For many people a great big image with a strong subject is the perfect image but for most others it’s in the detail. As a close-up photographer I love to get in very close and shoot things that aren’t always that obvious to the eye. It opens up a whole new world.
The first time I started seeing detail was when I purchased a set of close-up lenses, or rather filters as they are known to day. These you screwed on to the end of your lens and they helped bring the object much closer to the lens. The only problem in those days was that it took a week for your images to come back from the photolab. Only then could you really view the image and see what you had actually shot. I would love to compare what I achieved then with what I have now but unfortunately my house burned down and I lost all of those memories.
So why shoot detail? I shoot detail because it opens up a whole new world of opportunities. A red fire engine no longer has the same attraction to because there are so many details that I can capture when I get in closer. When using a macro lens it becomes even more exciting.
Focusing on detail helps fill the whole frame and there is no clutter around the edges. Filling the frame shows more of the subject while showing less. Some of the details are amazing as we never really inspect large objects in too much detail. The other day I was shooting a shiny motorcycle and soon discovered that when I zoomed in on the grill there were just so many little details I had never seen before.
You’re also able to isolate areas of detail which viewed close-up by themselves gives a whole different aspect to the image. We all tend to stand back too far from our subjects but shooting detail forces us into the space of the object we’re shooting.
If you really like abstract photography then detail is for you. Taking a large object and shooting it piece by piece isolated from the whole gives a definite abstract feel to the image. On many occasions you can’t tell what the overall object is because the part appears too far removed from the whole.
Three words of warning.
- Watch how close you get to the subject. Too close and you start casting shadows and affecting the light falling on the object.
- Going too abstract too much of the time defeats the object of photography. You never shoot the whole which can on many occasions result in a stunning image.
- Be aware of reflections. Because you are right on top of your subject, reflections can interfere with the photo. Sometimes you do want to see a reflection of yourself but most times not.
Use detail photography to create great images but don’t allow it to force you into a box and restrict your creativity. Details are great when used as part of your photography without allowing it to dominate.
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Wayne Turner has been teaching photography for 25 years and has written three books on photography.