Let's get down to the nitty-gritty

They say the beauty of life can be found in the details....

Magnifying those details sheds light on what the world looks like through your eyes. Close-up photos help you share those magnified details, and are a really easy way to produce distinctive images that cannot be replicated.

One of my favorite things is to go to a well-visited place, like the Golden Gate Bridge, and try and get as many Emily-ized photos as possible. Thousands of people will take the same photo of the bridge every year, but you have the opportunity to break that cycle and share your vision with the world.

Tricks o' the trade:

Macro Mode. On most point and shoot cameras, there is a "macro mode" it usually looks like a cartoon tulip flower. Choose this setting, and your camera will auto-focus closer objects. Generally with point and shoot cameras, the settings are such that it will capture portraits easily – since that is the reason most people buy a camera (for family & friend photos). Macro mode is amazing because it actually telepathically tells your camera to use a large aperture (which defines how much light is used in your photo) so that your close-up subject is in focus but the background isn't.

Tangent: See here's the thing. I think people have absolutely no idea just how amazing digi-cameras are. With a manual camera, the user has to think about aperture, shutter speed, focus, changing lenses, and film advancing. AND you won't know what your picture looks like until you get your film developed. A digital is literally "point and shoot" and 99% of your photos will be golden. I heart the future.

Tripods. They are the most versatile tool in photography, and can virtually be used in any project. They reduce blurriness that can be caused by shaky hands and allow you to play with different settings for the same frame. But -- they are also big and bulky, so I have two other options for you.

ONE is a mini-tripod like this one, which is – as with any miniature version of anything – exceedingly adorable than a regular tripod. It is also small enough to fit in your pocket. The Gorilla Pod is also worth checking out, and would be perfect for photographers who like to take photos in rocky situations.

The SECOND option is to use your surroundings to create a makeshift tripod. If you are in the forest, use a chopped tree trunk or a rock. If you are in your room, pile up a bunch of books until you find the right height. Or my favorite, create Tetris-like towers with household objects (like Tetris, this can go horribly wrong. Please use caution to avoid camera smashing.

 Composition. Because you have so little room to catch the perfect shot, it is imperative that you check, double-check, and triple-check that your composition is what you are aiming for. Remember, if you are using digital that you can take as many as you want and find the "perfect shot" after you upload your shots. But as you progress as a photographer, you should be aiming at taking less of the same frame, and more variety.

Simplify your image as much as possible. Be aware of busy backgrounds. A simple background will allow the subject to pop out of the frame, but a busy background could distract the eye away from the subject. Perhaps this is a personal preference, but I think close-ups are much more effective when the main focus is … well.. the subject. As you develop into a more experienced photographer, you will start to notice your own preferences and you should follow those instinctive quirks. Those peculiarities are going to make you a more distinctive, and ultimately better, photographer.

Well, there you have it! You, my dear, are ready to be unleashed out into the world that offers endless close-up opportunities. Don't forget to share some of those images with me. :)

Until then,
Emily