After you read this post, I PROMISE that you’ll fall in love with metal bolts and scream if you find a stash in… wherever bolts are stashed.
And if you don’t, then certify me as having gone over and beyond the call of junk duty.
I’m officially starting a bolt revolution. Here and now. You find a bolt, think of me. Wishing I could swoon at the beauty of the crusty metal, faded jewel tones of.. whatever that stuff is, gritty stamped lettering, eclectic shaped heads. Bolts unite!
The next few pics make me crazy enough to get them output and hung on my wall for cryin’ out loud.
Nuff of that crazyiness. Let’s now chat about the macro setting on your camera.
Do you have an el cheapo point and shoot like me? Good. Then you have no excuse to say you can’t take bolt pictures just like these.
Steps to taking amazing closeups.. with a point and shoot.
a) place your bolts outdoors (BOLTS… not buttons.) Fine fine then… get buttons. Buttons work too. But bolts are more fun. 🙂
b) find an area out of direct sunlight. Diffused light is best.
c) turn off your flash and set your camera to automatic.
d) see that flower? That’s macro. You will love the results. This is not the macro button on my camera but they all have flowers.
Selecting macro is done differently on each camera. For mine, I have to hit the bottom of a button twice to get it. Just watch your screen.
Turn on your camera, turn off your flash, select macro and…
e) stabilize your camera ON something. Do not free hold it. And don’t zoom, but aim. Now get close to one bolt.
f) slightly depress the button to take a pic, BUT allow your camera to focus first.
g) make sure it’s focused on what you desire. If it hasn’t, try again. It can take more than one try.
By default, the nearest thing generally grasps the focus, leaving everything else in a haze. But not always.
Best results are had IF the camera is rock steady. Rock steady matters 1000% with this.
Then hold your breath while you click. There’s no jiggle that way.
KXA2 back atcha, cutie pie! 🙂
Admit it. Right about now, you’re discovering bolts could be your friend.
This just in!
“The gritty golden tones further enhance steam punkish details, only found on our exclusive bolt collection. With one of a kind, highly sought after numeric art, our amazing bolts were discovered on Funky Junk Interiors in which has since started the bolt revolution you see here today. We are eternally grateful to FJI.”
Amen! Hand Kolein some rubber gloves. And a wire brush. We’re in this for the long haul now. >:)
Who needs black furniture when you can have a big black bolt I say.
“Darling, please remember the bolts on my Christmas list this year, kay?
I’m on a diet anyway. Thanks hun!”
With a touch of rust… dyin’ here.
A bolt revolution.
All because of the macro setting.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you…
Consider this part of the ongoing course.
Have any closeup camera type questions or tips?
And.. have I sold you too on the beauty of bolts?!? 🙂
Please give that macro setting a workout and let us know how you did!
(the photos above were sharpened and lightened in Picasa… try it out!)
I say this respectfully with much love in my heart… you are a nut!!! Thanks for the info. I’ve never quite felt so close to a bolt before!
those are indeed gorgeous 🙂 My heart just might flutter if I find a fabulous stash of bolts…
Ok, you are officially now the only person weirder than me. For the love of bolts! Great camera tips.
LOL!! I take these comments as great compliments! Thank-you!! 🙂
Admit it. This camera lesson would have sent you to sleep if it weren’t for the bolts. 🙂
Donna
Great pics as always. You are the point and shoot queen! Does your camera have a timer that will let you do self portraits? That is an easier way than holding your breath to make sure the camera doesn’t move when you take the pic or push the button.
Do you like bolts of lightening just as much? Those are the rather large hot kind. ;0
You’re my idol and your pictures are gorgeous! Thanks for all the great info and tips. I’m starting to love bolts because of you, but I still love buttons too. Keep the camera lessons coming, I really need them.
#5 Tracy, that’s a GREAT tip that I also picked up from Songbird not long ago. But it works best when the camera is on a tripod so there’s no motion whatsoever.
Tripods and self timers are awesome for those difficult interior shots that need more light and slower shutter speeds.
Donna
That pic of Kolein cracks me up every time! I love your bolts. I don’t have any with the great heads but you can bet your bucket of bolts I’ll be looking at them more closely now!
I was going to suggest the timer too. And for some reason I have two settings. One says “close up” and one says “flower”. I should find my book.
I will take my bolts outside tomorrow and see if I can get some great shots using your directions. Thanks, Esther
Love this!
Holy macro! Nice pics! You are such a nut.
You have definitely gone over-the-bolt!! And now you have Boltology! The newest study on the planet!! Woot!
Crowds gather to catch a glimpse of their favorite bolt. I think the 1 inch has made a big impression!
Great photos!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Yes, I know like bolts in a different way. And thanks for the great tutorial, will experiment this weekend!
Love the photos! And now, I may love bolts, too! You have such a variety. Just awesome pics.
How do you feel about wing nuts? We have plenty of those laying around too – like little donuts with wings. Anyway, I’ll never be able to look at a bolt again without thinking of you! Thanks for the closeup tip. You did a better job of telling me how to do it than my operator’s guide!
I may not have a real blog but at least you have fodder for those particular expressions that you’re going for!! Hysterical!!!!
And just so you know, Missy, I’m crazy in love with Bolt 7. No really!
You rock the universal cosmic stratosphere!!! (is that a real place? ’tis now, Miss D!!)
I’m thrilled about the photography lesson and will put it to good use! For sure!
Oh and did I mention that you made me laugh bright and early this morning!!!???
xoxo
~Kolein
I loved bolts before this post! lol I use a point and shoot too and the macro setting is my friend! These look fabulous!
Okay, Miss Funky. Would you please answer this question? How far was the camera from the subject bolt? I’ve tried my macro setting, but am apparently doing something wrong. P.S. This blog is getting pretty racy, I think I may have seen a stripped bolt…X-rated hardware. :O
Wow, how timely! I just took some pics last night of a bolt I cut with my grinder…and I must say I was impressed (only one turned out great). Do you know what you’ve done by sharing this with the world? Hardware will never be the same….bolts as still life!
I will now forever look at my bolts with love and find the beauty in each and every one of them. 🙂 Great pictures and some of them were pretty cool! I really do love the 8 bolt and it made the cover of Bolt Illustrated!! 🙂 Thanks for the great tips!!
I’ve never seen such artistic photos of bolts before!! Fantastic tips. I’m the daughter of a (now-retired) professional photographer, and yet I can’t take a good photo to save my life. It’s pretty pathetic. I get my mom to take all of the important photos for me (like room reveals), but in the interim, my blog is filled with sad-looking, out-of-focus, poorly lighted photos with washed out coloring. I’ve seen that little flower setting on my camera. Now I’ll give it a try! I even have a little tabletop tripod that I’ve been carrying around in my purse for at least a year…and have used once.
What lovely picture.. And some useful tips.. I’m going to have to put this into use as well..
Hey, Cool post! I ended up doing a Macro Photography post like this back in August, out of pure observation of what I kept seeing online.
http://benderoak.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-all-in-details-digital-macro-mode.html
Love the Bolts, and your Digital Macro images are fantastic. I just got a mini-tripod to help with mine since I take so many pictures of little stuff (Boyfriend got tired of all the cursing!)
Love it!!!
sandraallen260@centurytel.net
Fantastic! I have a point and shoot that I make work for me, a lot of pictures later I usually get what I want. Great tutorial!!
Heading outside to take pictures of bolts!
You crack me up! I’m sitting here saying, “Oooh look at the star! See it?!” It’s a bolt. And, I’m loving it.
Thanks for the tips on macro shooting, too. I have a bunch of small stuff I need to take pics of coming up coon. This will help!
19. Kim said…
How far was the camera from the subject bolt?
Hey Kim, it varied. Sometimes a couple inches from the bolt, other times abit closer, other times abit further away. If my camera had trouble focusing, I knew I was too close. Try it all until your camera focuses on something. Then you will know what your particular camera can handle.
Donna
Who knew bolts could look so good? LOL..Fabulous pics!
Kristen
great images!
I love the Macro…it is a little tricky, but great to use…and I like your bolts…knowing you they will be part of some fantastic table or something….I am still wanting that coffee table….
All I can say is AWESOME!!!!!!
Those were some nice bolts. Now what do you do with them?
Wow, Great pics! I am usually pointing at flowers but I am inspired now. There is a whole new realm of possibility now. Maybe those little game pieces out of my kids games, or some marbles, or even nuts!
Debbie
That’s exactly how I shoot most of my pics. I love the macro setting, it’s the bestest! 🙂
Oooh! I am so happy to have found your blog! I love learning about photography and I’ve become your newest follower. I have a Canon Rebel XT and love it. RCome visit my blog sometime. 🙂 I’m gonna look around your blog some more. Nice to “meet” you.
Blessings,
Sandra
Oh, Ms. Funky! You are as nuts as I am. Iron’t you glad you are Canadian? Steel, you have taught me a lot about my camera. I was rusty about the specifics, but now I found that I can film video with it, and point and shoot at hardware. I think I will try this with a step stool, because I move around too much. Is the next photo lesson on wood and wood grain? I think you should have a bolt giveaway, or what the Junk Market Style does, a contributor contest where each person makes something with the same basic product. Ann
I learned two things:
One – although I’ve always like bolts, I need to look much closer
Two – my point and shoot camera does not have a “flower” setting, yet another reason to get a new camera
Love your blog!
omg nvr thought those tiny rusty things could look so alluringly beautiful…also its delightful to know how macro button help us produce a masterpiece…tym for bolt revolution!!!
Great post (again), Donna. Filled with information, great photos and humour. What more could we readers want?
Yup, you’ve definitely got me inspired to delve into the nuts n’ bolts bin in our garage. Your photos are absolutely incredible! That #7 one could be a book cover! Simply amazing! I love the way that an artfully conceived photograph can elevate ordinary everyday objects to high art!
Hiya there Donna! I am running quite a bit behind on my blogging (bad blogger, I knowwwww) but took a minute to check in with you. And WOW, do I ever {{♥}} this post! I have spend some time today taking some pictures of some miniature stockings that I made and am listing in my Etsy shop. And I just not happy with the pictures. But come tomorrow and the morning light, I will be outside finding a suitable place to practice these shots! Love this series! And thanks to you, I know am constantly looking for old wood tossed out on the side of the road. I guess now you’re going to have me looking for bolts now! LOL!! Actually, I love old, rusted nails. Weird, right?
I LOVE taking photos & have been realizing lately how I need to know my camera from the inside & out. Thank you for this simple tutorial on the macro button. I cannot wait to dig through any other photography tutorials you’ve written. BTW I love your love for bolts:)
Donna, this is how I use my point and shoot camera. I found out by trail and error. It is the holding still part and bracing the camera that is the most difficult part. Readers ask me what kind of camera I have and are surprised I have such an inexpensive one. Outside shots are best inside shots not so much. This is a fabulous post. Thanks bunches.
Hi Donna! I must’ave missed this fabulous post of yours last month – but am glad that you posted about it again today! I learned so much from you – once again! THANK YOU! I’m going to check out my camera tomorrow for that ‘flower’ and start macro-ing my photos!!! 🙂 You are an awesome teacher! 🙂
xoxo laurie
Donna, I love this! I think bolts are exciting and sexy…especially after this post. So tell me. Any tips on how to get good interior pics? I am struggling so much. The light here in Alaska is horrible at this time of year. I don’t have luxury of natural light. I have both dslr and p&s and I’m struggling with both. Thanks woman!
Donna, this was a moment of pure genius. And I DID learn something, btw! Thank you for directing me to this post! You were right……perfect photos CAN be had with my little toy camera! Oh, the joy! KXA2 back atcha, cutie pie! 🙂