Macro Photography Tips.

What is macro photography?

Simply put, it's a technique allowing the photographer to capture small objects. This may include a variety of subjects such as flowers, insects, rain drops or even, quite literally, a postage stamp.

What does patience have to do with it? Macro photography tips introduces macro and a really shallow depth of field, as explained shortly.

This makes it a challenge at the best of times as one attempts to have in focus what one wants in focus.

I've been in amongst tree branches and shrubs sneaking up on little subjects thinking all is well. Then I discover my tripod needs moving an inch, literally, for correct focus.

Sometimes I'm too close other times not close enough, in the endeavor to get it just right. It can be down right tiring!

However, if one can stay patient and persistent it's a great deal of fun and very interesting. There is magic in "being in the moment" with little subjects.

What makes macro photography different?

It allows for the creativity of presenting an image in a different perspective by magnifying small subjects.

A true macro lens has the ability to capture an image at a 1:1 ratio. This means the subject is captured on film or the digital sensor at its actual size.

As a result the image, when printed, will appear to be larger than life.

Perhaps you've heard the term micro photography although macro is a more familiar term.

A wasp on a grape and water droplet from melting snow.

How to capture macro?

Like photographing any moment the key is a willing frame of mind. I could have missed both the wasp and water drop very easily.

The water drop is one of a series taken during melting snow one spring day. I was at home not intending to go out but thankfully that changed and I was gifted with a magical afternoon with my macro lens and dripping water.

About the wasp. About the wasp. A beautiful summer day, snack break of grapes, enter one wasp and immediate reaction to chase it off. "What about macro," came a thought? Aha, the tripod and camera came out and fun and fascination took over. Some photos turned out better than others but that's the way it goes. Macro photography tips, stop eating grapes and create a photo opportunity.

Macro photography tips about the lens.

These days, many cameras actually have a built in macro lens, both in compact point and shoot and the digital SLR. Very likely it will be a zoom lens with this built in macro setting.

What's different, however, is how they capture and record the size of the subject.

As mentioned, the true macro lens captures an image using the 1:1 ratio. The built in settings only have the capability to capture the appearance of life size on a 4 x 6 print.

To clarify macro once again.

A true macro lens will capture the subject on the film or digital sensor at a 1:1 ratio meaning it will appear as its actual size.

Macro photography tips. When printed at 4 x 6 it will appear larger than life sized.

Built in macro settings on many zoom lenses do not capture on the film or sensor at 1:1, therefore the images will appear life sized in a 4 x 6 print.

If this seems a bit confusing it's okay. Sometimes it takes a long time for concepts to really sink in and only through experimenting with macro photography tips, asking questions and looking at many different pictures does it begin to make sense.

How serious you are about macro photography may determine your choice of lens. Unless you find a great deal somewhere a true macro lens will cost more. Is it worth it? If you're serious about macro photography it's worth your time to investigate lenses and ask your favorite camera retailer lots of questions.

Macro photography tips about your built in macro - it's a great tool for getting a taste of macro.

In addition to your built in macro you can get enhancers although there may be a trade off, such as a bit of image distortion. Some photographers use extension tubes although they will cut down on available light.

All in all the true macro lens will do the best job for you if you're serious about macro.

You may or may not decide to go with a brand matching your camera if you take the plunge for a true macro. What's the difference? Usually, cost is a factor. My first true macro lens is a Sigma with a Pentax mount, meaning the lens is compatible for using with my Pentax k20D.

Why is a good dose of patience helpful?

Macro photography can be a tremendous amount of fun and very interesting. It can also be extremely time consuming.

Why? Two common reasons.

Focus becomes very important and even being a touch off will create a lot of blurr in your picture. Thus the wrestling with a tripod unless you have a nice slider rail feature. This allows you to move the camera without moving the tripod.

Macro lenses have a shallow depth of field so you need to think about what's important and how much to have in focus.

Depth of field refers to how much of the picture is in focus from front to back.

Macro photography tips and how to deal with this.

The wasp on the grape shows greater depth of field because both the wasp and the grape are in focus. One can also determine a bit of detail in the paper towel, under the subject.

The flower shows less depth of field noticed by a fading of detail in the leaves and the background.

The bee on the flower, as you can see, shows the least amount of depth of field. You may also notice that even a portion of the bee and the front flower is not crystal clear in focus.

What's the difference in camera settings? Macro photography tips about aperture.

As mentioned. macro lenses have a narrow depth of field.

Aperture plays a large role in depth of field.

Aperture is relative to the amount of light hitting your camera's film or sensor. See the diagram below for help.

This is accomplished by setting the aperture. Aperture is also known as the f-stop and an aperture of eight would be written as f/8.

The larger the aperture the greater the amount in focus, or a greater depth of field.

The smaller the aperture the less in focus or less depth of field.

This is where things can get confusing.

What's meant by a larger or smaller aperture?

The larger the aperture the smaller the representative number, such as f/2.8

The smaller the aperture the larger the representative number, such as f/16.

Based on this, with the three pictures above there is quite a difference isn't there?

Going beyond macro photography tips to photography in general this aperture applies to all pictures and depth of field.

The wasp photo was f/11.

The purple flower was f/8.

The bee was f/2.8.

To confirm once again, the wasp has the greater depth of field therefore the smaller aperture caused by the higher number.

The bee has the least amount of depth of field therefore the largest aperture caused by the smaller number.

For a visual connection to apertures do you see how the amount of light varies from f/2.8 to f/16.?

Macro photography tips. If you have a macro lens or macro setting with a lens you may wish to do this activity.

Find a subject which isn't going to fly away so you have time to take a few photos on different settings. If you know how to use the manual mode go ahead, otherwise use the mode dial to set the aperture on your camera.

If you're not sure how, check your manual. You'll likely have the letter A or Av on the mode dial.

Have your mode dial on the setting identified as aperture priority.

If you know how change your aperture in the manual mode, M, this is fine, too.

This picture shows the setting on M or manual.

Once you have your subject identified spend some time arranging a nice composition.

If you don't have a tripod it is invaluable for macro photography and dealing with camera shake.

Now experiment with taking the same subject with at least three or four different aperture settings.

If this is the first time you've used the aperture priority mode the camera will take care of balancing the exposure for you, at least well enough for the experiment.

Macro photography tips. The idea is for you set the aperture to the lowest possible setting which may be anywhere from f/2.8 to f/4 or higher. Then use a mid range of about f/8 and then perhaps an f/11, f/16 or even f/22.

If you're having trouble figuring this out refer to your manual. What you want to know is how to set your camera to the aperture priority mode.

First, you need to have the correct placement on your mode dial.

Second, you want to know which dial to turn to change the aperture.

Depending on your camera model you may have one dial for the aperture and one for the shutter speed or one dial for both. If you have one dial for both you likely have a small button to hold in, while turning the dial, for one of the settings.

What did you notice? All going well you will be able to see the difference in depth of field, especially in the extreme ranges.

If you had a challenge with composition, while not specifically addressing macro photography tips, you'll find help with photography rules of composition and these composition tips.

If you recall, I mentioned the focus and depth of field can be quite challenging at times but so is using a tripod. You may find yourself sneaking after your subject without it. In this case, using a faster shutter speed may help deal with camera shake.

Setting the shutter speed works on the same principle as setting the aperture, it's just a different tool. You could use 1/500 of a second as a starting point.

In spite of great intentions there will be times things don't go according to plan. Macro photography tips. Even professional photographers take many, many photos and keep only photos worthy of their desired end result.

With digital there seems to be the idea that anyone can be a photographer. Take pictures yes but to really pay attention to photography takes a lot of time, patience and effort.

Just think, by paying attention to detail, composition and avoiding the need to "take the most pictures" you will see results.

Macro photography tips regarding depth of field.

If you want most of your subject in focus use a smaller aperture, such as f/8 as a starting point and adjust accordingly if you have time.

One thing to keep in mind with this approach is now you increase the possibility for a cluttered background as well.

Why?

Not only will your subject be in a greater focus range so will everything else.

As previously mentioned, focus is really important with macro digital photography, or film for that matter.

In studying your subject identify what you would like to be in focus. It's quite alright to have part of the picture out of focus if it's not confusing the final image.

While optimum focus is desired slightly less may be considered workable in situations like this.

Composition is a little off because of the distraction from the brighter area in the photo.

Obviously with moving subjects like this a retake is not an option. Just do the best you can and have fun!

Macro photography tips. A challenge, in addition to camera shake, is the subject moving.

Once you begin experimenting with macro you will notice that even a whisper of a breeze will cause your subject to move out of focus.

What to do?

It may involve returning to the site another day or experimenting with a wind break of some sort. In patiently observing your subject you may find a short enough lapse in movement allows a couple of quick shots.

This is a perfect example of waiting for a quick lull in the breeze.

This little seed was barely hanging on so I knew it would be gone any moment.

In times like this you need to move quickly and there may not be time to even settle the tripod.

Macro photography tips. In times like this you may literally find yourself hand holding the camera and shooting on straight automatic mode.

As you become more observant, if you aren't already, you'll find yourself becoming more prepared when encountering interesting subjects.

Many photographers think a bright sunny blue sky day is perfect for a photo shoot. Actually, the opposite is preferred.

Why?

Clouds or shade will help eliminate harsh glare from the sun. However, the soft light of sunrise or sunset can work very nicely.

If you're attempting to photograph an insect you've likely noticed they can be hard to focus. You may find it helpful to choose a location on the plant, focus on it and hope the insect crosses the spot of your focus.

If you're just starting out in the world of macro photgraphy tips just remember that with a good dose of patience, observing eye and a steady camera you'll discover a fascinating world!

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