Macro Photography

Macro photography or close-up photography is used when the photographer wants to bring out certain details of the subject. The subject of macro photos are specific parts of an object you want to bring focus to. The subject is in focus while the background is thrown out of focus, using the small depth of field concept. Macro photography is a photograph where the subject is magnified to life size or greater. In macro photography, objects look different than what once thought when they are magnified. 

Depth of field determines how much of your image is in focus and is created by changing the aperture size. To create a macro photo your aperture setting needs to be large, which will allow the subject to be in focus and the background to be blurred. This setting is effective for close-ups and detail shots. 

Lighting is the key to successful macro photography. Proper lighting will help bring out the details you want to capture in your subject. Natural light is the best option when taking this type of photo. Avoid using the built in flash with this type of photo, because it will wash out the detail of your macro shot. 

Having good focus is the most difficult aspect of macro photography. Using manual focus will yield the best results. To begin learning how to take macro photos, first photograph a stationary object then experiment with taking macro photos of moving objects. In order to capture the detail you want it may take a few attempts.

If you are not comfortable with the manual settings, there should be a macro control on your camera. This is typically represented by a small flower on your camera’s settings dial. This setting allows your camera lens come closer to the subject. 

Any movement in the camera while taking a macro shot will be noticed in the photo. Using a tripod will eliminate any movement and help create a sharp and clear photograph.

Macro photography allows the photographer to focus on a specific detail of the subject and can be a helpful photojournalism tool. There are several rules a photographer must follow when creating detailed shots. This function allows the viewer a new look at the object that is being photographed.

How to Take iphone Photos

In journalism news can happen anywhere and at anytime. A journalist might not have a camera on them at all times, so the next best thing is to use an iphone. Taking a photo on an iphone may be simpler than using an SLR camera, but there are several things a photographer needs to be aware of to take well-composed iphone photos.

Before shooting turn the camera grid lines on, a function that can be found in the photo settings. These lines are very helpful when composing a photograph. They divine the picture into 9 equal boxes and help the photographer compose the image using the rule of thirds. 
After turning the grid boxes on, the photographer should position themselves for the shot. If the subject of the photo is far away do not zoom with the slider at the bottom of the screen. The zoom slider often creates a grainy or blurry picture. The best way to get closer to the subject is by moving yourself to a better position for the photograph. 
Lighting can make or break a photo and the same is true when using your iphone to take a photo. Lighting can help the subject of the photo stay in focus, while making a picture more interesting. Along with lighting, there are two settings that can better the image quality of the iphone photo, the AE/AF lock. These can be turned on by tapping the screen in the area where you would like the camera to focus on and expose for, and waiting for the box to bounce two times. By doing this you have asked the camera to focus on an area and expose for that particular area. These functions help capture a more detailed shot or help the lighting composition of the photo. 
Another setting that can be used on the iphone is the HDR setting. The HDR setting takes exposures from three different photos and combines them to create one well-lit photo. It is best to stand as still as possible when using the HDR setting, because the photos may be blurry if the photographer is moving.

            Using an iphone to take journalistic photos may not be ideal, but if you are put into a situation where it is the only thing available you should know how to take the best photo you can with the resources you have.