The Assignment:  There is a whole group of photographers dedicated to the art of "Macro Photography."  The term Macro usually means "closeup" with regards to photography.  In your case, you will be taking close-up photographs with your camera in MACRO mode, hit the "Flower" button on the back of your camera (see picture) and set it to MACRO mode.  This will allow you to focus your camera at much closer distances than usual.  (Make sure to set it back to normal mode when you are done!)

What kind of subjects do people shoot in Macro Photography?:   Almost anything is fair game, flowers, insects, ordinary objects, abstract textures and so forth.  Here is a slide show of varying Macro subjects and pictures that are popular.  (If that link does not work, use THIS LINK.)   Use them as inspiration for your own photographs.

Here are the rules to the assignment:

1. You will be creating a portfolio of AT LEAST 15 different "MACRO" photographs.  From these 15, please include at least 5 that are completely ABSTRACT, looking like a piece of artwork or a painting.  As for the rest, I do not care what you come up with, as long as they are interesting!
2. Be creative!  Remember, almost any object, even the most common ones, are interesting close up!
3. You NEED TO USE A TRIPOD when shooting Macro Photography!
4. Make sure you have BIG LIGHT!  This will help show the detail in your MACRO. 
5. Make sure that you and your camera do not cast shadows on your subject!
6. I expect that you will probably need to take at least 50-100 photographs or more to get 15 that are actually worth showing to someone else.
7. Make sure to do Post-processing on your shots. Save your final photographs for your portfolio into a folder and turn them in at the end of the UNIT.