One of the joys of the Christmas season in theme parks is the way the parks dress up for the holidays. Lights, ornaments and decorations show up everywhere and give you plenty to photograph. Wide shots are great because they show the full scene, but if you want to add something special to your collection try getting in close and filling the frame with small details. When you do this you invite people to see the park in a fresh way.

Photographers often call this macro photography. The idea is simple. Get close enough that the object you are shooting fills the whole frame. When you fill the frame you remove the outer edges and force the viewer to use their imagination. In real life you can see the tree or wreath or garland from end to end. In a close shot you only show a tiny part of it. People who see your photo have no idea where the edges are. A small tree can look huge when every corner of the frame is packed with branches and color. A short flower bed can look endless when you crop out the borders.

You can take this idea even farther. Instead of filling the whole frame with branches or flowers you can focus on one ornament and use portrait mode or a narrow depth of field to let it shine. When the branches near you and the ones far from you blur out you get a layered look that feels deep and rich. The subject pops forward and feels like a hidden gem waiting to be found.

Close up shots also play tricks with size. The photo that accompanies this article shows a few simple Mickey shaped ornaments on a small holiday tree. In real life each ornament might have been only an inch or so across. The trees were only a few feet tall. Once I moved in close those tiny objects felt much larger. The frame hides the true scale and the bright colors draw your attention right to the shapes. The photo tells you they are on a tree but nothing else. You cannot tell if the tree is tiny or giant. That is part of the fun.

You can use the same approach when shooting holiday food. Get in close and keep the edges out of the frame. A cookie that fits in your palm can look like a giant dessert. A small tart can feel like a full sized pie. Your viewers will see color and texture and shape without the clues that tell them the real size.

Close up photos add variety to your holiday memories and help you see familiar places in a new way. Take some time on your next visit to get close look for small moments and let them fill your frame. You will come home with photos that feel personal and full of character.

I would love to see what you create this season. Take some amazing close up detail shots in the parks near you and share them in the Fairy Tale Photo Academy Theme Park Photography community on Skool. Membership is free and we would be excited to welcome you and your holiday photos. Come claim your spot here.