Use the "flower" setting

The "flower" setting is really called "macro" and I think it is universally symbolized as a tulip-like icon.

The point of this feature is to take photos very close to the subject. The result is a narrow depth of field and a different perspective. For my photos I was within a few inches.



As you can see, I don't actually have a mini tripod. Well I do, but I can't find it. But I did have a bunch of food magazines on hand.

The macro setting is one of my favorite features and one of the features you can find on pretty much any camera. I think it is the most under-used feature (along with the timer) on point-and-shoot cameras.

I hate how much it costs to buy some fresh herbs and so I'm starting my own herb garden. We'll soon see how green my thumb is. Tarragon was the first to sprout.



I've enhanced these photos by increasing the black and upping the contrast, in Lightroom.

I like this photo below but it shows too much around the subject.


So I cropped it to look like this:


My process went like this.

1 Get a general idea of what the Tarragon looks like with the macro setting.

2 Get something to prop the camera on since my kitchen doesn't have great light. The shutter was open from 1/20th - 1/6th of a second depending on the photo. (The shutter was automatic so I didn't really adjust it, if I focused on the dark dirt, the camera wanted the shutter to stay open longer because it thinks it is taking a photo of something really dark)

3 Set the timer to 2 seconds (I love the timer options on my camera). Pressing the button, even on a tripod, can cause some camera shake and food magazines are not known for holding a camera perfectly still. Letting the camera wait two seconds and then open the shutter makes sure there is no camera shake.

4 Arrange the herb garden how I want it. I rotated the Tarragon to my liking.

5 Take photos.

6 Make some minor adjustments in Lightroom, crop some.

Anyone can take photos like these.

It took me about 10 minutes.

4 ways to take professional photos with your inexpensive camera

1. Use the macro setting
Using the macro is very underrated. The macro helps you get a narrow field in focus. Professionals use this narrow depth of field look all the time. The macro setting just makes it easy on point-and-shoot cameras.


2. Change your perspective
One of my favorite things to do to change the perspective of my shots is to attach my camera to a kite. The camera gets a really high angle and some stunning shots. Kite aerial photography is something I'll do more of as the weather warms up.


3. Use a tripod
A tripod is absolutely necessary for night photos. This shutter was only 1/6 of a second. Invest in a tripod.


4. Show motion in your photo
It seems like so many photos are shot with low light. This makes it easy to get motion in my shots. The thing about show motion is that something must not be moving for the motion to look good.