Macro Photography With The Canon Rebel T3i

Close up photography is a powerful medium. It holds plenty of drama and OMG moments.

The intention of this article is to give you a few T3i photography tips specific to macro work.

With the Canon Rebel T3i, the photographer has more than one option for getting these amazing shots.

The first way is the standard method. There is a selection on the mode dial for macro. It is an icon that looks like a tulip flower. When you select this position on the mode dial, you just point and shoot. This is good, right?

Most of the time this is true, but there is at least one situation that is not so good. When the light is not sufficient for getting a shot without the automatic flash taking over, you will have to settle for that flash, because you cannot disable it. The reason this may not be the most desirable of options is that if you are really close to the subject (which is exactly what you want in a macro shot), there will be a dark shadow at the bottom of your image due to the flash being too close to the lens, thus causing a "flash shadow."

The second way to get those amazing macro shots is to go for a different mode dial setting. Go on the "creative" side of the mode dial. You can choose either P or Av to get a great result. Even if the light is not as bright as you need it to get a shutter speed fast enough to prevent blur, you don't have to rely on the flash. Instead, you can try raising the ISO, or you can use a tripod to steady the camera.

When you select P, or Program mode, the camera will select the correct shutter speed and aperture for a decent exposure. When you select AV, or aperture priority, you get to choose an aperture that will give you the right amount of detail. This is the setting that will give you the most control as a photographer. Of course, you will want to practice quite a bit so that you know how the camera will act. The more you practice, the more confident you will be when it is time to get the shot.

Don't be afraid to experiment. Take lots of shots at different settings. You will be surprised at how much difference there is when you change one of the settings. You will make some discoveries that will change the way you approach macro photography.

A couple of things to keep in mind when shooting macro with your Canon Rebel T3i.

First, get as close as you can and still get good focus.

Second, use a tripod if the light is low. The closer you get to a subject, the more a little shake will ruin your shot. Keeping the camera steady is one of the keys to great macro shots.

Third, if using a zoom lens, use the long end of the zoom. After all, you want to be able to fill the frame with your subject. While you can indeed shoot close-ups with a wide-angle lens, the longer focal lengths are what you want.

The Canon Rebel T3i has another fantastic feature that makes using it for macro photography special. Only one or two other cameras have. It is the ability to use Live View with digital zoom in order to get the focus "spot on." It is perhaps the strongest reason to get into close up photography with your Rebel.

For more Rebel T3i Photography Tips and to find out how to use your Canon Rebel T3i for macro photography, be sure to visit http://canonrebelt3i600d.com soon.