Macro photography is a very popular and striking form of art that requires a lot of effort but can be very rewarding. A good macro picture has the capability of giving us a unique insight into life in miniature, and brings out details which are often hard to see to the foreground.

Interesting subjects for macro photography are all around us and easy to find when you look carefully. Often the most intriguing shots are within reach, when you recognise the potential of a magnified view of a particular subject.

The art of macro photography

The trick to composing a great macro shot is to let go of the way you usually shoot pictures.

When the big wow factor comes from the detail in your shot, it’s important to fill a significant portion of your camera’s viewfinder. Don’t worry too much about the traditional methods for composition and leading lines – this helps bring focus to the subject and really bring it to life. Macro photography is definitely not the easiest type of photography to get right and the key is to practice, practice and then practice some more.

Equipment

Decent macro shots can be made using fixed lens cameras with macro setting activated. To get truly professional shots, it is best to use a good DSLR or mirrorless camera. The reason for this is that you have more control over the aperture and extending the depth of field. It also gives you more control over the focus. If you’re serious about macro photography, purchasing a dedicated macro lens is also advised.

Macro lenses are designed to operate at closer than normal distances and reduce the chances of experiencing colour fringing and optical distortion. Generally, when shooting macro you will rarely want an f-stop (aperture) smaller than f/16, which gives you good depth of field in most situations.

Macro lenses are designed to operate at closer than normal distances and reduce the chances of experiencing colour fringing and optical distortion

Dedicated macro are made with different (fixed) focal lengths, and you’ll want to consider what type of subjects you’ll be trying to shoot. For most photographers, a focal length of 100mm is ideal for a macro lens, though if you plan on shooting insects or other subjects that may move if you come too close, you’ll want to consider a lens with a larger focal length instead, to give you more working space.

Before investing in a dedicated macro lens, practise using normal lenses so that you get a feel for the technique. You could consider buying fairly inexpensive lens extension tubes to work with your normal lenses as well. Extension tubes are attached between the DSLR body and your lens and reduce your minimum focusing distance, enabling you to get closer to your subject. It gets you a little closer to working with a real macro lens, though it won’t give you the same results.

Tripods and stability

There are two types of tripods suitable for macro photography. You will need a tripod where the legs can be spread wide enough to allow you to position the camera low down, or you want one that has a reversible head stern allowing your camera to hang facing down under the tripod.

Macro photography can be difficult for skittish subjects such as insects. Make sure that you have everything ready as you may only get one chance for that epic shot.

Focusing

A key aspect of taking a good macro shot is to ensure you achieve the right depth of field. The most interesting part of the subject should be in sharp focus, while the area behind and in front of the subject should be in soft focus. This will give your subject crystal clear clarity and make it more striking.

I won’t lie to you: getting the focus right in macro shots is tough. When you’re working with a higher magnification factor than you’re used to, depth of field becomes much harder to control. Especially when your subject isn’t perfectly stationary, it’s a big challenge.

There are a few things you can do to help you get focus exactly right: mount your camera on a sturdy tripod, use manual focusing and if your subject is affected by the wind, shield it outside from view.

Depending on the subject you shoot and the lens set-up you’re working with, you’ll want to try a few different aperture settings. The focus should be on the main subject, but you want the subject to be in focus in full, not just partially.

Lighting

Often, lighting can be an issue for macro photographers. Ambient lighting is often the only source available. Your camera’s built-in flash is useless as your lens is often only a few centimetres away from the subject, and as a result casts shadows onto your subject.

Sometimes, however, you may find you can bring additional lighting to your shoot, depending on the subject. Unlike static subjects such as plants, insects and small creatures will probably not appreciate being illuminated by external light sources.

To get round this consider using an external flash. Ones that have rotational heads which can elevate work best. Generally, you will get the best results on brighter, overcast days for outside shoots.

Try and position slightly diffusive material such as rice paper over the subject. This will illuminate the subject in more evenly distributed light in bright sunlight. You could also place a reflective surface near the subject to fill in some of the shadow. If you’re shooting a live subject, you’ll want to be careful not to startle them by introducing these tools.

The background

Taking heed of the background is important with macro photography. A complex brightly coloured background can confuse the colours of the shot and obscure the subject. Avoid anything that causes a jarring effect. Also, avoid contrasting backgrounds such as a bright and light coloured subject against a dark obscure background and vice versa.

Framing the shot

Inexperienced macro photographers tend to shoot a subject head-on. This is fine, but sometimes changing the angle of the shot can make for pleasing results. Try shooting from above or below the subject if possible. Remember that good macro photography provides a glimpse of the world in miniature and brings out detail otherwise left unseen.

Experiment

As with all great photography, good macro photography will require you to experiment with your equipment and settings for the best results. Be patient and take notes so you can make the best use of your equipment to take the best macro shots.

Christina Goggi is a content marketing and SEO professional and a photography enthusiast. For more of her work visit www.christinagoggiphotography.com.