Feature-Worthy Photos: Get Up Close and Personal

You can’t wait to see what your photos look like printed, but once you get the prints in your hand, disappointment arises. Why? Because you were expecting to see the subjects “pop” out of the images as if they were in real time. Instead, they’re imbedded in the background and simply “ok”.

Want to see an instant difference in your photos and make those subjects jump right off the photo paper? Try closing in on your subject. That’s right—it doesn’t take a brand new camera, fancy lens or even a photography class, just step forward or zoom in.

Closing in on a subject removes the extra—and often unimportant—background details from your photos. To capture that amazing smile or mesmerized look on your toddler or pet’s face, you need to eliminate the extra detail that distracts the eye. Notice how the photo of the boy on the bike shows as much of the garage as the boy. Your eye wanders a bit as you look at it, looking from garage to boy on bike and back to garage. Now notice the photo of the other boy in his bike helmet. The photo is framed completely on the boy—no garage distraction—and you can very clearly see the expression on his face.

A simple look at your camera’s manual will tell you what your Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD) is. In other words, the closest your camera can be to a subject and get a clear, sharp focus. The MFD varies from camera to camera and lens to lens. Once you know the number for your camera, you can safely close in on your subject up to this distance, allowing you to fill your frame.

If it’s difficult to get that close to your subject, or uncomfortable, another option is to use a telephoto lens, which will allow you to stay further back while closing in by zooming.

It’s a good idea to ask yourself a couple of questions before you take a photo: What exactly am I trying to capture in this photo? Is the background necessary? If not, get closer to catch the expression or detail you’re looking for.

And remember, you can get close up and personal with more than just people or pets as subjects. Try closing in on a flower, a building, Christmas tree, ornament or other detail. Or, try zooming in on a baby’s tiny feet, a grandparent’s hand or a new bride’s wedding ring. It’s a great way to add style and variety to your layout.