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Use the digital camera like a microscope
Learn to take pictures of details usually not easily seen using a digital camera’s macro or close-up feature. |
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Grade level:
3-9
Subjects:
Science, History, Social Science, Computers, Technology
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Topics:
Close-up photography, Digital photography, Research
Time needed:
1 Class Period
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Materials:
Digital Camera with a close-up feature
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Inkjet Printer
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Objectives
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After completing this project, students should be able to:
- Discover worlds of the unseen, using the digital camera like a microscope.
- Use the powers of observation for research.
- Use close-up photography to supplement writing and research assignments.
- Understand and use the close-up feature of a digital camera to reveal hidden details, patterns, structures and things the human eye cannot see at normal viewing distances.
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Background information
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Close-up photography, also known as macro photography, is used to see tiny detail of flowers, plants, insects, money, coins, jewelry, textures, or anything you wish to study really close. It reveals textures, color, hue and shape not usually seen with the naked eye or a normal camera lens. To get truly close-up macro photos a very strong lenses is used to create a microscope-like effect.
Digital cameras make it easier and quicker to take photos…and macro photography is no different. You can take as many pictures as you want and know right away if you got the picture.
Take the $1 bill. A close-up photo of a one-dollar bill makes an interesting learning experience. First printed in 1957, the one dollar bill in circulation today is actually not paper, but fabric made of a cotton and linen blend, with red and blue silk fibers running through it.
There is a world of design and symbolism hidden on U.S. currency, but it’s difficult to see without magnification. The features of the Bald Eagle and the Pyramid on the back of the $1 bill are excellent subjects for taking macro pictures.
Bald eagle
According to most historical references, the use of a bald eagle is uniquely American. Representing courage and independence, the bald eagle hunts alone (independence) and is not afraid of trouble (courage). Another interesting aspect of the bald eagle is the absence of a crown on its head. Many believe this is because America fought to gain independence from the King of England who wore a crown as a sign of authority and divination.
The eagle holds an olive branch and arrows in its talons, symbolizing the power of peace and war. The U.S. Treasury Department indicates that the balancing scales represent justice.
Lucky 13
Every time you look at a $1 bill, you are given a brief history of the United States. Representing the 13 colonies and the independence they sought from the King of England, the significance of the number 13 in U.S. history is very strong and is referenced many times in U.S. currency and coins, our flag and more. For the purpose of this assignment, let’s focus attention on the role the number 13 plays on a $1 bill:
- There are 13 stars and 13 pieces of fruit above the eagle’s head.
- 13 plumes of feathers on each of the Eagle’s wings
- 13 bars on the shield covering its chest
- 13 leaves on the olive branch
- 13 arrows and
- 13 layers of the Pyramid.
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Instructions
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- Take digital photos
Now that the students have learned the basics of macro photography; they will take a close-up of a dollar bill. To accomplish this:
Use digital camera with a close-up or macro shooting feature
- Usually designated by a flower icon, the macro or close-up shooting feature is the only way to achieve the level of detail necessary to complete this assignment. Fortunately, most point and shoot digital cameras come with this built-in feature.
- Make sure students know how to switch the digital camera to close-up mode and switch back to normal mode for shooting at longer distances.
Steady the camera to avoid blurred shots
- Remind students to hold the digital camera very still for close-up photography. The slightest movement can blur the photo.
- If holding the camera in your hands…
- Keep a firm grip on the camera.
- Put the camera firmly against the forehead.
- Brace your body or arms by leaning against any solid object such as a table, tree, rock, fence, etc.
- Take shallow breath and hold your breath gently just before you take the photo.
- Use a tripod…
- Using an inexpensive Ultra Light Weight Tripod makes moving the tripod around a snap. They are easy to use. Here’s how:
- Digital cameras have a built-in receiving hole on the bottom camera.
- Screw the attachment screw of the tripod into the receiving hole on bottom the camera to secure the camera to the tripod.
- Adjust the tilt mount to the angle you want camera to shoot (just loosen and tighten the handle).
- Determine the height the camera will be above the subject by adjusting the tripod legs with the quick-release locks.
- Consider using the Ambicom tripod, retail priced at $25. To learn more, visit www.recoton.com, then click on Ambicom>Tripods>review models and features.
Close-up photography tips
- Shoot from different distances and angles (move left, move right, straight over the top or at side angles). Don’t get too close or the photo will be out of focus and blurred.
- Take several photos of the subject to make sure you got the picture you want.
- Use the LCD screen to help compose or frame the photos.
- Delete photos with obvious mistakes immediately and shoot again.
- Observe the sharpness (photos should look very clear, no blurs please).
- Observe the lighting effects (not too light on the details or too dark in the shadows). When photos appear too dark, you need more natural light, you need to add artificial light or you need to increase exposure time.
- Controlling light with exposure options…
- If your camera lets you adjust exposure, turn the dial or push the button to the exposure feature. Increase exposure by +.5.
- Take a test shot using the LCD screen to review.
- Watch out for deep shadows, they take away detail. If you see deep shadows, adjust the exposure setting to +1.0. Settings higher than +1.0 wash out fine detail.
- If that’s not enough light try using the camera’s auto flash.
- Using flash…
- Controlling the amount of flash for close-up photography is tricky. Because you are so close to the subject, the fill flash often produces too much light and overexposes the picture. Auto flash will probably not fire because it’s NOT dark enough. Get to know the flash options on your camera to find out which works best in this situation.
- Organize, copy and save
Organize
First, create a folder to store all photos by all students called Photo Library. Next, create a sub-folder inside Photo Library for each student. Next, create category folders inside the student folder, starting with “dollar bill.” You can add new sub-folders using key words of other assignments as they take place.
Copy files to the computer
Next, use a memory card reader to copy or download digital photos into the student category folder on the computer. This way, students will always know where their photos are stored on the hard drive.
Burn a CD right away to protect the original photo files. These are your digital negatives, and if any thing happens to them, the photo can not be replaced. Only after you’ve made a CD of the original photos are you ready to start editing.
Launch photoshop elements and save as
Never edit an original photo…only make changes to a copy of the original. It’s an important first step that is fast and easy. Here’s how:
- Open the digital photos from the file menu. Choose File > Save As.
- Rename the file: name files with a short meaningful description such as “dollar1LK” to indicate the subject, the number of the photo and the student’s initials. This naming system can be applied to other assignments as well.
- Choose a file format
You have a choice of saving a file as a Photoshop (.psd) or JPEG (.jpg) document. Here are some guidelines for deciding the format that’s best for you:
- When to Save As: JPEG (.jpg) format:
- to send a photo as an email
- to place a photo on a website
- use these recommended settings or saving JPEG: set quality to 10, check baseline standard on.
- When to Save As: Photoshop (.psd) format (advanced saving option):
- to adjust and move photos and type now or later
- to create a montage with photos and type
- Edit photos
More often than not, photos need a bit of editing help. There are a few steps you’ll want to take to make sure every photo looks its best:
- Crop away unwanted parts the photo
- Use the crop tool to cut off any unwanted parts of the photo.
- Select the crop tool.
- Drag a resizing box then release.
- Drag the resizing handles out to determine the crop area. Any parts outside the crop box will be deleted.
- Now, click on the crop tool again and click the crop button (short cut: double click in the middle of the resize box to crop).
- To undo the crop, choose Edit > Undo.
- Adjust color, brightness or darkness of the photo
- Choose Enhance > Adjust Brightness/Contrast > Levels.
- Move the middle triangle slider on the top bar to the left to make the photo brighter or to the right to make it darker.
- Click OK when it looks right.
- Adjust color
- Choose Enhance > Adjust Color > Hue/Saturation.
- Move the saturation slider to the right to increase the color or left to decrease the color. Move the lightness slider to add light or reduce light.
- Resize and check resolution
- The higher the resolution, the better the print. But if you’re only going to send a photo via email, then a lower resolution is fine. Here are some guidelines for setting resolution:
- Email—72 dpi
- Print—300 dpi
- For minimum print sizes, follow these guidelines:
- 4x6—800x600 pixels
- 5x7—1024x768 pixels
- 8x10—1600x1200 pixels
- Print to inkjet or laser
Ask students to print their photo.
- Choose File > Print Preview.
- Print Preview allows a photo to be centered and scaled to fit the page.
- If the photo looks correct, they can now print the picture.
- Present on the monitor or send an e-mail file
- If you do not have access to a color printer, create a PDF slide show.
- Choose File > Automation Tools > PDF Slideshow.
- Click this link to review the PDF Slideshow tutorial.
- Attach the PDF Slideshow to an e-mail and send. Slideshow may be displayed on the computer monitor using the Acrobat Reader.
- If you have only one photo file to send, it can be saved as Photoshop PDF. Choose File > Save As > select the Photoshop PDF option
- Students can give an oral presentation and describe their project to the class. Some sample discussion questions are below.
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Discussion questions
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Use the following three-point rubric to evaluate students' work during this lesson.
- What did you discover about taking close-up photography?
- Think of three topics to photograph close-up and why?
- How could you have used close-up digital photography on previous projects?
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Evaluation
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Use the following three-point rubric to evaluate students' work during this lesson.
- Three points: Students were highly engaged in class discussions; presented a well-organized summary of their close-up photo, supported with numerous details; actively participated in their presentation about their artwork, reflecting a exceptional understanding of the close-up photography.
- Two points: Students participated in class discussions; presented a summary of their close-up photo; contributed somewhat to their presentation about their artwork, reflecting an understanding of close-up photography.
- One point: Students participated minimally in class discussions; did not photograph close-up style; presented a disorganized summary without adequate details of their close-up photo; contributed little if at all to their presentation about their artwork, reflecting little or no understanding of the close-up photography.
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Vocabulary
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Ambient light: the surrounding light on an object.
Close-up photography/Macro photography: the ability to take highly magnified photographs of a subject to see very fine detail (like a microscope).
Exposure settings: the amount of light the camera allows on the subject, either in plus (add light) or minus (reduce light).
Flash: burst of artificial light produced by the camera.
Subject: the person, place or thing being photographed.
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Additional resources
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