Download - Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Close Up & Macro Photography 23 Slides Copyright © 2003 – 2009 Kenji Tachibana.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I..

Close Up & Macro PhotographyClose Up & Macro Photography

23 Slides23 Slides

Copyright © 2003 – 2009 Kenji Tachibana

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IClose Up/Macro Photography:Close Up/Macro Photography:

CClose Up/Macro Photography: lose Up/Macro Photography:

The compact digital is engineered to shoot People The compact digital is engineered to shoot People standing about 8’ from the camera. It’s also meant to standing about 8’ from the camera. It’s also meant to shoot Scenery with the focus set to infinity. Even shoot Scenery with the focus set to infinity. Even some of the low end DSLR are designed with the some of the low end DSLR are designed with the same principle in mind.same principle in mind.

Close up photography is about shooting a subject Close up photography is about shooting a subject closer than 3 feet and it will require more skill from the closer than 3 feet and it will require more skill from the user. Macro photography involves shooting a subject user. Macro photography involves shooting a subject within inches from the lens. And that requires even within inches from the lens. And that requires even more skill from the photographer.more skill from the photographer.


SSpecialized Areas:pecialized Areas:

Moving from normal to specialized areas of Moving from normal to specialized areas of photography is like going from one state to another. photography is like going from one state to another. There is not much fanfare going from Washington to There is not much fanfare going from Washington to Oregon or from Oregon to California. Oregon or from Oregon to California.

It is the same with going from normal to specialized It is the same with going from normal to specialized areas of photography. It happens without much fanfare areas of photography. It happens without much fanfare when using the compact digital superzoom lens. And when using the compact digital superzoom lens. And many of the superzooms have specialized areas on many of the superzooms have specialized areas on both end of the focal length range.both end of the focal length range.


ZZoom Lens: Amazing capabilityoom Lens: Amazing capability

The compact digital zoom lens is a miraculous The compact digital zoom lens is a miraculous technological marvel. It offers capabilities unknown to technological marvel. It offers capabilities unknown to the previous film generation of photographers. the previous film generation of photographers.

I normally drive a small 4 cylinder Sedan and my I normally drive a small 4 cylinder Sedan and my freeway speed is about 55 to 60 mph. On vacations, I freeway speed is about 55 to 60 mph. On vacations, I often rent 6 cylinder cars. With the extra power, I find often rent 6 cylinder cars. With the extra power, I find myself easily going 70 mph unintentionally.myself easily going 70 mph unintentionally.

One danger of the superzoom is going 70 mph without One danger of the superzoom is going 70 mph without meaning to…meaning to…


SSuperzoom Lens: Amazing poweruperzoom Lens: Amazing power

With amazing power comes powerful ways to get into With amazing power comes powerful ways to get into trouble by a press of a button. It can start with the trouble by a press of a button. It can start with the super wide with its high image distortion super wide with its high image distortion characteristics. characteristics.

People’s face near the frame corner are usually People’s face near the frame corner are usually distorted diagonally. Any vertical or horizontal line that distorted diagonally. Any vertical or horizontal line that is not dead center will appear bowed.is not dead center will appear bowed.


DDo It: Turn on your camera and see for yourselfo It: Turn on your camera and see for yourself

1.1.Place a square or a circle shape object near the Place a square or a circle shape object near the frame corner. See it skew distort towards the corner.frame corner. See it skew distort towards the corner.

2.2.Fill your frame with a window or window like object. Fill your frame with a window or window like object. Notice that the window edge is bowed out.Notice that the window edge is bowed out.

3.3.Place a ruler near the top of the frame creating a Place a ruler near the top of the frame creating a pseudo horizon line. The horizon will bow up in the pseudo horizon line. The horizon will bow up in the center … scientifically proving that the world is round - center … scientifically proving that the world is round - photography is about creating illusions…photography is about creating illusions…


ZZoom Lens: Usesoom Lens: Uses

Most people use zoom lens in its most rudimentary Most people use zoom lens in its most rudimentary form, which is to make the subject bigger by zooming. form, which is to make the subject bigger by zooming. The option of moving closer to the subject is rarely The option of moving closer to the subject is rarely used.used.

Next level of sophistication might be to use it for image Next level of sophistication might be to use it for image framing (cropping) purpose. It’s not exactly misuse but framing (cropping) purpose. It’s not exactly misuse but it’s like using a Stradivarius violin as a doorbell.it’s like using a Stradivarius violin as a doorbell.


ZZoom Lens: Tool useoom Lens: Tool use

There is no perfect way to use a zoom lens. But there There is no perfect way to use a zoom lens. But there is such a thing as ‘efficient use’. And that is to balance is such a thing as ‘efficient use’. And that is to balance the different needs:the different needs:•Increasing or decreasing subject sizeIncreasing or decreasing subject size•Cropping for the right framingCropping for the right framing•Moozing (going wider) to achieve ‘safety margin’Moozing (going wider) to achieve ‘safety margin’

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IClose Up/Macro PhotographyClose Up/Macro Photography::

FFocus-Point & DOD (Depth-of-Field):ocus-Point & DOD (Depth-of-Field):

Precise focus point and adequate DOF are important to Precise focus point and adequate DOF are important to Image Making. It becomes more sensitive an issue Image Making. It becomes more sensitive an issue when shooting close up shots due to the natural when shooting close up shots due to the natural tendency towards shallower DOF.tendency towards shallower DOF.

Bracketing exact focus point is a good idea when it Bracketing exact focus point is a good idea when it comes to close-up or macro photography.comes to close-up or macro photography.


DSLR: Also more critical DSLR: Also more critical

Because of physics, shooting Because of physics, shooting with a DSLR takes more care with a DSLR takes more care when focusing. The image from when focusing. The image from a DSLR is also much more a DSLR is also much more detailed showing all the flaws detailed showing all the flaws that might be hidden in a that might be hidden in a compact digital image.compact digital image.

And the compact digital also And the compact digital also has a natural tendency for has a natural tendency for having deep DOF which tends having deep DOF which tends to hide many focus errors.to hide many focus errors.

This needs to beThis needs to besuper sharp.super sharp.

This needs This needs to be sharp to be sharp too.too. This doesThis does

notnot need needto be to be sharp. sharp.

But this But this doesdoes..


SStop Down to Increase DOF:top Down to Increase DOF:

Remember the ‘thumb/squint-view’ exercise we did Remember the ‘thumb/squint-view’ exercise we did early on this quarter? That’s where you used the squint-early on this quarter? That’s where you used the squint-view technique combined with your thumbnail to view technique combined with your thumbnail to experience both shallow and deep DOF. Do the experience both shallow and deep DOF. Do the exercise again if needed…exercise again if needed…

Image size is another relevant factor in the appearance Image size is another relevant factor in the appearance of sharpness. That might be the actual size or of sharpness. That might be the actual size or influenced by viewing distance. When the image influenced by viewing distance. When the image becomes smaller for any reason, the apparent becomes smaller for any reason, the apparent sharpness of an image increases.sharpness of an image increases.


CClass Room: Shooting assignmentlass Room: Shooting assignment

Set up a vertical still-life with 7 identical golf ball size Set up a vertical still-life with 7 identical golf ball size objects. Line them up in a straight line diagonally objects. Line them up in a straight line diagonally across the image from bottom left to top right. Place across the image from bottom left to top right. Place the objects at 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, and 32 inch the objects at 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, and 32 inch positions. positions.

Position the nearest object at the bottom right. Position the nearest object at the bottom right. Position the last object at the top left. Fill the frame Position the last object at the top left. Fill the frame with the story using either the 17 mm for compact or with the story using either the 17 mm for compact or 50 mm for DSLR. 50 mm for DSLR.

Next slide begins the student example series…Next slide begins the student example series…

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ICameron and his team:Cameron and his team:

SStudent Example: tudent Example:

The two example images The two example images show the exact visual show the exact visual effect when the aperture is effect when the aperture is change from wide to small change from wide to small lens opening.lens opening.

This image concretizes the This image concretizes the squint-view with thumbnail squint-view with thumbnail demonstration that you demonstration that you experienced at the experienced at the beginning of the quarter.beginning of the quarter.

Focus PointFocus Point

Wide OpenWide Open Stopped DownStopped Down


DDOF Rule: OF Rule:

The general rule is to stop The general rule is to stop down for deep DOF and open down for deep DOF and open up for shallow DOD which is up for shallow DOD which is good for selective focus.good for selective focus.

The sharp to un-sharp image The sharp to un-sharp image quality can be seen in both quality can be seen in both the subject and the black to the subject and the black to white line.white line.

This example uses only 5 This example uses only 5 distance tubes. You will be distance tubes. You will be using 7.using 7.


Focus PointFocus Point


FFocus: Near Pointocus: Near Point

The exact focus point The exact focus point makes a big difference to makes a big difference to the illusion of sharpness the illusion of sharpness for the whole image.for the whole image.

An extra tube is being An extra tube is being used to indicate the used to indicate the Near Near PointPoint focus as shown by focus as shown by the red arrow.the red arrow.

Near Point FocusNear Point Focus



FFocus: Middle Pointocus: Middle Point

When the focus point is When the focus point is shifted to the farther away shifted to the farther away and up and up middle pointmiddle point, more , more of the image appears to be of the image appears to be in focus.in focus.

Use the Up & Down arrow Use the Up & Down arrow keys to compare the Near keys to compare the Near and Middle point images.and Middle point images.

Middle Point FocusMiddle Point Focus



FFocus: Far Pointocus: Far Point

This point-of-focus might This point-of-focus might be the best place to be the best place to achieve the maximum achieve the maximum scene sharpness.scene sharpness.

Use the Up & Down arrow Use the Up & Down arrow keys to compare the keys to compare the Near, Near, Middle, and Far Point Middle, and Far Point examples.examples.

There are many possible There are many possible conclusion which can be conclusion which can be derived from this DOF test derived from this DOF test shoot series. Try to think of shoot series. Try to think of at least 3. And tell me at least 3. And tell me about it in writing.about it in writing.

Far Point FocusFar Point Focus



FFar Point: Position error:ar Point: Position error:

This shooting assignment is This shooting assignment is about learning how to maximize about learning how to maximize the illusion of DOF and the illusion of DOF and sharpness. sharpness.

Focusing at the end point would Focusing at the end point would not achieve the desired effect. not achieve the desired effect.

Be prepared to explain why this Be prepared to explain why this would be the case. Try to really would be the case. Try to really see the image to the right which see the image to the right which is your biggest clue…is your biggest clue…

Far focus point?Far focus point?


NNeeded: Only improvementeeded: Only improvement

I would like the focus pointI would like the focus pointmarker to be better alignedmarker to be better alignedwith the focus point. As thewith the focus point. As thered arrow indicates, it couldred arrow indicates, it couldhave been moved up in thehave been moved up in theset in all the shots.set in all the shots.

There are basically only 3 different distance shots There are basically only 3 different distance shots with 2 aperture variations making up the 6 shots.with 2 aperture variations making up the 6 shots.


LLab Work: Always do itab Work: Always do it

Notice that the basic Notice that the basic processed image gives far processed image gives far more illusion of sharpness more illusion of sharpness information than the information than the camera original ‘mushy’ camera original ‘mushy’ image to the right.image to the right.

Basic ProcessedBasic Processed Camera OriginalCamera Original

Near Point FocusNear Point Focus


TThings You’ve Learned: Keep practicinghings You’ve Learned: Keep practicing

Lighting – easy to work with broad source soft Lighting – easy to work with broad source soft Skylight. Skylight is heavily Cyan but the Auto Skylight. Skylight is heavily Cyan but the Auto WB will neutralize most of that.WB will neutralize most of that.

Composition – crop tight for the story but leave a Composition – crop tight for the story but leave a 10% safety margin beyond your story image. 10% safety margin beyond your story image.


TThings You’ve Learned: Keep practicinghings You’ve Learned: Keep practicing

Good TechniqueGood Technique1.1.Exposure – think of capturing ‘full detail’Exposure – think of capturing ‘full detail’2.2.Color – Auto WB works really well.Color – Auto WB works really well.3.3.Focus – maximize the DOF.Focus – maximize the DOF.4.4.Focal length – use it as a visual control tool and Focal length – use it as a visual control tool and not just as a convenient framing device.not just as a convenient framing device.


SSummary: Build good habitsummary: Build good habits

Please keep shooting and place as many shots in Please keep shooting and place as many shots in the bull’s eye as possible. Although stay the bull’s eye as possible. Although stay discriminating in your self judgment.discriminating in your self judgment.

Every time you accept a lack luster image as Every time you accept a lack luster image as being good, you will be building bad habits.being good, you will be building bad habits.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I

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