Creating better pictures: Close-ups

Closeups

Ever want to take pictures of colorful flowers and trees on a trip to the mountains? Gorgeous gardens and even potted plants can be great photographic subjects.

In this issue, we explore fundamentals for shooting beautiful closeups of these plants and flowers.

Closeups and Reproduction Ratio
There's nothing complicated about the concept of closeups. Capturing a life-size image simply requires an up-close approach to small and fine-detailed subjects, like plants and insects.

Usually, you can take a closeup between 1:4~1:5 reproduction ratio using a zoom lens with built-in macro mechanism.
To boost the reproduction ratio even more, combine accessories for closeups or switch to an exclusive micro (macro) lens.

Reproduction Ratio

The ratio between the size of a subject and the size of its image on film is expressed as 1:4, 1:2, etc.

A 1:1 ratio represents a life-size image.

Reproduction Ratio Equation

Reproduction Ratio (M) = size of the image on film / size of the subject
[Example]
When shooting a picture of a 1-yen coin (diameter: 20mm) onto film that shows the coin at half of its actual size (diameter: 10mm),

reproduction ratio (M)= 10/20 = 1:2

Regular photo
Reproduction ratio: 1:2	Reproduction ratio: life-size

Term

Working Distance

Distance between lens front (attachment portion) and subject (point of focus).

Normally, the longer the focal length, the longer the working distance.

Easy-to-use closeup accessories

Closeup attachment lens

Normally, filters are screwed onto the front of the lens.

Although the attachment lens does not have high reproduction ratio, the exposure factor will not change. Therefore, it is also possible to shoot with a close-up lens attached for single lens AF shooting.

Such a useful attachment is small, thin and portable enough to fit in a case for you to carry in a pocket.

The Nikon closeup attachment lens lineup includes No. 0, 1, 2, 3T, 4T, 5T and 6T versions. Depending on filter size, lens focal length and desired reproduction ratio, there are various ways to use these lenses for closeup shooting.

Filter Size (Attachment diameter) 52mm: No.0~4T

Filter Size (Attachment diameter) 62mm: No.5T~6T

* 3T and 4T are for semi-telephoto lenses. 5T and 6T are for telephoto lenses.

5T attached to AF 75~300mm f/4.5~5.6 lens (at 300mm)

Close-up attachment lenses
AF75~300mm only	AF75~300mm with No. 5T

Here are details about Nikon AF Micro-lenses:

Types and characteristics of AF Micro-Nikkor lenses

AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D	For shooting life-size pictures, the approx. working distance of 70mm is short. Suitable for closeups of flowers and reproduction of written documents or prints.
AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D	For shooting life-size pictures, the approx. working distance of 140mm is long. Suitable for closeups of flowers, insects, etc.
AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED	For shooting life-size pictures, the approx. working distance of 260mm is long. Since the focal length is 200mm, the blur of the front and rear of the subject appears large, making the subject stand out.
AF Zoom-Micro Nikkor 70~180mm f/4.5~5.6D ED	The world's first AF Zoom-Micro lens. Although this useful lens has maximum reproduction ratio of 1:1.3 at 180mm (approx. 120mm working distance), it lets you adjust reproduction ratio without changing camera position (the desired position considering focus point and shooting distance).

* If you think a micro (macro) lens is only for closeups, Nikon's Micro-Nikkor lenses shoots sharp images in the range from closeup to infinity, for snapshots and other general photographic applications.

Shooting Techniques

1) Choose an appropriate subject	For flowers, aim for clean, vivid colors in parts that are as perfectly formed as possible.
2) Consider lighting conditions	Observe the subject from different lighting angles.
3) Choose a shooting angle	When shooting from a high angle, try to avoid shooting the ground.
4) Choose a shooting distance	Start from the closest feasible shooting distance.
5) Confirm the composition	Avoid one-point composition which applies the "partitions of two" method in favor of the "partitions of three" method.
6) Choose an aperture	Try shooting with shallow depth of field to emphasize the main subject. Note: Normally, when shooting with a closeup attachment lens attached, the lens aperture should not be at maximum setting. A smaller aperture is recommended.
7) The camera should be held still with use of a tripod	Try to avoid camera shake during shutter release by using a remote cable release, self-timer, etc. When shooting outdoors, watch out for wind and unstable ground that could cause subjects to wobble.