Close up photos without a macro lens?

Don't own a dedicated macro lens? Here's one simple way of achieving a macro look using a non-macro lens.

The flowers in these examples are less than an inch wide in real life. The shot was taken hand-held with front of lens approximately 10" from the two top flowers.
Camera settings used were: lens at 20mm, centre focus point selected with exposure mode on 'Centre Weighted' - f/3.5 at 1/200sec, ISO 400. File size set to RAW.

First image shows result after converting RAW file to .tif in PS Adobe Camera Raw. Already image is showing classic 'macro' attributes of subject in focus, background out of focus and foreground slightly out of focus.

Second image is cropped from first image for better composition and to make flowers larger in the frame. This result looks more like a macro shot.

I used my Sigma 10-20mm lens at 20mm for this exercise, but a standard 18-55mm kit lens could be used just as effectively.

August Competition Results

Novice Print

1 Jennifer Leddin	Nap Time
2 Benjamin Spencer	Holding up the Roof
3 Benjamin Spencer	Green Slime

Small Print(set Subject)

1	No Entries
2
3

Small Print Open

1 John Culver	Drying Out
2 John Culver	Qualup Bell
3 John Vandekolk	Port Fairy Show
3 (Equal Third) Benjamin Spencer	Mist over Water

Colour Print (Set Subject)

1 Diane Mugavin	Mum
2 Benjamin Spencer	Spider's Web
3

Colour Print (Open)

1 John Culver	Super Pit
2 John Culver	Pil*apper Rock
3 Diane Mugavin	Beautiful

Monochrome (Set Subject)

1	No Entries
2
3

Monochrome Open

1 Benjamin Spencer	Chess Pieces
2
3

Experimental

1 Benjamin Spencer	Fletcher Jones
2
3

EDPI

1 Roger Neal	Bunalong Beach
2 John Culver	Albany Sunrise
3 John Culver	Super Pit
(Hon Mention) Benjamin Spencer	Bubble Gum Suit

July Competition Results

Novice Print

1 Benjamin Spencer	Snail Shell
2 Diane Wickson	Tranquility
3 Benjamin Spencer	Smelly

Small Print(set Subject)

1 Diane Wickson	Winsurfer
2 Benjamin Spencer	Hiking
3 Benjamin Spencer	Red Shirt Rider

Small Print Open

1 Benjamin Spencer	Spike on a Stick
2 Benjamin Spencer	Happiness
3 John Vandekolk	Portrait

Colour Print (Set Subject)

1 Les Lockland	Bowled Out
2 Graham Dixon	Early Morning Exercise Rings
3 Graham Dixon	Early Morning Exercise Blur

Colour Print (Open)

1 Benjamin Spencer	Scenic View
2 Graham Dixon	Echoes from the Past
3 Thomas Spencer	Home Sweet Home

Monochrome (Set Subject)

1 Benjamin Spencer	Bike Riding
2
3

Monochrome Open

1 Thomas Spencer	Angel of the Skies
2 Benjamin Spencer	P..sy Tails
3 Benjamin Spencer	Coast Guard Boat

Experimental

1 John Vandekolk	Cyclist
2 Benjamin Spencer	Kite wont Fly
3

EDPI

1 John Culver	Sossusvlei Duststorm
2 Graham Dixon	Guinness Tent
3 Benjamin Spencer	Vanishing Point

Ballarat International Foto Biennale

A month long celebration of photography. 20/08/11 - 18/09/11. This is a fabulous event featuring multiple photography exhibitions and workshops. It is simply amazing and well worth going. The Core festival program alone features over 20 exhibitions , with the fringe festival involving a further 65 venues around ballarat and the surrounding area.

Click on the title for more details.