DIOPTERS

In this blog I will share my experience with you and I have already mentioned that I am not a Pro Photographer and gears are limited with me. Whatever gear I have I try to utilize them well and to satisfy myself to some extent. I wish to increase my gear with the increasing experience but that also require extra bucks anyhow today I want to share some details of "Close-Up Lenses".
In photography, a close-up filter/ close-up lens/ macro filter is an alternate to macro lens used for macro photography . They work identically to reading glasses, to focus more closely. It is actually mounted on the filter thread of the primary lens, and are manufactured and sold by various suppliers. Some call these close-up lenses as diopters, after the unit of measurement of their optical power.
We have Four options of Macro Photography:

1. Macro Lenses
2. Reversing Rings
3. Extension Tubes
4. Diopters

Macro lenses are available but they are quite expensive and those people who actually just want to enjoy the photography rather than being professional can go with other buck saving options, but the most suitable option is either extension tubes or diopters (close-up lenses).

My experience is with "Diopters" this one is cheap alternative to macro lenses and these close-up lenses give magnifying effect to an object.

Nikon D5500+50mm Lens Closeup Lens 58mm

From the above image you can see that close-up lenses are in +1, +2, +4 and Macro diopter. We can use single close-up lens or add to them another close-up lens as these lenses are with thread to screw. These close-up lenses are screwed into the host lens.

Few Clicks that I took wants to share with you and how the same flower used to fill the frame.

Nikon D5500+50mm f/1.8 (Figure-1)

Nikon D5500+50mm with Close Up Lens +1 (Figure-2)

The image (figure-1) is taken with 50mm lens without using any close up lens and it has been taken from a distance of 7 feet approximately. Immediately (figure-2) it has been taken with +1 close up lens and I could take from a distance of approximately 3 feet away. Now this image (figure-3) is with Close Up Lens +2 and the distance is all the more less. This could be simply understood seeing the image.

Nikon D5500+50mm with Close Up Lens +2 (Figure-3)

When you take macro pictures, you have to keep the aperture small like f/8, f/11, etc. because with closeup lenses you get shallow depth of field and if you keep larger aperture the picture won't be clear or sharp. This is a very basic fundamental of macro photography, but once you are aware of this thing then you will adjust your other settings according to the aperture.

Nikon D5500+50mm, Aperture - f/8.0, Shutter Speed - 1/200 sec & ISO - 100

Nikon D5500+50mm, Aperture - f/8.0, Shutter Speed - 1/200 sec & ISO - 100

We can see from the above example that when a photo is taken that also needs to be cropped because this gives a nice look to the whole image. In such images we don't need bokeh effect, here the display is important with vibrant color. When we get the image that needs to be processed so as to highlight some of the petals and to increase the sharpness.
We generally ignore the small plants but don't look at them that how beautiful they are.
This picture is close up of a Small Plant, a photographer is one who looks inside each and every small flower, leaves or bushes or branches and try to create something from that. Right from my childhood I have heard one thing "Winners don't do different things, they do things differently." Therefore work should remain the same but the way of doing that should differentiate you from others. The way of presentation all the more increases image beauty. I personally believe in keeping the image as original as possible rather than editing them in the phototshop or some other image editing tool.
This picture was taken with closeup filter  of "+4 & +10.

Nikon D5500+50mm with Close Up lens Macro & +4 lens
Aperture - f/11, Shutter Speed - 1/160 sec & ISO - 1250

This is the plant from which close up was taken & you will realize that how close I would have taken this photo, what is required is you view or your way of looking at objects. Keep sharing your views on my topics in the comments below.

Picture taken by Rupesh B Karki Photography