These past few days I have been on a Macro Mission, thats what Im calling it at least. Macro is fantastic, even if you have a point and shoot LEARN IT! Macro is there to show us how amazing small things can be, texture, detail, and size is dramatically changed with this setting. Its a favorite of mine! I highly recommend you figure out how to turn your camera on to Macro focus setting and go take some up close shots! Yes, you must get very close to your subject. Do I recommend you shoot an anthill? Nope. Yes, even your camera on your cell phone is HIGHLY likely to have a Macro setting. Dont be afraid, get in there and shoot.
My dear sweet husband and I went to Shoshone, CA this week. This particular trip was one of exceptional awesomeness, while visiting the local gas station for our monthly lottery ticket purchase I was interrupted... and not by just anyone but by a German with no shirt, a gigantic beer belly, and a thick as mud accent.
"So you win lottery, ya?" (imagine a really really thick German accent here)
I glanced up and there was not just one but three of them, all the same with the exception of the new two being fully clothed (for which I thanked my lucky stars, I only had 2 nipples staring me in the face not 6). I responded with
"Big winner, 3 bucks!"
He chuckles and his uncovered belly jiggles.
"So Ill marry you, big winner"
The word winner with a thick German accent sounded like wiener, which added to the hilarity of the sitch.
I laughed and said
"Too late, I have already snagged me a husband!"
I hurried to finish my lottery ticket purchase and exited the gas station as I was super uncomfortable with all the nipple staring happening inside the store. Outside, I wandered around the area taking random photos in Macro mode while my all-too-late husband just sat quietly and waited for me to finish shooting.
All of these photos post processing was simply cropping and changing to black and white. Personally I associate texture with black and white photos, you might not, and however you see something is how you should shoot it and post process it for print (or for most people to post it online).
This piece is actually some sort of farm equipment, not sure what it does but the gritty texture of the item and the harsh shadows of the afternoon made for very interesting photos. Note, for this photo I was using a F2.0 aperture to lose the focus of the back area of the photo, which was completely unappealing.
Texture is amazing in Macro, would you have passed this tree trunk by without looking twice? The focus point was placed on the hole in the middle of the trunk and a wide open aperture of F/2.0 was used to blow out the focus in the background. Note, if you chose a focus point on an item that is physically closer to the camera more of the background would be out of focus and fuzzy.
Mid-shoot I was again interrupted by the nipple staring shirtless man... and again, husband had disappeared. Where was my knight in shining armor? Nowhere!!
"Hey, you want my picture?"
I tried to not laugh at the question, but when I looked up I couldn't help myself. Imagine this... three Germans, one teeny Minnie-Winny camper, and my favorite nipple staring shirtless man doing leg lunges in the parking lot while asking me if I wanted to take his photo. GLORY! This definitely tops my trip off with hilarity!! And if you are wondering, no I didn't take his photo, the memory of him will last I'm my thoughts indefinitely. Back to the photos!
Again, texture! This is actually the underside of a palm tree that needs to be shaved down badly, however, the texture is amazing. When you shoot macro get in close, you will be amazed at what you find!!
An old and rusty park bench with harsh sunlight made for a very interesting photo. I did not shoot this in Macro, but it was taken on our Shoshone adventure and I think its amazing so I added it.
Once I got all these photos shot, and I was fully satisfied I had explored the area my all-too-late husband and I headed back home.
This guy is Bob, hes one of our many very sweet Jack Russel Terriers. He had anxiety with the camera near, though he persevered and I was able to snap this shot of my Bobba. I turned on the Macro focus setting and moved the focus point to the lower part of his snout, then I continued to shoot his pretty face til he couldn't stand still anymore. My entire post processing for this photo was to crop out the sides and turn it into black and white, that's all. The detail in his fur on his nose and whiskers is so dang cute, and the gloss and sheen to his out of focus eyes plays to my heart. Hes a sensitive, sweet, and curious boy and this photo portrays that.
Go on now!! Get out there and take photos! Something most photographers wont tell you they take lots of photos too and some of them don't turn out as expected either. Don't get down on yourself for taking 20 photos to get 1 great shot, that just means you had 19 opportunities for improvement so use those opportunities and improve! Now, these odds are terrible for wedding photographers and I don't suggest you go out and shoot weddings without the correct experience, however, for a beginner-amateur this is acceptable! Just get out there and shoot, that's the only thing that will make you better.
Lastly, when you see something beautiful no matter the size stop and take a few photos. Beauty can live anywhere.
So, I have 1 day to decide... bring my DSLR and Advanced Point and Shoot? Or just the Advanced Point and Shoot? Will I kick myself and beg my family to overnight the DSLR to me? Or do I just suck it up and take this amazing little photog powerhouse knowing it can do the job?
