Design Elements

from: Mastering Macro Photography: Learn by Video

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About this lesson

In this lesson we'll explore the concept of producing images where it isn't immediately obvious what the subject is, with a focus instead on interesting shapes, colors, and textures.

From: Mastering Macro Photography: Learn by Video

Macro and close-up photography open up a whole world of photographic possibilities, offering new ways for you to express your creativity, create unique images, and better understand the capabilities of your equipment. In this Learn by Video workshop published in partnership with Peachpit Press, Tim Grey guides you through the equipment, techniques, and concepts that will help you produce the very best results when taking a closer look at a wide variety of subjects, big and small. You’ll learn about the special accessories used in macro photography, how to light macro subjects, and how to deal with the often-problematic issue of depth of field. The course culminates in a series of photographic projects, where you’ll follow along with Tim as he chooses the right tools and techniques to create stunning macro images.

$34.99

2 hrs 30 min

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In this chapter we'll explore the basic concepts involved in macro photography so you'll have a solid foundation upon which to build as you start taking a closer look at your photographic subjects.

Getting Started with Macro Photography
- In this lesson we'll look at the various pieces of equipment that will be used throughout this workshop, giving you a sense of the tools you might want to put to use in your own macro photography.
  
  Equipment Overview
  
  10:34
- This lesson will address the importance of using a tripod or other stable support platform for your camera when capturing macro photographs.
  
  Employing a Tripod
  
  04:25
- Photographers often refer to taking photos as shooting, and that is actually an apt analogy, because that you can achieve better photographic results by thinking like a marksman. In this lesson we'll explore these concepts to help you get sharper photographs.
  
  The Gun Analogy
  
  02:53
- Focal length affects both depth of field and working distance to the subject, which are important considerations for macro photography. In this lesson we'll discuss how to find the optimum balance between these two considerations.
  
  Choosing a Focal Length
  
  03:07
- An extension tube gives you the ability to focus on close-up subjects without having to invest in a macro lens. This lesson will show you how it's done.
  
  Using an Extension Tube
  
  03:47
- While autofocus can be a very useful tool, with macro photography you may want to revert to manual focus, as will be discussed in this lesson.
  
  Autofocus for Macro
  
  02:58
- A focusing rail can prove to be an invaluable tool in macro photography, both for focusing and for composition. This lesson will demonstrate the use of this helpful piece of equipment.
  
  Using a Focusing Rail
  
  04:02
- Depth of field (DOF) is a significant consideration in macro photography, and the depth of field preview feature on many digital cameras can help you get a better sense of how much DOF you're achieving. You'll learn how to use this feature in this lesson.
  
  Depth of Field Preview
  
  04:16
- The live view display available on many digital cameras enables you to get a better sense of the composition, work more comfortably, and even focus with greater precision, as you'll see in this lesson.
  
  Using Live View
  
  04:24
- In this lesson we'll examine how you can use an articulating arm with a clamp attached to help with a variety of tasks in macro photography.
  
  Getting a Helping Hand
  
  03:21
- When you are focused on small subjects, even the slightest movement can pose a challenge. In this lesson we'll consider some methods you can employ to help minimize movement caused by breezes.
  
  Wind Blocking
  
  02:47
- In this lesson we'll explore the factors that affect exposure and consider some of the special issues related to exposure in macro photography.
  
  Understanding Exposure
  
  05:50
- The ISO setting on your camera is always an important consideration, but as you'll see in this lesson, the ISO setting is especially important in macro photography.
  
  Setting ISO
  
  04:11
- Due to the way macro lenses are designed, they tend to lose light in a way that will affect your exposure. In this lesson we'll address the concept of effective aperture as it relates to macro photography.
  
  Understanding Effective Aperture
  
  03:43
- As you'll see in this lesson, a cable release can prove to be an incredibly helpful tool in macro photography for a variety of reasons.
  
  Using a Cable Release
  
  03:47
In this chapter we'll consider some of the ways you can supplement the amount of light available in your macro photography.

Supplementing the Light
- A reflector is a simple way to add a little bit of supplemental light to your macro photographs, as you'll see in this lesson.
  
  Using a Reflector
  
  03:55
- This lesson will introduce the basic concepts involved in the use of flash with macro photography.
  
  Incorporating Flash
  
  05:19
- Because macro photography often involves positioning the lens very close to the subject, bouncing the flash can often prove very helpful, as you'll see in this lesson.
  
  Bouncing Flash
  
  04:23
- In this lesson we'll explore the use of flash units specifically designed for macro photography.
  
  Using a Macro Flash
  
  04:42
In this chapter we'll look at some of the compositional considerations related to macro photography.

Composition for Macro Photography
- Macro photography requires you to look at your subjects in a unique way, and in this lesson we'll discuss some of the things you should keep in mind when looking for macro subjects.
  
  Finding Subjects
  
  02:34
- In this lesson we'll consider the issue of angle to subject, which can be a particularly important one in macro photography.
  
  Angle to Subject
  
  03:19
- When taking a closer look at your subjects, it is important to also think about the background behind them, as you'll see in this lesson.
  
  Evaluating the Background
  
  03:17
- To really make a macro subject stand out, you can put it against a black background. In this lesson we'll take a look at some of the common methods of creating a black background.
  
  Creating a Black Background
  
  04:45
- While we tend to emphasize crisp focus in macro photography, sometimes a blur effect can be fun and appealing. In this lesson we'll explore an approach to creative blurring in macro photography.
  
  Creative Blurring
  
  04:58
- While we generally aim for a relatively deep depth of field in macro photography, sometimes a shallow depth of field can produce a great result, as you'll see in this lesson.
  
  Shallow Depth of Field
  
  04:49
- In this lesson we'll explore the concept of producing images where it isn't immediately obvious what the subject is, with a focus instead on interesting shapes, colors, and textures.
  
  Design Elements
  
  05:09
- Water droplets on a macro subject can provide an extra element of texture and interest. In this lesson we'll look at techniques for adding water droplets to a subject when nature doesn't provide them for you.
  
  Misting a Subject
  
  02:49
In this chapter we'll achieve extended depth of field by using multiple captures to create a composite image with a potentially infinite depth of field.

Expanding Depth of Field
- This lesson will demonstrate how to capture multiple photos of the same subject, each focused at a different point, in order to create a composite image with extended depth of field.
  
  Capturing Multiple Images to Maximize Depth of Field
  
  07:45
- In this lesson you'll see how to use Photoshop to assemble a composite image with extended depth of field.
  
  Composite Depth of Field with Auto-Blend
  
  08:27
- This lesson will explore how to use Helicon Focus software to create a composite image with extended depth of field.
  
  Composite Depth of Field with Helicon Focus
  
  03:48
This chapter includes several macro photography projects that show how the techniques covered in this course can be applied.

Macro Projects
- In this lesson we'll work on photographing a rose that has a coating of water droplets, dealing with a variety of issues in order to achieve a great image.
  
  Flower Subject (Rose)
  
  07:16
- This lesson will explore the unique challenges involved in photographing a spider web in the wild, complete with morning dew on the web.
  
  Spider Web
  
  05:29
- In this lesson we'll focus our lens on a unique plant, incorporating flash to supplement the available light.
  
  Unusual Plant
  
  03:40