Cameras-n- Stuff

The EOS Rebel T3i is a great close-up photography instrument. Many new photographers really want to learn more about how to take those awesome macro photos, but for one reason or another, we put it off. Perhaps this is your time and your “sign” (if you are waiting for a sign, this is it). With your T3i, it is ever so easy.

This is a good example of the surprises you can get with macro images – you can’t see the little crystals of ice with the unaided eye.(click on the photo to see it full size)

You may have a dedicated macro lens – marvelous. However, if you don’t possess one of those pricey lenses that is especially created for close-up work, don’t worry, extension tubes are here! Just about any lens can become a macro lens if you have an inexpensive set of extension tubes. Basically, they extend the distance from the lens to the sensor so you, can position your camera closer to the subject of your picture.

One of the best things about taking extremely close pictures of objects is the detail that is revealed. There are facets of nearly every subject that are not normally noticed by people at a casual glance. But take a close up shot and you will experience many OMG moments.

It was on my first digital camera that one of those amazing, eye-opening moments happened to yours truly. As nearly everyone else who makes this discovery, I took pictures of every bug and flower that I could. It didn’t occur to me that there were other interesting small objects that I could shoot as well. There are buttons, zippers, door knobs, human eyes, animal eyes, and the list is infinite. There really is no limit to what can be photographed.

Now that you are convinced to get started, here are a few hints:

-> Don’t delay. This seems quite apparent, but lots of us tend to get bogged down with the learning process. Yes, there are many classes and tutorials available online and off line, but just go out and take some pictures. Training as the need arises is a great way to learn. Actually, “on the job” training works really well in photography.

-> Allow yourself to make mistakes. This sort of goes “hand-in-hand” with hint #1. Mistakes are an important part of the learning process. They may actually lead to some amazing surprises. Some of your best shots will come as a result of something you did “wrong.”

-> Use a tripod. As you get closer to an object, the chances for blur increase exponentially. In addition to the tripod, you can benefit from using the shutter release timer on your T3i, or you can get an inexpensive remote shutter release.

-> Set your lens on manual focus and activate Live View. There is a fantastic feature that makes Rebel T3i macro photography so much easier than most other cameras. When in Live View, you can use digital zoom. The way it works for this kind of photo is to set your lens on manual focus, then use the digital zoom at 5x or 10x so that you can fine tune your focus. Personally, this is the feature that made me a believer in the Canon Rebel T3i.

OK – It’s not rocket science. These tips are meant to get you out and shooting, so get going!