Getting Creative in San Francisco: Close-up Digital Photography

By Deborah Sandidge

Close-up Buddha statue in San Francisco - (c) Deborah Sandidge

Many DSLR cameras and even compact digital cameras have a shooting mode for close-ups. This is a fun and creative way to take pictures!

A great subject deserves a lot of exploration, such as this gift shop in downtown San Francisco. I like to start with a wide-angle lens view to tell the "whole story" and then move in for the wonderful details. There were paper lanterns, kites, and all kinds of interesting things inside the shop, including this collection of happy Buddha statues. I like the meaning behind the smiling Buddha - contentment, prosperity, luck, and of course, happiness!

With this image, I focused on the first figure using a wide aperture, which allowed the rest of the composition to be portrayed as a soft and pleasing blur. Using a shallow depth of field lets the first figure stand out from the rest. The out-of-focus background plays a support role for the main subject, the happy Buddha. As a tripod and large camera wouldn't easily fit inside the store, a compact digital camera was the perfect solution for this fun close-up shot!

Make great pictures! ~ Deb

Note: Deborah Sandidge teaches online photo classes at BetterPhoto's digital photography school online.

Comments

[Kerry Drager]

Hi All,

A question came up regarding photography in shops. Here is Deborah Sandidge's excellent response:

"This photo was taken in a busy tourist-filled gift shop. I used a small compact camera, and I blended right in with everyone else. A much larger digital SLR camera attracts more attention, so I usually ask permission first. A quick friendly conversation works wonders. The store owner is often flattered to be asked, and is thrilled if you promise to email or send a photo. -Deb"

Thanks,
Kerry Drager
BetterPhoto Instructor Insights editor