For the next four weeks of the 2010 Challenge, we will be concentrating on Macro shooting. This can be a challenging type of photography, but it can yield some fascinating imagery as well. Since only one photo each week is required for the 2010 challenge, you will have time to plan and experiment, and get just the right shot each week.
If you have a DSLR with a macro lens, you probably are already familiar with macro shooting. If you have a point and shoot, it probably has a macro mode, perhaps indicated with a flower icon, that will allow you to get in close for a macro shot.
If you do not have a macro lens for your DLSR, don’t worry! You can use the “Poor Man’s Macro” technique. Basically, take any old lens, flip it over, and shoot through it. This can provide extremely close up images with interesting effects, so give it a try!
Whatever you end up doing, please follow the guidelines of one photo per week. Even though you’ll probably shoot more than one shot each week, take some time to select the best photograph. If you’re not being forced to select one from many good photos, then you may not be challenging yourself enough. We trimmed the 2010 Challenge down to one shot a week, for the very reason of allowing you the freedom and time to plan and practice each week’s shot. Shoot many, but select just one.
You can post your weekly shot any time during the week. When posting, please add your photo to the photochallenge.org pool on flickr, and tag the photos with “2010challenge” and “2010challengeXX”, where XX is the week in a two digit format (33, 34, 35, 36). Of course, you are welcome to join in at any time, and if you miss posting during one week, just make it up the following week. This is about having fun and challenging yourself to become a better photographer, so the rules are guidelines. You won’t be punished or banned from the group if you miss a week or make up a shot.