Comment posted on Macro Photography and Depth of Field by Diane C.
Fascinating! This article is a real eye-opener for me because I haven’t been paying much attention to backgrounds. Of course it is part of the composition, but I didn’t realize its importance or how to manipulate it. I have some experimenting to do now.
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Thank you Kevin. I tend to get up very close, maybe too close? trying to capture tiny details, without a tripod. Do you generally use a tripod for macros? A tripod would allow flexibility with shutter speeds and increase the depth of field as well.
Lynn,
Yes, I do use a tripod about 99% of the time for macro work. When you are in really close while doing macro photography the depth of field is so shallow that I find any movement at all can shift the focus. It’s just really good practice and can make the difference between an OK image and one that you can sell or be very proud of. What many people find amazing is that if you make large prints of a typical landscape image you can often tell if the camera was hand held, tripods rock, they just aren’t perfect for every situation.
Lots of the work I do is handheld but if I can use a tripod I do. I’ll show some images of my macro setup later as I have modified my tripod for low level shooting.
Looking forward to seeing your macro setup and maybe I should dust off my tripod.
Hi Lynn,
Dust off that tripod!
I hate tripods too but use them as much as possible. With lenses in the normal focal length range and wide angles it isn’t as critical but as soon as you start pushing the extremes it makes a big difference. I watch people shooting with 400mm lenses handheld ocasionally and wonder what sort of results they get, it’s hard enough to get really sharp photos with these lenses on tripods.
With macro I find I just can’t hold the camera still enough to lock in on my point of focus or make minor corrections in composition.
Fascinating! This article is a real eye-opener for me because I haven’t been paying much attention to backgrounds. Of course it is part of the composition, but I didn’t realize its importance or how to manipulate it. I have some experimenting to do now.
I love macro work, but hate tripods, so I am generally shooting with the large aperture. I have been determined to make myself do more small aperture work so I guess I should get used to getting out the tripod.
Hi Diane,
I have always felt that one of the most often overlooked parts of photography is viewing the out of focus backgrounds as part of the image. I’m also constantly scanning the corners for branches or some other unwanted object intruding into the image. It’s amazing how many times I’ve photographed my camera bag over the years due to this!
Lisa,
Get out that tripod! We all detest them but they make life so much easier. Have you ever considered using a monopod? I carry one often and while not as sturdy as a tripod it is far better than hand holding for close-up work and when using long telephotos.
I just wasted this morning, pushing the limits and doing it hand held, so I will dust off my tripods when I get home to try to stop the nonsense of hold your breath, be still and hope for luck shooting.
Excellent article Kevin. I’m just trying to wrap my head around aperture, depth of field and what not and your article and examples have been very helpful. Thank you!
And I have to laugh at Lynn’s “stop the nonsense of hold your breath, be still and hope for luck” comment. So true!
I think all of us can relate to Lynn’s comment! I have left my tripod at home a few times and really kicked myself after viewing the slightly fuzzy images.
Terrific! I’m very jealous of those images, I wish I could do as well.Those images took a lot of aptitude to produce, well done. I’ve bookmarked this site.
I really don’t understand why anyone would disagree with that. I think that sounds like it is something to look a lot more closely at. I feel occasionally alot of people could be fairly narrow minded when it comes that. Nicely thats all for now, appear forward to a lot more post and information.. Talk to you guys later. “As in life, Chill for best results”