Macro, Point & shoot style

Last week our winner of The Photographers Challenge was Danny Rose. His sunset picture really catches the brilliant colors as well as keeping the theme of photographic rules. Great Job Danny!

Danny Also issued this weeks challenge, throwing us into the world of Macro and Close Up Photography.

Now I do not do to much macro photography. Usually if I see a Bug or something of that nature I will see what I can do while I am out to get the picture but I have not really delved into the wonderful world of Macro Photography. Generally when doing a tutorial or discussing photography I would focus on what a DSLR can do but honestly there is so many different tricks to macro and none of them or right or wrong in my opinion.

I know a few members of The Photographers Challenge that do not have DSLR's, so this is more geared for them. True macro is technically when you can produce an image at 1:1 or bigger and most P&S that I know of is not capable of that. Close up photography might be a better term for those with P&S. That being said. Many P&S cameras have a macro setting so find out if your camera has it. Got it? cool! how about a tripod? It is my opinion that every photographer should have a good tripod. That does not translate to expensive by any means, just suitable for your camera. It is not often I find myself fooling with a P&S but I have my wifes older Nikon Coolpix S51 in hand right now and I am messing with it.  This camera is capable of focusing at just 1.6 inches from your subject and produces some pretty cool images. For those with Nikon P&S cameras a little flower on the back or in the menu means you have found the Macro setting. Once you have your camera on a tripod you can zoom it in to your subject and click away. Now thats not to say that you have it as good as your going to get because we have not talked about light. Do not forget to try your cameras flash on and off to get the results your looking for. Subjects like flowers, bugs, etc are always great to shoot close up but don't overlook other things like money, find details of old watches... Anything with super fine detail can create an amazing picture. Wile this is not an amazing image it is an idea of how you can make a P&S shoot sharp close up pictures.