This month’s assignment is Close Up Photography. Notice I did not use the word macro. Close up photography is anything from a ratio of 1:4 down to 1:1 (where Macro starts). I am looking for you to create Close Up photos and to tell me how you photographed them. This gives you an opportunity to get up close and personal with the smaller things surrounding each of us.
To participate in this assignment you do not need to use a true Macro lens. Many zoom lenses have a Macro setting which is normally around 1:4 or 1:3. Do you own a Point and Shoot camera? Most have a Macro setting. Of course, if you have a Macro lens, feel free to use it.
On Friday, I will be discussing the many ways you can achieve close up photographs using your existing photographic equipment and additional equipment ranging from a few dollars to hundreds. In fact, I used a close up filter to take the photo you see below of a flower from the ESF Greenhouse visit a couple of weeks ago. I further cropped it down to this composition using Apple Aperture 3 photo management software. The cost of the filter? Less than $20US.
Close up photo of a flower taken with a 10x close up filter on a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lens. Nikon D700/50mm, 1/60s, f/8, ISO 200, EV 0, 10x close up filter, tripod.
As in the other assignments, do not send me your photos. What I would like you to do is post them on your blog, flickr or other photo sharing site, personal website or any other place on the Internet where you can place a link to it here by making a comment to this blog entry. Then we can visit those sites and enjoy everyone’s Close Up Photography.
Please, have your photos posted on or before Midnight (your time), Wednesday, March 23, 2011. Don’t have a place to post? Might be a good time to start up a blog or join a photo community like flickr. As I have done for all the Assignments, I’ll put together a recap with my comments.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I will be happy to answer them. By the way, I would really appreciate it if you would help spread the word about this assignment so we can get lots of people to participate. Blog it, tweet it, email it and talk about it to your fellow photographers, bloggers, friends, family and pets. Thank you
Sounds like another fun one, Scott. Thank you.
I know you are well versed in this type of photography. Your walks this time of year should give you lots of opportunity to get close up.
This one will be a struggle for me, Scott, but somehow, I’ll do the best I can…
Well, I would not expect anything less from you, Tracy.
How’d you know I just got a new lens with a Macro setting that I’ve been trying to figure out? Can’t wait for Friday’s post to learn more.
Hi, Debbie! This will be a great opportunity to put your new lens to work in the Macro range.
Yeah, I don’t know…… going to be really tough for me, too! Might have to skip this one
Come Friday, everyone is going to know what comedians you and Tracy are.
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Yay macro! Great fun altogether. How many can I enter? :-p I’ll give you this, anyway – http://greeneyedspirit.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/hello-missus/
… that said, I might attack those 1930s cameras with the ‘proper’ macro lens, not the 24-70 2.8
Post as many as you want, Simone. Have fun!
Lovely shot, nice composition.
I might have to join in this month’s topic–macro!
Please! I know you have an affinity for the subject.
I took this photo of a bee in my hairdresser’s backyard. I used a zoom lens at 200mm from several feet away at 1/200 of a second (it was very sunny) at f/13.
Zoom lenses are great for close up photos. Thanks, Barry!
Wow, amazing details! You can see every hair on the bee’s legs!
Tracy and Michaeala stole my comment!
Sorry, girl, no pass for you!
Has the shot got to be taken for the assignment, or can an old one be used?
Looking for new photos. I am confident you can get out find them, YB!
Scott, this sounds like fun, looking forward to reading more on Friday.
I want this to be fun but I will admit shooting close up photographs needs a lot of patience and persistence. Once I figured out I could not just set up and fire away (as is my norm), I relaxed and let myself enjoy the process.
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Do you have a flickr group that people can upload these assignments to? I didn’t catch that link. That’s about the only thing I use flikr for.
Anna
No, I decided against that as not everyone has a flickr account.
What you can do is upload it to flickr and post the link to the photo’s flickr page here for us to use go see it. Here’s an example of a close up photo I posted on flickr this morning: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sthomasphotos/5514087891/
To see it, click on the link.
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I’m looking forward with what you come up with, Birgitte.
I shall just post to the blog, as that’s the easiest then, I was just curious about the flickr option. I try not to spread my photos too far, so wordpress it is..
http://akgphoto.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/throwback-thursday-lily-of-07-love/
here is an entry I came up with, I did not read the part about them being current photos.. these were currently un sorted? Does that count? Hopefully weather will permit me to get outside and get more recent shots.
Anna
That is an excellent start, Anna. So, so colorful and intricate.
I’ve always liked your challenges. I have avoided them because I am often away for long periods but like Cindy, Tracy, Michaela and a few others, I don’t think I can resist this topic.
Thanks, BM, I know your participation will help make this assignment a huge success. I do realize you travel a lot.
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Hi Scott, this is my contribution and spring is in the air.
http://nyenoona.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/close-up-photography/
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Thanks for the tip Scott.
I’ll see what I can do.
Until then, you can have a guess here.
http://c-langkjaer.dk/wordpress/lang/en/2011/03/close-up-photography/
So this is my first time ever joining a photo assignment. well, here I go:
http://rdp.benstein.nl/en/2011/03/14/foto-opdracht-12-close-up-photography/
As promised – the owl!
http://greeneyedspirit.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/hes-got-the-look/
Nikon D300, Nikkor 300 mm f/4 @ f4, don’t ask me about the shutter speed though. Handheld, too.
Surprise, surprise: Close to spring
Inspired by your butterfly photo, I’ve added my images for the assignment to a post on Butterflies in Winter at http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/butterflies-in-winter/
Thank you for the opportunity to participate Scott
Hi Scott-
Here is my attempt-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deb_and_paul2007/5528028004/
Here’s mine… had to lay down on the sand/snow.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60646936@N07/5531285496/
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Hello Scott ! Here is my contribution from way up in the alps where I am spending the week : http://isathreadsoflife.wordpress.com/2011/03/18/a-closer-look/
I appreciated the assignment and hope you will have a pleasant weekend.
Hi Scott. You have a great blog here! As requested, here’s a link to my macro post. http://chriscaff.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/macro-extension-tubes-a-new-world
Here’s my contribution:
http://karmardav.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/close-ups-for-scotts-assignment/
Thanks again for hosting these assignments, Scott!
Because flowers, early spring, and up close just belong together…
http://ahalfhouraday.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/up-close/
I’m on time for a change! I’m on time!!
http://breadandputter.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/photo-challenge-im-ready-for-my-close-up/
Oh. This suddenly reminds me of my beloved Canon S5 + Raynox DCR-250 setup. Sigh. I’ll miss them.
Hi Scott. Here is my vacation-style take on close up photography:
http://wp.me/p35Iv-2JY
Thanks again for another great assignment!
Hi Scott.
Here you are, my contribution:
http://my2008blog.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/for-the-close-up-assignment/
Thank you all for your fantastic submissions!
Here is mine: Getting Close
Hi Scott
I grabbed the camera and took a few shots today. It’ll have to do as my contribution.
http://c-langkjaer.dk/wordpress/lang/en/2011/03/close-up/
At least it was a wonderful day
Just under the wire:
http://burstmode.wordpress.com/2011/03/23/for-scotts-challenge/
OK, here it is and I might still have time to watch a show before midnight!
http://chroniclecantrell.blogspot.com/2011/03/close-up-photography.html
Better late than never, eh Scott?
http://milkayphoto.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/a-day-late-and-a-dollar-short/
This was sent to me back on March 22 from Mary of Mary’s Quilt blog:
http://marysquilt.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/close-up-challenge/