When you are trying to capture images, often times, the story is in the details. Slowing down and looking for the details within a scene will lead you to beautiful images that others don’t see.
Start by picking a subject and capturing an image. After you have done this, my suggestion would be to move closer and capture another image. And when you are even closer, get closer still and capture yet another image. You can either by zooming with your lens or with your feet (moving closer to the subject).
In this series of images, the beautiful weathered wood is something that I might have missed and walked past. But by capturing an image and looking for the picture within a picture, I was able to capture the details of the wonderful texture of the wood.
When you start noticing the details, a world of possible images opens up to you. Viewers of your images will definitely start noticing a difference in your photography.
When finding a subject and getting closer and closer and closer, you could use a telephoto lens. A 70–200mm or 70–300mm lens will work really well for this workshop. You could use a wide angle lens but it is easier to isolate your subject with a telephoto lens.
There will come a point where you are trying to focus on a subject with a lens and it will not be able to focus. That is because every lens has a minimum focusing distance.
The minimum focusing distance of a lens is the closest distance that that lens can be to a subject and achieve focus.
Different lenses have a different minimum focusing distance. For example, a 70–200mm lens may have a minimum focusing distance of 1.4 meters (4.6 feet). So it can focus on objects at that distance or farther but if you try to focus on something closer than 1.4 meters, the object will always be out of focus. While a 600mm lens may have a minimum focusing distance of 4.4 meters (14.4 feet) so your subject needs to be at least that far away from your for it to be in focus.
Some lenses, like macro lenses allow you to get quite close to your subject. One of my favourite macro lenses, the Nikon 105mm f2.8 macro lens is a great lens for getting really close but you definitely don’t need a macro lens for this workshop.
When you look for details, you can find images in mundane places. In the example below, a pile of sticks may not seem like a great subject, but you can find interesting images by focusing in on the details.
Photographing Hands
When it comes to people and I am looking for a details or a picture within a picture, I find that I like to photograph hands. Our hands do the work in our daily lives and can help to tell someone’s story. Who they are, their hardships, their successes, their passion, their failures. I want you to think of any job out there. Try to picture what the person’s hands might look like or might be doing that represents their job. Maybe a stockbroker is just their hand holding up some slips of paper or on a keyboard with numbers on a computer screen nearby. The artist’s hands may have paint in the nails. A woodworker may have dusty worn hands with small scratches. Photographing hands doesn’t only have to relate to jobs. What would the hands of a homeless person look like? What might they be doing?
Workshop: Details
For this workshop don’t worry about extreme closeups. Just start with a regular lens and pick a subject and capture an image. Then get closer and capture another image. Keep getting closer and closer all the while capturing images. Try to look for the picture within a picture – the part of the scene that grabs your attention or represents your subject.
At some point you won’t be able to focus anymore because your lens will hit its minimum focusing distance. Remember that different lenses have different minimum focusing distances.
What you need:
Your camera and any lens (a regular to telephoto lens will make it easier to isolate the subject). You can also use the camera on your phone as it works great for this workshop. Actually, your phone may be able to focus closer than the lens on your camera.
If you enjoy capturing details, you may want to look into getting a macro lens. Another option is to get a clip on lens for your phone that allows you to capture macro images. I love the Olloclip macro lenses and have used them for years.
Remember (your focus):
Find a subject and photograph it. Then get closer and photograph it again. Get closer still and capture another image. Look for the picture within a picture.
What part of the image grabs your attention or represents the subject? Focus on that.
Try to capture hands at work.
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