Jessica Roberts

Close up Photography
Close up photography is commonly referred to as macro photography, it is
a way of seeing images from a new perspective. Macro photos allows the
viewers to see new details that werent visible before. It also allows
photographers to shoot things that werent thought of before, such as
stamens from a flower or the wing of a butterfly. The most common
subjects for macro photography are insects, flowers and food etc.
However the list of possible subjects is endless, ranging from the edge of
a diamond ring to the effect of oil and water.
What would your subject be? Mine might be the human body, focusing on
eyes. I think it would make an interesting shoot if photographed lots of
peoples eyes close up, as they are all different and make for a unique
photograph each time.
The first record of close up photography was in 1899, this was when the
term photo-macrograph was proposed by W.H.Walmsley. This term was
used to describe close-up images shot with less than ten diameters
magnification. Before photo-macrograph was introduced Walmsley was
interested in the study of the microscope in 1865, which later helped to
develop his ideas of close up photography.
A simple definition for close up photography is:
a photograph taken at close range or with a long focal-length lens.
This definition mentions a long focal-length lens, which is one technique
that can be used. A long lens is used for optimum focus and is one of the
most common tools for macro photography. Macro can achieve the
greatest magnification, which can be bigger than life size such as the
structure of insects eyes. Secondly, another possible technique is by
placing a close up filter in front of the cameras lens. This option is
inexpensive and simple, the filter screws on and provides a close focus.
However the quality may be less than a macro lens.
Another piece of equipment that stabilises your photographs is a Tripod.
This is needed because when you are shooting with a macro lens or filter
the depth of field is limited, which can lead to blurry photos. To make sure
that the camera and the subject doesnt move or shake, a tripod helps.
When on a macro shoot, you will find that the lighting wont be very
successful, as the lens takes away light making the photo unclear and
dark. There are several ways to fix this, such as adjusting the settings on
your camera to installing a new piece of equipment. One solution would
be to use a ring flash. A ring flash is an additional piece of equipment that
has multiple flash units that are positioned around the lens, instead of one
flash on top of the camera. The benefit of using a ring flash is that it will
eliminate the dark shadows and it will generate a good source of light
which will brighten your subject from all directions. Another key to good
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lighting would be to use a strobe. If the strobe is set on low, it will

illuminate the subject from every direction to provide for a successful
macro photo.

Photographers
One macro photographer who has inspired me is Heather Angel. Before
her interest in photography she had a career of a marine biologist,
although she abandoned it to become a freelance wildlife photographer.
Heathers main passion is photographing, plants, animals and shooting
close up photography. Lately, Heather has been on many shoots in the
botanic gardens of Kew, London. Her time spent in Kew gardens is going
towards producing a book and documenting wildlife. Heather Angel has
been interested in photography for several years, her photographs have
been published in magazines and books all over the world, which has won
her many awards.
"Heather manages to spot and bring to life insignificant parts of the
natural world." Sir David Attenborough.
Heather also offers lectures to students interested in macro photography,
she calls it The magic of Macro. In this lecture she talks about what
makes up a successful shot, such as Composition, critical focusing and
lighting. Heather Angel explains: "The great thing about macro subjects
is that you have complete control of the lighting. Selective use of
reflectors, diffusers, fill flash or prime flash in the field ensures you can
select the optimum lighting without making blaming the weather for lack
lustre results!"
Most of Heathers subjects are flowers, insects and other wildlife as well as
plant details.

This is an example of Heather Angels work

showing a beetle on a plain white background, the
beetle provides a large shadow. The use of the
plain white background in this photo is very
effective, because it allows us to see the huge
shadow that covers the small beetle. I like the
angle of the shot, which was from above although
it is not a birdseye view, this angle manages to
include the shadow aswell. The shadow in this
image brings attention to the quality of light that Heather has achieved.
The light iluminates the beetle from all angles,
allowing us to see every detail of the insect.
The composition of this photo is very simple.
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In this photograph the beetle is the main point of focus, which isnt
minmised by a busy background. This photograph was taken for the
purpose of Heathers Macro portfolio, which is accompanied by many other
insects, flowers and other close up photographs.
This second photograph has also been taken from Heather Angels Macro
portfolio on her website, this photo is completley different to the first
although still carries the same aspect of close up photography. This photo
is quite difficult to interpret, as the close up takes away our knowledge of
what the photo involves. In my opinion, I can see some wax flowers (hoya
carnosa) in some water which may be contained in a fluted vase. The
composition of this image could create some confusion altough I think that
makes the photograph effective. I like the colours of this image, the white
and pink flowers against the turqoise water creates a peacefull feeling,
which is supported by the delicate flowers that have been chosen. The
main point of focus in this photograph is the wax flowers as they are
situated in the middle of the shot, however the water does break up the
image which allows the audience to explore the photograph for longer.
Another close up photographer is Ross Hoddinott. Hoddinott is a natural
history and landscape photographer, although he specialises in macro
photography. He is also an author and a freelance writer. Ross developed
his passion for nature at a young age, which stemmed from the area close
to his parents home in North Cornwall, where he would explore and learn
about the wildlife. At age ten, he started taking his own photos, and a
year later he had won his first award. (BBC Countryfile annual award.) In
addition, he won Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year when he was 14.
This encouraged Hoddinott to make photography is main focus. Ross now
is a well known outdoor photographer and his work is shown in national
magazines such as Wild Planet. He earns a living by selling his work to the
National Trust and other publishers such as RSPCA photolibrary and
NaturePL. Hoddinott has also worked with other photographers to create
several books, for instance Digital Macro & Close-up photography.
Hoddinotts subjects are all linked with nature, such as small insects, wild
animals and plants. He also shoots other subjects such as landscapes, and
one of his galleries is called Creative Visions which includes experiments
of oil and water, reflections and patterns on ice.
Similarly to Heather Angel, Hoddinott also runs workshops for aspiring
professional photographers. His workshops included spending a day on
location such as a nature reserve where you can
learn more about all the skills
needed in macro photography,
such as exposure, light,
composition etc.
This is an example of Ross
Hoddinotts work, in 2011 this
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photograph won the British Wildlife Photography Awards. I picked this

photograph because I think it is the prime example of his work. In this
photograph we can see an insect sitting on top of a yellow flower. I like the
composition, as the main focus point is centered which is followed by the
coloured background of the petals. The focus point is the insect, however
we also pay attention to the centre of the flower. In this photograph
Hoddinott has used a small aperture because the whole flower is in focus.
I like the fact that he has cropped the photo, resulting in no background.
This means that there are no distractions.
This is another example of Hoddinotts work which was taken from his
Creative visions gallery. In this photo we can see water droplets on a
coulourful background, which may be a CD or a patterened background.
This photo is unique because it is very different to all of his other work, as
it is not linked with nature. This photo has inspired me to try a shoot
similar to this, using a water and oil technique. However I will use
patterened material to create similar colours. The composition of this
photo is quite simple, because there is only two elements to the photo. I
like how the piece is facing straight on because this allows the water
droplets to show reflections of the pattern underneath. To create the
spherical water droplets Hoddinott might of used a pippette or a similar
tool, I can take this information to improve my shoot.
The third photographer that I have been researching is Imogen
Cunningham. Imogen was born in Portland, Oregon in 1833. Early on in
life, before school she was encouraged to read by her father and was
given art lessons regularly. She was told that she would need to take
chemistry if she wanted to be a photographer, so she graduated with the
scientific knowledge she needed. After graduation she worked with the
photographer Curtis in a portrait studio, who taught her different
techniques that she would need. Later, Cunningham opened her own
studio in Seattle, United States. In seatlle, she would exhibit her work from
time to time. During this time she also created a book called Photography
as a profession for Women. Which she believed in strongly.
A few years later Imogen married and had three sons, which meant that
her focus on photography had dropped and she started taking pictures of
plants in her garden and her children. It was during this stage in her life
that she develooped her ideas of macro photography, as she had started
to shoot plant photographs.
At the begginning of the war, Imogen sold her house and started to use a
studio of her friends which was situated in San Fransisco, which is where
she built a permanent studio for herself. These years were believed to be
the best years in terms of her photography work, which was full of
exhibitions across the United States. Cunningham earnt a living by selling
her work to museums such as the George Eastman House in New York.
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She began travelling with the money she earnt which broadened her
photography work.
Imogeon Cunningham was a well known photographer, who was a very
successful and talented artist, Cunningham passed away in 1976 at age
93. Cunningham is still remembered today, and her work is protected by
the Imogeon Cunningham Trust which she had set up a year before she
passed.
This is one example of Cunninghams work, in this
photograph it shows the plant False Hellebore. This
photograph was believed to be taken in the year
1926. In this photo we can see only a section of the
plant, which I think is effective because it might
take longer to realise what it is or what type of
plant it is. I dont believe that there is a main point
of focus because Imogen has used a larger
aperture, which means that the whole image is in
focus. Cunningham has used the natural light to her advantage, as she
has taken the shot in daylight there are some shadows. I think that the
shadows benefit this photo, because it breaks the image up. The shadows
help to reveal the form of the plant, such as the twists in the leaves.
This is another example of Imogen Cunninghams work. It
was taken from her gallery called Botanicals. This photo
was believed to have been taken in 1930 and it shows a
Hydrangea plant, against a black background.
The composition is very straight-forward, this is because
the flower has been placed In the middle of the shot,
using a black backdrop to make sure the focus remains
on the flower. I think that the most effective aspect of
this photo is the contrasting colours of the bright white
flower against the dark black background. These colours
make the flower head stand out to the audience, making
the photo sharp and clear. The stem of the flower seems
to blend into the background, because the stem is darker than the head.
The shadow in this photograph manages to reveal the texture on the
leaves which highlights the detail. This photograph is my favourite of
Cunninghams collection, simply due to the contrasting colours of which I
hope to recreate in my own work.
The final photographer that I have researched is Edward Weston. Weston
was born In Illinois, United States on the 24th of March 1886. Edwards first
realised his passion for photography when he was sixteen years old, and
used a Bulls Eye camera that his dad had brought him. He used this
camera to shoot Chicagos parks and his aunts farmland. He began
working as a travelling photographer, photographing children, pets and
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funerals. Weston received some training in 1908 at the College of

Photography in Illinois which lasted twelve months, however he completed
it in half the time. He started a small job in a portrait studio where his
skills were noticed. After this he opened up his own studio in California
which was a permenant base. His work won many awards and gained a
sucessful reputation, resulting In magazine articles about his work. Many
of Westons work was created in his studio, and in a darkroom which was
later developed.
1926 was the year that is believed to have been the start his most famous
years as a photographer, this is the year that Edward Weston began
shooting natural forms and macro photography. This series of work
included seashells, cabbages and peppers which were all close-ups.
However in 1946, Edward Weston started to experience Parkinsons
disease symptoms and shot his last photograph four years later. There
was a large event held for Weston featuring 300 prints of his work in the
Museum of Modern Art in New York. Although his illness progressed slowly,
and he passed away in Janurary, 1958 in his home in California.
This is an example of Westons work, which was
taken from his still life series. This photo is called
Pepper no.30 and was taken in 1930. This is one of
the most famous photographs that Weston created,
it portrays a single green pepper in black and white
tones, which is slightly brighter on the top. Western
wrote: It is a classic, completely satisfying, a
pepper but more than a pepper; abstract, in that it
is completely outside subject matter. It has no
psychological attributes, no human emotions are
aroused: this new pepper takes one beyond the
world we know in the conscious mind.
Western used an experimental technique which involved placing the
pepper in a tin funnel which made Edward able to light the pepper so that
it looked three dimensional. I think that the light is the main contributor
for the success of this image, because without it the
pepper would be flat like all of his other negatives.
This is another example of a photograph taken from
Westons still life collection. This shows a seashell
against a plain black background. This shell has been
cut in half to reveal the structure, which has been
highlighted with lights. This photograph was taken with
an extremely long exposure due to the camera that he
was using, in his shell series sometimes the exposure
lasted for five hours which was a long process because
the subject could move and ruin the photo. In a diary, Edward wrote: The
shells again moved! It must be the heavy trucks that pass jar the building
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ever so slightly. Anyway, I have quit trying: I can afford no more

film." Western was close to giving up, although with persistence he
created some of his most well-known photographs, including the shell
above. Similarly to the pepper photo, Western has used a plain black
background which has a good effect of directing attention to the shell.
This makes the image clear and focused. If I were to try to recreate some
of Westerns photographs I would use a black backdrop in low key to gain
the same effects.