:: 05. Macro Shots

Now, let's try and take pictures. We will start with macro shooting

Shooting Still Objects

Let's start with a small, mostly stationary subject, such as a sea lemon, the size of a little finger. Set the white balance to the ÒDaylightÓ or ÒCloudyÓ setting dependent on the water depth. Since most sea lemon species are small, use the macro mode. On camera models equipped with a manual focus, bring the lens up to the minimum focal distance and focus manually. Most digital cameras use an autofocus system called the contrast detection method, which focuses on objects with the greatest pattern definition. If you aim the camera at sea lemons living on rocks, the camera is most likely to focus on the rocks in the background, not the sea lemons. The manual focus is more effective in this case.

To shoot with the autofocus, first advance to the minimum focal distance and press the shutter button halfway until the autofocus lamp fires. In this state, move the camera backward or forward to sharpen the focus as seen in the LCD monitor. As you move the camera backward or forward, the focal point will change. It is easy to see the focal point in fine detail in the LCD monitor. When the right focus is achieved, press the shutter button all the way to take the photo.

The method of moving the camera backward or forward to set the focus is also effective for cameras in manual focus mode.

Don't just take a single picture, take several to be able to select the one with the best focus.

Photographing Small Subjects

Next, let's go after creatures even smaller than sea lemons, say fingertip-sized shrimp or crabs. You need to get really close to the subject, but you can't approach any closer than the camera's minimum focal distance or it won't focus. In this case, you can work around the issue by employing the digital zoom at a low rate of magnification. To do this, first zoom in to the maximum telephoto setting, set the focus according to the instructions in the previous section, then zoom in further on the subject with the digital zoom and shoot.

Although shooting with the optical zoom alone uses more of the pixel data captured by the CCD than the digital zoom, which zooms only the data in the center portion of an image, you can still capture a sufficiently clear picture if you use the digital zoom at low levels and your camera has a large pixel count. So, if you wish to make a subject a little bit larger in a composition, you can try using the digital zoom for this purpose.

Photographing Moving Fish

We'll finish this section with techniques for photographing fish as they swim. Let's use the anemone fish as our training partner. Since the anemone fish has a habit of rarely stirring from its nest among the sea anemones, you will be able to practice shooting if you are careful not to come so close that you scare it.

Start by observing the anemone fish's movements for a period of time. If you do this and it is of the clown anemone fish species, which hides among the sea anemones, you will observe that the fish has a path through the sea anemones and a particular spot where it will stop for awhile. The fish will move in a specific pattern between the path and that spot. This pattern of behavior is quite common in small fish and understanding it is the first step to getting good photographic results. Once you understand the anemone fishÕs characteristic movements, you can decide where on its travels you wish to photograph it.

To start off, you will want to stay quite far away from the anemone fish and hold the camera with your arms extended in front. Advance slowly with the camera extended to avoid startling the fish.

When you arrive at the spot from which you would like to take the picture, aim the camera, press the shutter button halfway and move it backward and forward until the camera is in focus and then wait for the anemone fish to come along. When the fish arrives at the spot you wish to photograph, immediately press the shutter button all the way.

If you try to press the shutter button on a digital camera all the way the first time without first pressing it halfway, the shutter will not activate until the camera has had time to focus and meter the exposure and white balance. The shutter lag may be as long as 1 second. Pressing it halfway reduces this time lag and avoids situations where you press the shutter button only to have the fish move on before the shutter releases, missing your opportunity to capture the image.

The reason for holding the camera with your arms extended is to avoid startling the fish or causing it to swim wildly around. If the fish you are attempting to photograph is always fleeing, it may be startled by your size or the sound of the air you exhale. If you slow your movement, align your eye line at the fish's height and modify your breathing, the fish should become more relaxed allowing you to take its picture.

Determining the Focusing Mode Example of the focus set to the minimum focal distance in manual focus mode.

Shooting with the Camera Extended Outward You can shoot without startling fish by extending the camera at arms'length.

Photographing Nudibranch Colorfully patterned nudibranch move slowly and possess vivid colors, making them ideal for practicing macro shots. If they appear small even at the minimum focal distance in macro mode, try using the digital zoom as well to make them look larger.

Photographing Shrimp The trick to photographing shrimp and crabs is not very technical, it is to understand their ecology and seek them out. If you find one, photograph it before it flees. Use the digital zoom for small subjects.

Photographing Anemone Fish To photograph an anemone fish, learn its habitual movements. Don't make sudden movements or come too close. Pick a spot along its regular route and wait for it to arrive. It's easier to photograph this fish without it fleeing if you extend your arms out in front to shoot and keep your body as far away from its nest as possible.

This section has been extracted from Canon Japan on how to prepare your digital investment.

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