Macro Foto con/with Raynox DCR250

1: Adjustment of Camera:
Panoramic position, use the manual panorama / landscapes. Fix the focus: move the camera smoothly backwards and ahead until it finds the point ideal where the image is crystalline in viewfinder LCD.

2: Depth of Field:
Use a small opening (greater value F) to maximize the depth of field that represents the amount of focused image. To greater magnification, smaller depth of field.
Patience that this quite practical taking and favourable conditions, without wind, quiet animal by examples. Better to return to repeat the taking several times if it allows the moment. Use the zoom lens but without abusing, to more zoom lens, less depth of field. It’s better to crop a photo than to abuse the zoom lens. Most of my takings are to F8 with flash to 1/125 or 1/250. In optimal condition of light i can get to shoot to 1/500 up to 1/1000.
The best day is when the sky is covered, the undesirable reflections of the sun in textures of flowers, keratin of animals, or on exhibition of the white or yellow colours are easier to avoid.

3: Illumination and flash:
The flash with diffuser is a method that allows filling up the spaces with shade, to increase the speed of firing. Personally i use a cardboard extension, with foam of polis pan (Plastic of protection) to inside, this extension of the flash of the camera go until the edge of the lens. Connect an external flash to the camera really gives a good result but they must be diffuse or bounced, for that reason they can use, a fine cardboard, a weave, an opaque plastic.

4: Tripod:
The 100% of my photos are done without tripod. Only because I see agility at the time of catching and looking for complicated angles. If you are going to use a tripod he is advisable that has an approach rail macro that allows moving the camera towards ahead or back in small distances without having to move the tripod.
Without tripod, several tricks exist:
- To look for a support (wall, rock, tree, cane...), which is available in the surroundings. - To use its own knee (Knee to the ground and another folded average leg: bent) been worth when the taking this to average height.
- Of foot the best solution is putting the elbows to inside stuck against the chest.
- The own strap of the camera are useful, single is to tend it, you put it around neck i you stretch the arms; the other way is to tend with the elbow.

5: To approach:
First of all, observe the surroundings and the own tiny beast, to see as is its behaviours and for watching the possible...
Once understood problematic and the equipment is ready, single to move steps by steps with slow movements, concerning the light or the air. If one moves, stop the progression and hope a little, unfortunately all the insects are not tolerant, but often they return to the place.
Different optical marriages or adjustments from equipment, give different distances from work. Prove all the possibilities.

6: Bottoms:
In the first steps is better to forget these elements, the macro is not easy thing. But when you dominate the approach and the exhibition, they will be able to begin to look for better bottoms and to look for the composition and the angle more adapted to locate your main element in the picture. I do not have doubt that the bottoms in macro represent 25% of the success of a photo.

7: Composition:
Main rule: always of face or profile. With that, all have been said. The composition follows the same gold rules of the traditional photo in general:
Rule of the 2/3, Rule of the Horizon, Rule of the Movement
If we know them it will be very easy to obtain photographies of great visual impact.

8: The Digital Adjustment:
Without abusing largely and:
- To rotate.
- To trim and to changing sizes.
- To fit the levels: saturation and contrasts.
- Shadow Highlight if there are exposed zones on or sub exposed.
- PlugIn Velvia to emphasize the colourful.
- Clone reflected with the tool of Photoshop.
- Eliminate the noise with Neat Image.
- Frame and signature.

9: Method of learning:
A: The first step is the illumination, without it, you are limited. You have to make several tests with several conditions as they can be speed, F, flash, with sun, sky overcast, shades until having understood the problematic.
B: The second step, observe and understand the surroundings of the tiny beast or the element to photography.
C: The approach. Stick the objective to 2 cm is really not necessary. The angle of a taking is what defines the depth of field. Remember that a small opening (greater value F) maximizes the depth of field but that the zoom lens clears to him. An intermediate way exists that gives the best results.
D: According light and colours.
E: Composition.