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Chapter 12 Outdoor Photography
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Close-Up Photography
A close-up photographer is able to open
the door to a strange and often beautiful
world in which intricate shapes and structures
emerge from everyday objects, and common
insects take on the menacing appearance of
prehistoric monsters. This world is conveniently
located—close-up photographers can find an
almost endless supply of subjects in their own
backyards.
How Close Is Close?
For greater precision when discussing close-
up photography, the terms reproduction ratio and
magnification are commonly used. Although they
present the information in different forms, both
methods state the size relationship between the
actual object and its recorded image.
Some people find the size relationship easiest
to understand when stated as a reproduction
ratio, such as 1:4. The numeral before the colon
represents the reproduction size, the size of the
recorded object on film or in the digital file. The
second numeral represents the size of the actual
object. A 1:4 ratio means that the actual object is
four times larger than its representation. If the
recorded image is 1″ long, then the actual object is
4″ in length.
Figure 12-56 shows examples of reproduction
ratio. If a ladybug is 1/4″ long, and the recorded
image is also 1/4″ long, the reproduction ratio is
1:1. The recorded image is said to be same size
or life-size. If the image measures only 1/8″, the
reproduction ratio is 1:2, or half life-size. The
recorded image also may be larger than the real
object. If the ladybug image measures 1/2″, it is
twice as big as the real insect, so the reproduction
ratio is stated as 2:1.
The magnification rate provides the same
information as the reproduction ratio, but in a
different form. Instead of describing the size
relationship as 2:1, for example, it is stated as 2×, or
“two times life-size.” Reproduction at less than life-
size is represented by fractional magnification rates,
such as 1/2× or 1/10×. Fractional rates can also be
expressed in decimal form, such as 0.5× or 0.10×.
The meaning of the term close-up
is subjective. However, three ranges of
magnification can be used to help answer the
question, “How close is close?” The lowest
magnification range extends from about 1/20× to
1×, or 1/20 life-size to actual life size. This degree
of magnification, which can be referred to as the
close-up range, is achieved by the use of normal-
focus or close-focusing lenses alone, without
employing special techniques or accessory
equipment. A close-focusing lens is often referred
to as a macro lens. The term comes from the Greek
word makros, which means “large”.
1:1 1:2 2:1
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 12-56. Reproduction ratio.