Kamote Photography | 5 Fast Tips for Macro Photography

5 Fast Tips for Macro Photography

Kamote Photography | 5 Fast Tips for Macro Photography

If you really like a close ups shots and macro-photographs, and you want to try how to do this?
Kamote Photography have something for you.

1. Live View

Over the past few years, a live view function has become available on almost all digital cameras. Its an extremely handy feature to use when shooting macro.
You never know where your subject is going to be. You could be shooting extremely low to the ground and in that position getting to the viewfinder might be more hassle than its worth. Switching on your live view is easy and saves you from bending down and hurting your back.
On many new DSLR camera, the screen is also larger and you can often judge how sharp an image is on the screen a lot easier than in the viewfinder.
Cameras such as the Canon 60D and G12 also now have pop out screens which you can turn and rotate around. These are very handy when shooting bizarre angles.

2. Set The Settings to Macro Mode

Compact camera users will have to switch to macro mode. Macro photography mode is typically easy to find, as it is usually identified by a small flower logo. Macro mode allows you to get slightly closer to your subject as well as telling the camera to increase the aperture, blurring the backgrounds and keeping the subject in focus.

DSLR users on beginners cameras will also have a macro mode, but I would suggest using the manual modes as they will give you more creative freedom. A true macro lens offers 1:1 magnification (life size magnification). However most other lenses will only be able to offer 1:2 (half life size), on these lenses you are normally able to find the small flower logo, with the details on the minimum focus distance. My kits lens for example is 0.28m/0.9ft. Find the number and remember it as you will not be able to focus very well if you get any closer. You might find that if you are using a telephoto that number could be quite large and getting in close might be quite tricky.


3. Avoid Camera Shake


The obvious problem with close up photography is camera shake, therefore I believe you should use a tripod. This will reduce the chances of blurry photos and also allows you to play around with your settings without losing your composition. As well as using a tripod, using a high shutter speed as well as a cable release will also help reduce camera shake.







4. Set proper Aperture

As previous mentioned aperture makes a big difference when shooting macro photography. Most compact cameras will not allow you change the aperture once in macro mode, however if using an SLR I would suggest choosing a larger aperture (small number) to get a nice shallow depth of field.
Most dedicated macro lenses will allow an aperture of around F2.8.

5. Add Flash

Shadows are a macro photographers worst nightmare, so a flash is very important.
If you have a DSLR and are able to afford an external flash for off-camera work then you will be in the best position. This will give you the freedom to light the subject from any angle you wish.

However, if your using the built-in flash of your compact or SLR then I would suggest shooting around midday when the sun is at its highest, using the on-camera flash a fill light.
Think about using a diffuser as well so that the “hard light” of the flash doesn’t appear to un-natural. Contrary to what you might think, if a light source is bigger than a subject, the closer you put the light to subject, the softer the light gets. But when dealing with macro situations, the closeness of your flash will cause more problems with overexposure than anything else. Even at it’s lowest power a flash pointed directly at a subject from one foot, may be too bright at f/22. A diffuser will help with this as well issue as well.
You might also find that a reflector can also help light your scene.

Kamote Gallery | 5 Simple Tips in Sunset Photography

5 Sunset Photography Tips

Kamote Gallery | 5 Simple Tips in Sunset Photograhy

Do you love photography? Kamote Photography has something for you!

1. Set the Camera Settings
By now, you should already have some basic knowledge about the shutter speed, aperture and ISO. If you can control them, you can control the light going to your sensor, which is crucial at sunset photography.

Shutter Speed – Slow speeds won’t work, anything above 1/500 will. Generally speaking, best setting you might apply is 1/5000 for shutter speed.
Aperture – The size doesn't really matter, but to get less flare and other problems, make sure to stop a little bit and not shoot at the widest possible aperture. Example is f/8 – f/22.
ISO – Always have it at ISO 100 (or lowest speed). The sun is warm and heats the sensor, and heat makes your images noisier. You’d be better of by choosing a slower shutter speed or larger aperture.
Auto Focus – Most of the time, auto focus will do just fine but if your sunset picture has no objects and only the sky, it may hunt a bit. Simply switch over to Manual Focus and rotate that ring until it’s sharp.



2. Know The Weather Report
If the sunset occurs at 5.59 pm, then it possible to happen next day at exact time. Be get ready and arrive 20-30 minutes before the sunset time. just to make sure you don't miss a thing.
Also, look outside at the clouds and their direction, you’ll soon see you will be very good at knowing what the weather will be like!

3. Be Patient
Experiment with different positions and make sure to get a shot in vertical and horizontal style. Take your time, sunsets are long and you can take plenty of pictures in the mean time. Some will have too much flare, some won’t be straight, then others have no rich colors. I usually take 5 – 20 pictures of every beautiful sunset and less if it’s an usual one.

4. Include Objects to the Scene

Simple picture of the sun sometimes may be a bit boring. That’s why you should also try to include an object inside of the frame, like a animals, trees or even a person. Anything to make it more unique. You may also want to experiment with silhouettes.




5. Look Around

For sure, your focus is only sunset, but you might turn your head and watch every angle in your current position, you might get something unexpected scenes. You might capture very cool crazy colors of cloud lightened by the sun. Focus of the subject is commonly at the center, but you might try different positions of the focus, left, right. You might get the best shots.

Kamote Gallery: Lonely Walk

Kamote Gallery: Lonely Walk 

Perhaps you have already seen this road, and if you don't you must! LoL! Imagine how lonely walking alone in this road. Kamote naman! The road is located near CLSU Oval going to Lingap Kalikasan via ISPEAR.

if you have time, try to visit and walk a lonely walk. 

~ kamote gallery is healthy

Ohh Katrina!

Kamote Gallery:  Ohh Katrina!

Ohh Katrina!! This is one of the oldest dog/pig we ever had. She spent more or less 49years of her life with us(dog time).



~ kamote gallery is healthy..

Kamote Gallery: 3PM

Good Friday : 3pm

How about this one? This was taken at our barangay, Don Montano. For me, this is my best shot I ever made.

~ kamote gallery is healthy..