Techniques in Macro Photography

A flower shot with a macro lens.

Macro photography is the practice of capturing images in close-up. The photographer uses special lenses and equipment to record a subject from a magnification of life-size or closer. Patience and a keen eye come in handy when taking close-ups, but by shooting this way the details of everyday objects will come to light when given a closer look.

Lenses

Most digital cameras have a macro setting that will provide a degree of magnification, but keep in mind this setting may not lead to a clear picture. Likewise, very few zoom lenses have the ability to zoom into a macro setting. A real macro lens will be in the 100mm to 200mm range. If you do not have one of these lenses, various combinations of adapters and lens extensions can help you get close-up shots on a budget. Also, you can use your existing lens and simply try moving the camera closer to the subject, but make sure to adjust for focus and lighting issues.

Focus and Depth of Field

When shooting close to an object the depth of field -- the area of the subject that is in focus -- is greatly diminished. To increase depth of field, the photographer has to close the aperture down to increase the range that is in focus. This will mean less light, so the shutter speed may have to increase to compensate. White bounce cards can be used and a separate flashgun may also be needed. It is also helpful in close-up situations to turn off the auto focus function and instead manually adjust the focus.

Lighting

A flashgun to provide extra light may be helpful and in some cases necessary to compensate for limited depth of field. However, if the flash is too bright you may need to cover it with a light diffusion material to avoid a "blow out," where the light washes out the image. Wrapping the flash in plastic or white cloth can help diffuse the light.

Stability

Stabilizing the camera when shooting in close-up is vital to avoid blurring the image with camera movement. Even the slightest shake can destroy an image. Make sure to use a tripod or monopod out in the field or utilize a table or other flat stable surface to rest the camera on. Employ a shutter release cable to reduce the unwanted camera movement from physically pressing the shutter release. If the camera has a timer, set it and move away and have the camera take the picture itself.

References

• Nature's View: Quick Tips for Better Nature Photography
• Wired How-to: Do Close-Up Photography
• Basic Macro Photpgraphy Tutorial