An essential guide to a fascinating technique, beginning with an explanation of the difference between close-up and macro work Aimed at the novice or more experienced amateur, the book describes the equipment for capturing true macro images, the "macro" mode on standard DSLRs, and the use of zoom lenses, wide-angle lenses, and dedicated macro lenses, among others. The theory of exposure and metering, light, color, and flash is explained and there's practical advice on composition and focusing. Project ideas include success with flower photography, capturing the textures of materials such as bark and lichen, abstracts from everyday objects, photographing insects, and studio work with food and jewelry. Information on post processing explains file formats, raw conversion software, adjustments to contrast, brightness and shadows, understanding levels and curves, white balance, and saturation, with helpful tips on removing imperfections, cropping for impact, and printing.