Maternity Shot and Macro Assistance

[PaulaLynn]

Good Morning Everyone :



I have a couple things to throw out there....

1. I did a "maternity shoot" (its in quotes because it was actually just a friend I was practicing on) this past weekend. I'm really not at all happy with any of them. I will post some this evening when I get home. Just wondering if anyone has any tips to share.. ie; posing, lighting, etc.. anything at all for future shots...

2. I am trying my hardest to get some macro shots of bees/insects/etc... I cant seem to get it. I have a 75-200mm F4.5 Canon lens that indicates it has a "macro" setting but don't know how to get to it, there is no switch or anything like that to switch it over... I can't get anywhere near the insect or whatever in order to be able to focus... I have to be waaay back in order to focus and then of course its not magnified at all... just a small speck of a thing. I also tried to do it with my 15-55mm kit lens and same issue. I purchased so called "extension tubes" from ebay but I can't focus on anything with those either... these tubes are just that... plastic round tubes, no contacts or anything so I have to attempt focusing manually but I have to go waaaay back from the subject to get anything in focus and at that distance, its not magnified.

Sorry for the super long post, but I can't find any relevant info on this at all anywhere, hoping someone would be able to enlighten me... yes, I am quite new at all of this

[tirediron]

To the former, I'll wait and see the images you post before making suggestions.

To the latter, hmmmm... There are a number of 70-200 Canon lenses out there, so I'm not 100% sure to which one you're referring. Some (especially the long-range zoom/macros do have a switch or control to put them into 'macro' mode, others do not. Your big zoom may also not be a true macro, that is it may not actually reproduce 1:1. 2:1, or half-size is a very common "macro" for lenses like this.

I suspect that your focusing problem is that you're not accounting for the very shallow DoF in macro work. As opposed to the depths of field in regular photography which are generally measured in at least inches, if not feet, the DoF in macro work can be as little as one millimeter or less! It sounds to me like you may just be missing the point of focus.

What I suggest is to take something easy to focus on, such as a newspaper clipping and set it up about 12" from your lens. Keeping the camera in the same spot, VERY slowly focus down to the minimum distance, and I'm pretty sure at some point you'll see it leap into sharp focus. Depending on the length of the extension tube (The longer the tube, the closer you can get to the subject) you may be able to get very, very close to it.

I hope that helps.

[PaulaLynn]

To the former, I'll wait and see the images you post before making suggestions.

To the latter, hmmmm... There are a number of 70-200 Canon lenses out there, so I'm not 100% sure to which one you're referring. Some (especially the long-range zoom/macros do have a switch or control to put them into 'macro' mode, others do not. Your big zoom may also not be a true macro, that is it may not actually reproduce 1:1. 2:1, or half-size is a very common "macro" for lenses like this.

I suspect that your focusing problem is that you're not accounting for the very shallow DoF in macro work. As opposed to the depths of field in regular photography which are generally measured in at least inches, if not feet, the DoF in macro work can be as little as one millimeter or less! It sounds to me like you may just be missing the point of focus.

What I suggest is to take something easy to focus on, such as a newspaper clipping and set it up about 12" from your lens. Keeping the camera in the same spot, VERY slowly focus down to the minimum distance, and I'm pretty sure at some point you'll see it leap into sharp focus. Depending on the length of the extension tube (The longer the tube, the closer you can get to the subject) you may be able to get very, very close to it.

I hope that helps.

It does, thank-you, I will try that tonight.

[Travis]

If your are trying to macro insects/critters without a macro lens you are facing uphill. Tubes, lens reversals, and telezooms with macro feature can get you decent close up pictures on static subjects. For real 1:1 on wiggly things you really need at least a 100mm macro prime. You can get something like a Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro for about $300 used on ebay. This lens is super sharp and doubles as a great portraiture prime when not commissioned in the macro field.

As far as technique, if you are handholding at close focus in macro mode simply breathing can throw you in and out of focus. A monopod or tripod can help with this. Generally you need a lot of light with macro work so get the flash ready. If you can get the flash off camera with diffuser that will help too. Usually you want a depth of field.... enough to include the subject but not much else in the background.

Good Luck!!