Photographing the tiny things in life can be loads of fun and very rewarding. Some photographers find getting decent macro shots quite daunting, so below are 6 tips to help you achieve better images.
- Macro Lenses Recommended
Without doubt, using a dedicated macro lens is the best way to go. They are usually very sharp and allow for quite close focusing. Lens focal lengths range from 50mm to 200mm. Although many lenses have a ‘macro setting’, they aren’t true macro lenses.
- An Alternative – Extension Tubes
Extension tubes fit between your camera and lens and are available in various sizes. They can be used individually or stacked on top of each other. The advantage of using extension tubes is that they allow for much closer focusing than your standard lens allows. There is no glass involved, so there is no quality loss whatsoever.
- Controlling Depth of Field Using Various Apertures
Using smaller apertures (in size) such as f 16 or f22 will allow for better depth of field. In some cases, such as when you are wishing to photograph the stamen of a flower, for example, and blur out the background, a wider aperture such as f2.8 or f4 can be used. The advantage of this is that you can completely blur out the background, making the area you are focusing on stand out.
- Using A Macro Clamp
Macro clamps, such as the ‘Wimberley Plamp’, are highly recommended when photographing plants, especially in windy conditions. One end of the clamp is attached to your tripod while the other holds the plant still.
- Focal Point
It’s very important to choose a focal point when photographing macro subjects. This is often known as the ‘leading edge” and is the first part of the image that the eye is usually drawn to.
- Manual Focus
I have always been an advocate of using manual focus when photographing macro subjects, as you can control exactly where you want to focus. Using a tripod with manual focus is also recommended.
If you have a passion for wildlife, nature or travel photography and would love to go on a small-number, professional photography adventure, please get in touch with Michael Snedic at WildNature Photo Expeditions. You can call him on 0408 941 965 or fill in this Contact Form and he will get back to you ASAP.