Close-Up Nature Photography: Beyond the Basics

Class Preview

Gain the skills and confidence to capture captivating close-up images!

Finding Subjects

Meet your instructor, world-renowned photographer Adam Jones, as he helps you take your nature photography to the next level. Learn how to see, isolate and frame your subjects to avoid overall clutter and observe what makes a great subject and what scenes you should avoid.

Using Natural Light

Find out what type of light produces the best images when working on a small scale. Avoid unwanted shadows and show off delicate detail with diffusors, reflectors and fill flash. Adam demonstrates how to capture the colors you see in nature by adjusting white balance. For extra control, he’ll show you how to create a custom white balance.

Setting Up

Get tips for setting up your camera and discover the one accessory that will transform your macro photography as Adam offers his advice for buying a tripod. Conquer your worst enemy in close-up photography, wind, with Adam’s expert tips and learn the “dangerous” shutter speeds to avoid. Finally, see how embracing your camera’s live view can help you focus and compose your photo before you trip the shutter.

Small Viewpoints

Adam shares his philosophy on what makes a good image and lays out the elements to consider when composing photos. Learn where to place your subject in the frame and how secondary elements can complement or detract from your composition.

Depth of Field in a Small World

Explore the creative process as you adjust and play with depth of field. See the strikingly different photos created by changing the aperture as Adam discusses when you might want to shoot for sharpness and when you might want to blur out the background. Finally, discover how to use image-stacking software to put a challenging subject completely into focus.

Specialized Gear

Tour the most widely used lenses in macro photography as Adam offers the pros and cons for each option. He also shares his recommendation if you have to choose just one. Discover the accessories — extension tubes, diopters and teleconverters — that allow you to increase your lens’s power, getting you closer to your subject even if you’re standing further away!

Wide-Angle Close-Ups

Tap into your imaginative side and stretch your understanding of intimate landscapes as you add artistic lenses to your gear bag. See how a wide-angle lens puts a tiny object into a world all of its own and observe how a tilt-shift lens allows you to capture views and angles that your tripod can’t.

Handmade Travel Kit Bag

Get ready to travel in style with the Woodland Bag! In this video tutorial, designer Ellie Lum helps you sew and construct a unisex dopp-kit-style pouch made with waxed canvas fabric. Learn techniques for inserting metal zippers, canvas lining, leather trim and more. The class materials include detailed instructions to make your own, and a kit is also available.