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MACROPHOTOGRAPHY TOOLS, TIPS & TECHNIQUES FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS 2012 Controlling the Background In any photograph, the background can enhance or detract from the image. One of the most common errors is a background that is too busy or distracting. This can happen in macrophotography because the image in the view finder that the photographer sees is with the lens wide open, and it often doesn’t reveal out-of-focus highlights caused by grass or sticks. All automatic lenses allow the viewer to focus with the aperture wide open to allow as much light in as possible for the photographer to focus. When taking the picture, however, the aperture closes down to the f- value set by the photographer. If the aperture is at any other setting other than wide open, it gets smaller. <strong>The</strong> result is an increase in the depth of field which reveals elements that can cause distractions. Better DSLR cameras include a depth of field preview button, usually on the front of the camera near the lens mount, that allows the photographer to press it and view the depth of field at any specific aperture. If the lens is set to a smaller aperture e.g., f/16, the aperture gets smaller, the viewfinder gets darker and there is also an apparent increase in the depth of field. Before taking closeup pictures, photographers should use the depth of field preview button if they have it on their camera or lens. Quite often, an element that is not visible, such as bright piece of grass becomes noticeable only after stopping down. If you don’t have this feature, you can see the actual depth of field of the final image by viewing it on the LCD screen on the back of your camera. Assistant holding a green-coloured piece of cloth behind the flower to simplify the background. Robert Berdan | 42
MACROPHOTOGRAPHY TOOLS, TIPS & TECHNIQUES FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS 2012 Top: Yellow Lady’s slipper with a distracting background. Bottom: <strong>The</strong> same image with a black card placed behind the flowers creates a simpler background and brings out the flower’s colour. Robert Berdan | 43
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