Tractor wheels

Many talk about macro photography or say their image is a macro. But what it really means? And what’s a difference between a macro and a close-up image?

The definitions vary. Macro is unequivocally considered at least 1:1 or a least life size. But some say- on sensor, some, on a final print. Close up is less then that. I have not seen a good definition around the net, yet it feels like if you focus on the detail of the object rather then object itself, it will be a close up photograph. Yet, most people use the terms as synonyms, and they are clearly not.

According to this definition, this image will qualify as a close up, rather then a macro. These are wheels of a tractor, an old thresher, one of hundrads displayed over the Labor Day weekend in the Old Threshers Museum in Mt Pleasant, Iowa. What an interesting place to be to photograph, with all the old machines, details, textures, and moving elements. The wheels on those are probably three feet in diameter, even only a part of those is still larger than my whole camera, let alone the sensor ;).

The overlaid two wheels is what brought me to this image. I chose the point of view that the second wheel fits ideally between the spaces in the fornt one. I considered turning it black and white, as I will probably do with many remaining images from yesterday’s sessions, but decided that the color adds to the story of this old farm machine. The whole post-prcessing was adding clarity and sharpness to show the texture of the metal parts.

Stay tuned for some more images of the old threshers.

If you are new to macro/close up images and what to learn some tips and techniques, check out great, just $5 e-book by Andrew S. Gibson titled “Up close”. Read more about it here.