Top 12 Macro Photography Tips
-
Loading... - Kathy Grant
- 08 Nov 2022
- 69 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
It may seem daunting at first, but macro photography really isn’t so different from other kinds once you get a grasp of the basics. With these Top 12 Macro Photography tips you’ll be shooting great macro images in no time.
Why do people enjoy macro photography?
Macro photography is extreme close-up photography, using a 1:1 macro lens in order to produce images of the subject larger than life size, and this means you can see things that you couldn’t see with your own eyes, making it exciting and fun to do.
How to shoot macro photos
We cover the different types of camera kit you need to take great macro photos, as well as give other solutions for macro photography if you don’t own a dedicated macro lens. You don’t always need expensive kit to photograph small subjects, and you can even shoot macro photos with your smartphone.
Pro photographer Colin Varndell offers his top 12 macro photography tips…
1. Choose the Best Lens
The focal length of macro lenses ranges from 50mm to 200mm. Although many zoom lenses boast a macro setting, these are usually less than half life-size magnification – true macro, however, begins with 1:1, with some lenses offering even more.
A 50-60mm lens is suitable for general macro photography work but if you want greater subject-to-lens distance a 100mm lens will give you this, but normally at a higher price.
A 90-105mm macro lens is a popular choice, with many companies offering a lens in this range (or equivalent). You can also look for macro lenses with built-in image stabilisation, as this can help keep your images sharp.
For creatures like butterflies and dragonflies, lens-to-subject distance becomes even more important, so your focal length needs to be greater/longer.
The 150-200mm lens range is the most expensive, but you will appreciate the extra power when stalking flighty subjects like this Gatekeeper butterfly (above). It’ll also give you even more distance from scary subjects like spiders! Read More…
