How To Take Great Close-Up Photos

Taking great close-up photos is much easier than you think. Based on the multitude of blurry detail pictures I've seen on ebay and craigslist, it must be a skill many don't possess. With these skills I've become that guyat work they come to when someone needs a good picture.

(This is an entry in the photo contest, so please vote if you like it!)

Note (10/29/09) - Thanks to everyone who voted for this!  Your participation is appreciated.

Step 1 Executive Summary

I'm going to start with the executive summary instructions for those who don't want a big explanation, then go into the how and why of it all for those who do.

Set the focus to macro mode, turn off the flash, and set the timer.
Set up the camera on a tripod, or on a table so it won't move.
Place the object to be photographed in front of it.
Press the shutter button and take your hand off the camera.

That's all there is to it. If you want more of an explanation, read on, if not I hope this helps you.

Comments

[Kalabi-Yao]

You can use the narrow depth of focus to your advantage. Pair it with close cropping to create layered, dynamic compositions. :)

[The Rambler]

This instructable changed my photo taking life. It's all so incredibly simple, but something I just didn't previously understand. Thank you.

[pavangadu]

great dude....its much helpful.....thanks a lot...@@@

[lov2bead53]

I am learning how to take images of the jewelry I make; which can be rather small. Great details. I would like more details from AMmunish4u911ex if he gets the chance.

Some jewelry makers pay a pro to take their photos but I want to do that myself.

[lostalaska]

Lighting is very important with jewelry, if the light is too "yellow" silver pieces look like gold in the shots. I had an older friend who owned his own knife shop and had a forge and a bunch of other gear and made his own damascus style steel for his blades that he sold to tourists coming through Juneau, Alaska. The trick was he also included a small brochure about the process and a website address where he sold his knives, I was kind of amazed at the number of people who buy knives for their loved ones for birthdays and holidays. Anyways, it took us a while to find "white" lights that didn't color the photos in weird ways.

Also get yourself a light box or build one yourself on the cheap. You need soft lighting for shiny objects so you don't get hotspots on them from your lighting. It's fun though, once you get everything you need some of the macro shots we took came out looking amazing.

[EvilMarker]

http://oi55.tinypic.com/zxv7fq.jpg

[EvilMarker]

point and shoot awesomeness

[marienkie1995]

Wher has that keyboard been?

[bloomautomatic]

it's been EVERYWHERE!!!!

That's a very old microsoft "natural elite" keyboard that's curved and split in the middle. It has outlasted It's great if you know how to type the "correct" way. If you hunt n peck, it's not for you. i work in a shop, so my hands get greasy. that's genuine shop grease, not human filth.

vince

[estrelita]

Thanks. This simple instructables has changed my closeup photos . I never took a picture before that was suitable for an instructable.

[ALadyDragon]

Thanks for the tips,
I felt like a little play with the camera today.
I thought i would post the image . fingers crossed it will upload.

Rated 5, Cheers.

[emihackr97]

Check out my new instructable:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-DIY-tattoo-machine-for-less-than-2-/

[dark sponge]

Great Instructable, I'll use this method when taking pics for my next project! 5/5 stars!

But... Eww! Your keyboard makes me want to throw up!

[bloomautomatic]

Thanks for the rating.

That is a very well used keyboard. Many, many years of shop grime and grease on that. I'm a hands on person and it shows there! The palm rest area is polished to a high sheen compared with the matte finish on the rest of it.

Vince

[dark sponge]

Oh, okay, knowing that that's shop grime makes me feel better. One of the keyboards in the library of my school likes like that, and it's disgusting knowing that the only source of filth there is the people's hands...

[dark sponge]

Woah! After I rated, the rating went up to 5.00 stars! I didn't know that was possible on Instructables!

[dark sponge]

Actually I think it's just a change in the rating system; I've noticed a lot of Instructables with unusually high ratings by the old standard.

[tech123456789]

here you go http://www.amazon.com/Memorex-10OZ-152A-DUSTER-32028021/dp/B0007YZTSC

[Kasm279]

I don't think that would work, looks like he needs a Magic Eraser!

[T_T_]

what works really well is to take off all the keys the put them in a bowl of soapy water and rub the dirt off each one. as for the board you can just spray it down with a hose, but you have to make sure it dries COMPLETELY before you use it, a week or so should be enough.

[fearme36]

I once had the same camera. But then i got the great idea to film my brother riding his scooter down a hill by following him using my old "heelys" (shoes with wheels in the heel) and filming at the same time. Needless to say the lens was all bent up, and it was totalled. The best part was that it filmed the crash, and I managed to get it on the computer.

I regret nothing.

[Spyderman36]

Where can i see that video???

[srsantafe]

Thanks for your instructable, looks cool

[manumanu764]

Nice heavy-duty tool...
I wonder what and how many things I could make a hole on...

[static]

Evidently the SD card in may camera was bad, took it out, and the camera no functions as it should. Fist attempt as using the macro function free hand with flash of that removed SD card, second of a minimag belt holster.

[Kasm279]

Minimags ftw :D

[rbstimers]

I think he took a photograph of a picture of his camera.

[slickh20]

and thank you fro a real answer! You win sir

[juliemosaic]

Thanks for this great Instructable! Well written, thanks again, very useful.

[hg341]

i love the powershot line i do this all the time with them(i have a 720 is)
ill post some of my nicer ones when i can find them

[NostalgicStone]

Thumb tacks, awesome idea!
Hadn't thought of that!
Thanks bud :)

[Damian84]

and here is my try: www.makroshots.com :) photos taken with sony ericsson C902 + dvd lens..

[matnook]

scan and crop the pics from the camera box or phamlets or from internet of course.

[munish4u911ex]

You dont need no expensive cameras!!! just have a look at the pics I took with my sony ericsson k310i camera (VGA!) & using a tiny lens from a laser pointer:

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/munish4u911ex/MyMicroscope

[rustygray]

Do you have an instructable to show us the lens and setup?

Awesome photos!

[munish4u911ex]

Hi rustygray, thanks for watching the pics. Unfortunately I do not have a instructable for it now, since it was not really some special setup but i accidentally fitted the lens on the K310i. But now I'm thinking to write one!

The lens was around 5 or 6 mm in width & fits almost nicely on the phone. The K310i's camera is a little deeper than the rest of the body so it provides the space for the lens to fit. I took it out from an old, 3button cell run, laser pointer. I think it's focal length might be 4 or 5 mm. It has both sides convex, but one side has a little more curvature. Only from one side the pics look uniform, if you try to see through the other side, image is somewhat blurred at the periphery (the 'zoom into' effect)

For now, I have lost the lens somewhere... But I'll do more experiments on this concept & will surely post an instructable. Might have to buy a new laser pointer :P

[TaterSalad]

Thanks for putting in step 2.  I would not have commented if you had omitted it, but since you did I will.  Nice detail  --- very impressive work.

[Ninzerbean]

I have noticed that we are fascinated with things larger than they are. It doesn't work in reverse because we are used to things appearing smaller than they are, as in whenever they are at a distance. I think it is something about our brains that they just can't compute so they send us signals to be in awe, I too love capitalizing on this. GREAT 'ible, now can you get people to use both hands when taking a regular normal shot, what is with the new phenomena of using one hand to not only hold the camera but push the button also?

[iectyx3c]

Easy to understand and nicely photographed. You are a good teacher.

[lukeyj15]

Cool, I've got a Canon PowerShot A460