STEP BY STEP GET SET TO SHOOT SUPER CLOSE-UPS…

How shooting subjects from extremely short distances can make everyday objects look very odd indeed

01 TO INFINITY!

An infinity curve is a backdrop that gently bends from behind the subject to underneath it so there are no distracting corners; you can make one from a sheet of card, or use a purpose-build infinity table, like ours.

02 BLURRED VISION

Conventional wisdom suggests sticking to narrow apertures, but set a shallow aperture, like f/2.8, while shooting down the length of a subject to reduce all but a fraction into an intriguing, indistinguishable blur.

03 FIND YOUR FOCUS

Use a tripod, as otherwise moving by as much as a millimetre can lose your plane of focus. Set Manual focus and Live View, then zoom in to ensure the tips are pin-sharp while the handle is unrecognizable.

04 GETTING CLOSE

It may be tempting to get as close as your lens will go for the maximum possible 1:1 macro magnification for in-your-face results, but it’s often better to move back a little to fit the entire subject into the frame.

05 A LITTLE NUDGE

Once you’ve got your camera locked on the tripod and settled on your angle of view, it’s generally easier to fine-tune composition by moving the subject then refocusing, rather than changing the camera position.

06 LIGHT IT UP

Small adjustments to the light source can have a big effect. Side-lighting casts dramatic shadows, while frontal light amplifies the abstract feel. The larger the source the softer the light, giving a dreamy look.