TAMRON | Maki Kawai’s Seminar On creating Compelling macro photographs with the unique Tamron SP AF 60mm F/2 Macro lens

Taken with the Canon EOS 50D and Tamron SP AF60mm F/2 Di II MACRO 1:1 (Model G005). Aperture priority AE (f/2.8, 1/1250 sec), +2 exposure compensation, ISO400, WB: AWB.

Picture A
The baby girl suddenly started to run, then stopped once and looked back when I shot the picture. To capture precious moments like this, combine the AI Servo AF (Continuous AF) mode with burst (continuous shooting) mode. Remember to track your child while keeping the shutter release button partially depressed.

Taken with the Canon EOS 50D and Tamron SP AF60mm F/2 Di II MACRO 1:1 (Model G005). Aperture priority AE (f/2.8, 1/1250 sec), +2 exposure compensation, ISO400, WB: AWB.

Showcase your child by using soft background effects

Photographing a youngster in sharp focus against a soft background focuses the viewer's attention on the main subject, creating a pleasing pictorial impression. To achieve this, select the Aperture Priority AE mode and choose a wide aperture setting (small f/number) such as f/4. To soften the background further, use an even wider aperture (smaller f/number) such as f/2.8.

Brightness control: The key to good pictures.

Set your camera's exposure compensation as necessary, shoot a series of pictures at different brightness levels, and view the results to arrive at the optimum exposure.

Freeze subject motion by using fast shutter speeds

Kids are active subjects and fast shutter speeds are often necessary to capture their rapid movements and fleeting expressions. To get the fastest shutter speeds possible in any light, set your camera to ISO 400 (ISO 800 indoors) as a standard value, and consider using Shutter Priority AE mode. In general, a shutter speed of 1/500 sec is the minimum required, and faster shutter speeds such as 1/1000 sec and up may be even more effective in freezing subject motion. Whatever exposure mode you use, monitor the shutter speed to ensure that your shutter speed is fast enough.

For moving kids, use AI Servo AF mode and shoot continuous bursts

Many novice photographers have recently purchased DSLR cameras specifically for taking pictures of their kids and babies. These cameras are supremely versatile, but to get the most out of them some specialized photographic knowledge is helpful. The following hints and tips will enable you to capture endearing images of kids and infants and acquire the knack of child photography.

It's relatively easy to take pictures of kids or babies when they're staying still. However, since their movements are often herky-jerky, taking sharp pictures of them can be challenging in many cases. If you want to take un-posed snapshots of your kids moving fast, setting your camera to "Sports" mode is a good idea. When the "Sports" mode is selected, the camera continues to track focus on moving subjects moving so long as the shutter button is partially depressed.

If you wish to capture your main subject sharp in focus against a softly blurred background, use the "Portrait" mode of your camera, which automatically prioritizes wider apertures.

Now it's time to master the Aperture Priority mode, a simple way to upgrade your skill and take your photography to the next level.

Picture A was captured near a riverbank. Since I couldn't expect beautiful background effects in this situation, I intentionally blurred the background. My primary goal was capturing the atmosphere. You can blur the background in this way by selecting Aperture Priority AE mode and setting a wide aperture (small f / number).

If your young subject is in constant motion it's best to select AI Servo (Continuous AF) mode in such a case. In this mode, the camera continuously tracks and focuses on moving subjects as long as you hold the shutter release button partway in. Track your active kid while partially depressing the shutter release button, then press the button at the perfect moment to take the picture. You can increase your chances of success by setting the camera to continuous shooting mode and taking a series of shots.

Picture B was taken indoors. The baby girl was playing on a slide and moving quite fast. This shot was also taken in the AI Servo AF (Continuous AF) mode. Since the overall light level is lower indoors, the resulting shutter speeds are slower, which can result in blurred images. To prevent this, set your camera to a higher ISO such as 800 or 1000 so a faster shutter speed may be used.

Taken with the Canon EOS 50D and Tamron SP AF60mm F/2 Di II MACRO 1:1 (Model G005). Aperture priority AE (f/4, 1/90 sec), +2 exposure compensation, ISO640, WB: AWB.

Picture B
To freeze the motion of young subjects, you often have to move the camera around while keeping the kid framed in the viewfinder. You will soon become accustomed to this as you practice the technique.

Taken with the Canon EOS 50D and Tamron SP AF60mm F/2 Di II MACRO 1:1 (Model G005). Aperture priority AE (f/4, 1/90 sec), +2 exposure compensation, ISO640, WB: AWB.

* Click on the picture to see an enlarged image.

Picture C was taken indoors in front of a window. Note that the main subject is completely backlit. In such situations, the child's face is likely to come out too dark because the bright background fools the camera's auto-exposure system. The solution: Set your exposure compensation to plus 1 or plus 2 stops. If the face is still too dark, turn on the camera' built-in flash and take another shot.

In scenes where the main subject is not moving fast as in Picture D, you can use the "One Shot AF (Single AF) mode. When shooting close-ups, be sure to focus on an eye to create compelling portraits.

Taken with the Canon EOS 50D and Tamron SP AF60mm F/2 Di II MACRO 1:1 (Model G005). Aperture priority AE (f/4, 1/250 sec), +2 exposure compensation, ISO400, WB: AWB with Built-in flash(-1)

Picture C
This is an example of using plus exposure compensation to make the whole scene brighter, complemented with light from the camera's built-in flash unit. The main subject was completely backlit but I succeeded in capturing the endearing smile of the baby girl. Note: Light from a built-in flash unit can be compensated independently from the exposure compensation setting. In this case, I compensated to the flash exposure to the minus-side to add just a touch of flash illumination.

Taken with the Canon EOS 50D and Tamron SP AF60mm F/2 Di II MACRO 1:1 (Model G005). Aperture priority AE (f/4, 1/250 sec), +2 exposure compensation, ISO400, WB: AWB with Built-in flash(-1)

* Click on the picture to see an enlarged image.

Taken with the Canon EOS 50D and Tamron SP AF60mm F/2 Di II MACRO 1:1 (Model G005). Aperture priority AE (f/2, 1/250 sec), +1.5 exposure compensation, ISO800, WB: AWB.

Picture D
If your young subject isn't moving around, you can concentrate on framing. In this case, the main subject was illuminated by sunlight streaming in through a window curtain. Pay careful attention to the direction of the ambient light when shooting indoors because it has a direct impact on the look of your subject and the mood of the scene.

Taken with the Canon EOS 50D and Tamron SP AF60mm F/2 Di II MACRO 1:1 (Model G005). Aperture priority AE (f/2, 1/250 sec), +1.5 exposure compensation, ISO800, WB: AWB.

* Click on the picture to see an enlarged image.

If you expect to take vibrant pictures of kids and babies, it's essential to get accustomed to moving around with your camera handheld. Taking lots of pictures without worrying about how many shots you've taken is the fastest way to familiarize yourself with your camera and gain confidence. And by all means talk to the kids while you're shooting their pictures- establishing a personal relationship with your subjects is fun, and it's guaranteed to result in more spontaneous, natural looking images.

Differences between the photogenic subject and working distances
Picture E	Picture F	These two pictures were taken at the same place, with the same lens, but at different working distances. By changing working distances (getting closer to the subject or moving away), you can shoot exciting close-ups, capture the entire scene, or anything in between. Close-up shots emphasize facial expressions. (Picture F) When you shoot the entire scene (Picture E), it's often difficult to pick out facial expressions, even though it's obvious that this baby girl is pretty. You can emphasize the beauty of the child by moving in closer and including complementary objects in the frame for comparison. In this case I used sunflowers to enhance the image.
* Click on the picture to see an enlarged image.

Please look for Maki Kawai's next informative article: "Session 4, Capturing Your Precious Pet's Endearing Behavior".

SP AF60mm F/2 Di II
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