Macro Photography - An Ultimate Introduction

Those tiny ants crawling over green grass with bits of rice grains, well I am speaking about Macro Photography. A macro photograph is something in which the size of the object you click is life-size or greater than that. (Lifesize is nothing but the natural size of the object or organism). Precisely Macro photography requires a huge amount of dedication, skills and of course the two P’s passion & patience!

Few professional tips in getting you started with macro photography here.

Photos by Shikhei Goh

Macro Photography – An Ultimate Introduction — Photo by: Shikhei Goh

#1 Using a Tripod

Macro Photography at times depends hugely on your Tripod, the weight of your camera body with macro lens, the need to hold on with your camera on to a specific frame for a prolonged time, expecting an action from your subject can be really hectic. Also to be free from camera shake we definitely need to mount it on a tripod. A tripod usually helps you to stay in a place explore it even better. Professionals advice you to go for a heavier tripod at times even a bean bag can come handy!

#2 Aperture Priority

Everybody loves bokeh, how about a pleasing bokeh behind a well lit great subject. Amazing isn’t to attain those traits we need to hit the largest aperture possible with the lens allowing more light + a greater shutter speed also contributing to a pleasing bokeh!!

#3 Composition

Every piece of art needs to be composed better to be called as an art or a photograph. Macro photography is no bar either, try to tune yourself with the basics of composition and as always do break those mighty rules which can make you achieve pleasing results.

#4 Focus

The most important aspect here is focusing the subject utmost care. It must be really difficult with those larger apertures to manage the shallow DOF, but when you hit the right spot for example the eyes or an antennae of an insect or any prime factor of the subject.

You know the shot is already complete, switching between Auto – Manual focus also can help you in getting your shot picture perfect!

#5 External Attachments

All those excellent macro shots we see aren’t made just with a macro lens. Professionals do use some filters, extension tubes and even lens reversal techniques to get the life-size ratio better! Reversing lens is one cheap technique for you to get your hands on macro photography. People use a tele lens coupled with a prime lens. By means of this setup one gets 6 times more magnification than anything. i.e by using a 300mm tele with prime u get approx 6:1 times of actual size. In other words 6 times more magnification of what we see in reality. so look for something choosing your budget to get the best shot!!

#6 Lighting

Natural lighting may not be a best option for macro photography. A ring flash enabled to fit in end of the lens works amazingly. One can never expect lighting to be even and hence it becomes necessary to introduce artificial lights to your setup. What professionals feel is, at times using a shorter/normal focal length may be difficult to focus as well as light the subject. Hence forth they tend to use a tele macro lens to counter this problem as well as better lighting. Ring flashes are one typical setup for macro, cos they are arranged in circles across the lens lining. These lights also have LED’s with them making the continuous lighting possible for this Interesting genre of Photography. When you feel this light is harsh and strong, one can always make homemade diffusers of light from plastic to reduce the light Yielding amazing results therefore.

#7 Patience

Comparing to any other genre of photography macro arguably does require 2x amount of patience and passion. If you have already have chosen to be one then get ready to sweat, rub dirt, and stay in a same position until you get his wings moving. Try to anticipate the moment, believe your instinct, and always wait for the moment. Because it is the actions which make a picture speak louder.