How to Shoot Macro Photography

Macro photography is a form of close-up photography, originally developed for scientific research. The strictest definition of true macro photography is that the subject is photographed at 1:1 magnification—in other words, the subject appears life-sized in the photo. However, most people use the term “macro photography” to refer to any photograph that depicts a close-up and extremely detailed image of a small subject.

The most important piece of equipment for macro photography is a good macro lens. A macro lens is specifically designed to focus close up to the subject with a 1:1 (life size) reproduction.

There are many different sizes of macro lens to choose from, from 35mm up to 200mm in focal length. Most experts in the field of photography recommend that a beginner or amateur get something in the middle, between 100mm to 150mm, depending on the type of camera you have—be it DSLR, mirrorless, or film, Canon, Sony, or Nikon. Lenses that have a short focal length mean that you have to be very close to your subject. A short focusing distance can cast shadows and (worse) could scare your subject away.

Shooting macro photography requires a specific skill set that can be honed with practice. Here are some tips for getting started:

1. 1. Keep distance in mind. When choosing a macro lens, you want to keep the working distance in mind. This is the focus distance between the end of the macro lens and the subject. The smaller the lens, the shorter the working distance. Too small a lens, and you will have to get so close to your subject that you may scare it away.
2. 2. Pay attention to shadows. You run the risk of casting shadows over your photo when the working distance is too close. This may still happen with a larger lens, but you will have more room to adjust when your working distance is larger. Try to get a 100mm to 150mm lens, which should give you enough working distance to not cast shadows.
3. 3. Treat subjects ethically. If photographing live creatures, remember to be ethical. Try not to disrupt their environment or their daily habits. Do not capture insects and place them somewhere else that might be more photogenic—or worse, do not freeze them and then photograph them. Remember, if aliens came and started putting a lens inches away from you, how would you feel? Treat the subject the way you would want to be treated.
4. 4. Use a tripod. It is nearly impossible to stack photos (i.e. combining multiple photos with different focal points in post-processing software) when holding a camera with your hands; a tripod is a must for image stabilization when attempting this method of increasing your depth of field. A still subject is also ideal for this method, since a skittish or mobile subject will disturb focus and continuity. Tripods are also used by professional photographers who shoot products in work studios.

Finding the proper camera settings for macro photography involves experimentation and trial and error, but there are some baseline things to keep in mind:

• Adjust focal length. When using any macro lens or macro extension tubes, the depth of field and focal length is going to be extraordinarily narrow. When working at a 1:1 (life size) magnification, your depth of field can be so small that the head of an ant might be in focus while the back end is not.
• Use flash or adjust aperture. If you do have a flash, you can photograph with a very small aperture, like f/16 or f/22. This will increase your depth of field slightly, providing enough room to keep an entire small insect in focus. A flash may startle the subject, however, so a flash diffuser might come in handy to soften the light and leave your subject undisturbed. If you do not have a flash or do not want to use one, you can keep your aperture open at the widest setting (or one f/stop down from the widest setting) in order to allow as much light in as possible. This works best when getting a macro image of something larger, like a butterfly, in a naturally-lit area.
• Stack your photos. A more technical method for obtaining a greater depth of field is to stack your macro shots using a post-processing software like Photoshop. Focus stacking means combining a number of macro pictures that all have a different focal point. This means taking multiple photos of the exact same thing, without moving, at different focal lengths.
• Use manual focus. Focus is an additional challenge with macro photography. When photographing such high levels of magnification, a digital camera’s autofocus feature ceases to work because it cannot automatically find a focal point. The most basic way to focus on a subject when doing macro photography is to get as close as possible and use the manual focus on your camera. Look through the viewfinder and, after you have come as close to focused as you can, start moving your body back and forth in a rocking motion, which will bring different parts of the image in focus. Snap a picture every time the subject is in focus. If you cannot get the whole subject in focus, try taking multiple shots with different parts of the subject focused.

Macro photography was first used to capture insects and plants that the naked eye could not see in detail—scientists wanted to study and record these creatures. To this day, macro photography is a great way to get close-up shots of flies, bees, dragonflies, butterflies, worms, flowers, leaves, grasses, and more. Here are some optional macro subjects:

• Nature: Macro photography is a great way to discover the secret lives of flora and fauna. You can go to your local park or even your backyard to find subjects to photograph. If you are not sure where to go, go to a place with water—many plants grow near water and bugs like to be near water. Be sure to cover yourself thoroughly to protect yourself from bug bites, wearing long pants, long sleeves, a neck covering, and, if needed, gloves.
• Portraits: There are many other subjects to photograph on a macro scale outside of bugs and plants. Macro photographers can use their skills to create a unique portrait of a person. You can photograph their eyes, ears, or nose all close-up—just make sure it’s an area the person is comfortable being put under the microscope of your lens.
• Food: Food is yet another great way to experiment with macro photography. The colors and textures of the food can really be accentuated using a macro lens.
• Products: On a more commercial level, photographers use macro photography to create detailed shots of different products. If you want to use macro work to aid your photography business, practice capturing the details of different products around your house—a mascara brush or a set of pencils, for example.

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