[Browser Mike]

Just treated myself to my first ever DSLR. My " Bridge " enjoying retirement. Lots to learn and an handbook the size of the " Encyclopedia Britannica ". This pic is an attempt at something that I have never done before : Close-up.
Nikon D3300 with kit lens ( AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5 - 5.6 G VR11 )
1/250 @ f/8, ISO 400, 48mm. VR Off, Tripod. Close - up Mode.

[EdMak]

Off to a good start Mike,next time, a wee bit more room at the top, to include all the flower. Ed.

[Browser Mike]

Thanks Ed, excellent tip. No doubt you would have no problem getting rid of the two leaves to the left of the shot, which I find somewhat intrusive.
My next move is to attempt Aperture Priority to practice DOF.
Regards,
Mike.

[Jeffbridge]

Fantastic shot!!! Really nice!

[Browser Mike]

Many thanks Jeff.
For those that may be interested the shot is of the flower of a Bush Fuchsia which just happens to be in the car park to my flat.
Mike.

[MrB]

Nice shot, Mike, and I would clone out the sharp petal at the top left.

I don't understand Close-Up Mode. Presumably you can only get as close as the nearest focus distance of your lens, which would probably make a fuchsia flower less than a quarter of the image from a standard zoom. So is the D3300 cropping the central area of the frame to make the subject look bigger?

Cheers.
Philip

[Browser Mike]

Hi Philip,
This is a touch technical for me. Close - up is obtained on the mode dial and the D3300 optimises settings to suit. My understanding is that close - up is for close - up shots of flowers, insects etc. This would not qualify as Macro. For that a Macro lens, or Macro capable lens, would be required. Minimum focus distance for the kit lens is : AF - 0.28m from focal plane at all zoom positions.
MF - 0.25m from focal plane at all zoom positions.
As for cropping, I did that in Elements.
Hope this helps,
Mike

[EdMak]

Mike, I remember that my first close up attempt, was consigned to the bucket by my boss. Macro is a bandied word now, I always took it to mean one to one. A SLR feature in the 60/70's was to buy a Lens reversing ring, enabling the lens to be fitted front inwards, results were excellent, although a piece of plasticine, or similar, was needed to hold the diaphragm pin in ,so aperture could be selected, if not, then all pics were taken at full aperture. Ed.

[Browser Mike]

Fascinating information Ed. I feel fortunate that I have life easier.
Mike.

[MrB]

Hi Philip,
This is a touch technical for me. Close - up is obtained on the mode dial and the D3300 optimises settings to suit. My understanding is that close - up is for close - up shots of flowers, insects etc. This would not qualify as Macro. For that a Macro lens, or Macro capable lens, would be required. Minimum focus distance for the kit lens is : AF - 0.28m from focal plane at all zoom positions.
MF - 0.25m from focal plane at all zoom positions.
As for cropping, I did that in Elements.
Hope this helps,
Mike

Thanks for that, Mike. I thought that was how it would work, but I was puzzled as to how the flower filled the frame of a kit lens shot - and your last bit explains that!

Cheers.
Philip

[RobS]

    Hi Mike,

Like you, I've just discovered close-up photography and it's certainly opening up all sorts of opportunities, usually without having to leave home! I particularly liked the background to your photo, which is the aspect of shooting close that I find quite hard to predict or control. It feels like there's a fine line between a background that enhances and one that distracts. I took this photo a couple of days ago and I'll leave you to judge whether you think the background works.

Rob

[MrB]

The background works for me, Rob, because of the way you have composed the shot - the main subject is in the context of a tree full of fruit, and I like the way that the out-of-focus apples surround the one in focus.

Cheers.
Philip

[Browser Mike]

Hi Rob,
Thanks for the comment. Truth is that the camera gave me the background. It was shot in close-up mode. I then sharpened and cropped to give something that I found acceptable. Sadly, I am not yet proficient enough to clone out the leaves to the left of the shot.
This proved to me that the camera can " take " a picture, but to progress further I need to use Aperture Priority and learn about DOF. With a bit of luck, and help from the Forum, I may one day " make " a picture.
I like your shot of the apple, and would be happy with the background.
One thing however. It is very useful if you could put the camera/EXIF data with the shot. The experienced members on the forum use this info to help and advise.
Best Wishes,
Mike,

[RobS]

The background works for me, Rob, because of the way you have composed the shot - the main subject is in the context of a tree full of fruit, and I like the way that the out-of-focus apples surround the one in focus.

Cheers.
Philip

Thanks a lot Philip. It's really helpful to hear the logic for why the background worked for you.

[RobS]

Mike, you've sent me rushing to Google to find out the meaning of EXIF data!

My apple photo was taken with a Nikon D700 set at ISO640 (it was a dull breezy day), 105mm, f8, 1/80sec.

Thanks for the guidance.

Rob

[Dean]

Thanks Ed, excellent tip. No doubt you would have no problem getting rid of the two leaves to the left of the shot, which I find somewhat intrusive.
My next move is to attempt Aperture Priority to practice DOF.
Regards,
Mike.

A pair of scissors, Mike. and not joking.
Dean

[Browser Mike]

No worry, Dean, I'm not laughing.
The shot of the individual flower was cropped from the original shot of a larger area of the bush. Apart from that, the bush is not my property.
Thanks anyway,
Mike.