I do the same thing as Kelly, pretty much. I've become addicted to macro because of the snakes. Even better is SUPER-macro, but it won't use flash in super macro, so I can only use it on sunny days... Sigh.
Terra, I don't know what 99% of the settings on my camera do. The only reason I know about macro settings is my mom. She buys & sells jewelry and precious gemstones (i.e. diamonds), so macro is a big thing for her.
If I understand it right, the macro setting puts extra effort into focusing on all the little details. My boa's eye makes for a good example of this...
No macro what-so-ever (no idea what I was thinking that day), inside w/camera flash
Aaand, Super macro, outside on a sunny day.
If your camera has macro, it can usually be found on one of the buttons--usually one of the "arrow" buttons you'd use for navigating the review of pictures you've already taken. (If that makes sense--my head hurts, lol!)
Okay, thank you google--here's a picture of what I'm talking about. On this camera, the macro button is the one on the right--the one with the flower on it. The flower is the macro symbol.
You would press that button in picture-taking mode (or whatever it's called...) to toggle macro on and off... Or, if your camera has super macro, too, to toggle between macro, super macro, and no macro.
*deep breath* Okay! I think that covers it... Lol. I hope that made sense!