ideas over Photography.

Photography - A concept...

Photography is a way of communicating to the wider world be sharing a slice of time at one particular angle. It is very renowned amongst creative minds, especially young ones trying to express there feelings and emotions, usually because no one will take them seriously (I have had experience). So, young or old, photography is a deep and compelling thing. Like art, none the different, and very effectual. Photography is a great thing, however it is sad to know that people forget how to enjoy the hobby of taking a frame out of the whole scene, in an astonishing way with to communicate with the rest of the people.

Cameras, Equipment

Cameras are usually very important. There are some I would certainly not recommend, and some I will, for the respective person. I have had a lot experience with some great pieces of technology by some incredible companies, and I think that to take great photos, you do not necessarily have to have the best camera out there. Although, some equipment may limit your creative range and will just not let you capture exactly what you see through your own eyes.

Does it help?

Well, once we take a photo for the first time, you think, 'Wow, lets try another'. But then you grow more mature and get bombarded by ideas of getting a good education and managing time well, and then you drop all the time taking material, which include your hobbies and, life is miserable. However, if you love the topic of photography you could have a healthy living out of being a professional photographer. You could also look into careers of media, which you are almost most likely to enjoy as a subject. And yes, as a human, everybody needs a way to keep their minds alive and vivid by some imagination.

Yours truly,
Snapography.