Macro photography is a fascinating niche that allows photographers to capture the tiniest details in the world around them, revealing intricate patterns and textures that are often invisible to the naked eye. Whether you’re shooting in nature or capturing everyday objects up close, nurturing your talent can help you transform ordinary subjects into extraordinary works of art. As you grow as an artist, you will develop your own style and consistently produce images that are more than picture-perfect. Here, we will show you eight ways to improve your macro photography skills.
What is Macro Photography?
Macro photography focuses on capturing close-up images of small objects with macro lenses and other applicable equipment. The idea is to magnify the subjects so that they look far larger than they are in real life, allowing the viewer a glimpse of the details that they will never see in everyday life.
We can define macro photography as any shot enlarged at a ratio of 1:1 or above. This type of photography finds its way into almost all genres of the art. Nature shots of flowers, insects, and raindrops are typical examples of macrophotography. Photographers also go this route to bring out the details of inanimate objects, like jewelry and food items.
The wonder of macro photography lies in the magnification of colors, textures, and unseen details of the subject. Here are eight ways to elevate your skills:
1. Choosing the Right Equipment
Many point-and-shoot cameras and cameraphones have built-in macro modes for capturing close-ups of the subject. These modes adjust the lens elements automatically and shift them closer to the sensor. However, cameras with macro mode usually can’t provide the necessary 1:1 or higher magnification ratio, which is essential for true macro images.
For authentic macro shots, you need a camera with interchangeable lenses, like a DSLR or a mirrorless camera, and a good-quality macro lens. There are many on the market offering 1:1 magnification. Focal lengths of 90-105mm or longer are usually preferred due to the increased subject distance they provide. When shooting flat objects like stamps and coins, choose a flat-field macro lens for perfect sharpness.
Although a dedicated macro lens should be your first choice if you can afford one, you can also use your regular lenses with some close-focusing accessories. A close-up filter acts like a magnifying glass that you mount on your existing lens. Another option is extension tubes that sit between the lens and the camera, allowing a closer focus. Lastly, you can use reversing rings, which enable you to mount a lens backward, essentially making it a magnifying glass.
You can also build up a macro kit with other helpful equipment:
- Tripod
- Macro-focusing rail
- Macro flash
- Good-quality flash diffuser
2. Keep a Close Eye on the Details
As you draw closer to your subject, it not only magnifies the details you want to showcase but also the scene’s imperfections. Learn to look for any stray objects like hairs or dirt that you may hardly notice with the naked eye. It will ruin the macro shot when magnified, so clean obsessively, even if you have to use tweezers and little brushes for the tiniest intruders.
3. Plan Your Shots
The depth of field shrinks when capturing small subjects, so it’s essential to visualize precisely what you want from the shot. Even slight adjustments can make or break the image, so preparation and patience are more important than ever.
- Plan your points of focus. Practice focusing on different sections of the frame manually.
- Improving your in-camera composition will also save you time during post-processing.
- Adding elements like little dew drops to a leaf can elevate your macro shots. You can fabricate this by squirting some water from a spray bottle. Getting creative will draw more visual interest to your image.
4. Lighting
When you’re new to macro photography, it’s best to start with natural lighting. One of the best times to shoot is during cloudy middays. The light makes colors pop, and it’s flattering and soft. The golden hours—two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset—are also favorites for this type of photography.
Macro photography often requires additional lighting. The high magnification levels, camera shake, or if you’re shutting out natural light as you move closer to the subject are possible causes for this.
Camera flashes will help, but they can give off a harsh light, which is where a diffuser comes in handy. Ring flashes are also helpful in allowing for smaller apertures and faster shutter speeds.
5. Set Your Camera to Manual Mode
When your camera is set to manual mode, you can choose the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. This gives you more control over the shot, as you can decide where to lock your focus to get the sharpest version of your planned image.
6. Consider Your Depth of Field
A typical recommendation for new macro photographers is to use small apertures because it helps maximize the depth of field. However, too small of an aperture could affect the image’s sharpness due to an effect called diffraction. On the other hand, if the aperture is too large, it minimises the depth of field, leaving some parts of the subject blurred. Finding the sweet spot will go a long way in elevating your macro shots.
7. Use a Longer Focal Length for Living Creatures
If you’re keen on shooting living subjects, it will be in your best interest to buy a lens with longer focal lengths or to invest in lens extension tubes. Critters are inclined to move or fly away when you approach them. A longer focal length enables you to get closer to the subject without taking a step.
8. Choose the Best Location and Weather
When shooting flowers, plants, and living creatures in their natural settings, choose locations that will give you plenty of opportunities for macro shots. Insects are typically more active in warmer weather, from 62°F or 17°C upwards.
Post-Processing
In today’s digital age, photographers have the benefit of editing their images before showcasing their work online or handing over the final versions to a client. Cropping the shot, adjusting colors, changing the exposure, adding contrasts, and sharpening your image are some of the ways you can transform macro photos from good to great.
Final Thoughts
Improving your macro photography skills takes time, practice, and attention to detail. But by following these tips, you will soon be producing breathtaking, larger-than-life images.
Embrace the tiny world around you, and let your creativity shine through each meticulously captured detail.
