Uncover the World of Macro Photography for Beginners

Macro photography is arguably one of the most beautiful forms of photography thanks to the mind-blowing amount of detail you can achieve from the smallest subject. Here is a simple beginner's guide to help you get started on your macro journey.

Whether you buy one secondhand or browse a camera on C.R Kennedy Photo Imaging, your camera is clearly your main tool in macro photography. While you don’t need to buy the best of the best, it is important to pick a camera that allows you to change lenses.

While you can upgrade down the line, a regular DSLR will do the job just fine, as it is the lenses that allow you to take macro shots, not the camera itself.

Speaking of lenses, there are a few accessories to choose from and consider when doing macro photography. At the bottom end of the scale, a close-up filter is a magnetic magnifying glass that pops onto the end of your lens, and allows you to get a taste of macro photography.

The more expensive option is a dedicated macro lens, which gives you all the power and functionality of a regular lens, while also giving you the super-close sharpness you need in your photos. Be aware, this is the more expensive option, but it is a must-have if you are going to fully pivot into macro photography.

While not essential, a tripod is a great addition if you struggle with stability. Considering a lot of people aren’t gifted with exceptionally steady hands, and you don’t want every photo to be slightly blurry, a tripod is exactly what you need.

Another extra that pairs perfectly with a tripod is a macro-focussing rail. This nifty piece of gear attaches between your trips and camera, and allows you to adjust your camera position and focus without having to move your tripod.

For settings, keep it simple. Depending on your camera, either select aperture mode or manual mode. While aperture mode is fairly self-explanatory, manual mode allows you to control the aperture, which is typical in older cameras.

For lighting, there are no hard and fast rules, as it will depend on the type of photo you want to take. For example, shooting into the sun will give your photo a more whimsical feel, while having the light behind you, lighting up your subject, will give you the best lighting for detail.

What you shoot is a personal choice, but for a beginner, there are a couple of things to focus on that will quickly teach you about macro photography. The first is insects, as they are often highly detailed, and often require you to experiment with angles and perspective to get the perfect shot.

Another great choice is flowers, as they also offer detail, but they are more “stable” and a bit more forgiving. You can also take a multitude of shots, from highly-detailed close-ups, to more magical, fairytale-style shots that play with light.

Now that you have a basic understanding of what you need for macro photography, here are a few tips for taking the best photos you can.

Get Close

Firstly, you probably know you need to get close to your subject, but in macro photography, you need to get even closer than you think. Push your lens to its absolute limits, as this will give you the best chance of capturing a unique and beautiful shot.

Burst Mode

One of the best an easiest ways to ensure you capture the sharpest images is to use burst mode. This is especially true when shooting something that has a bit of motion, as movement blur is accentuated when shooting so close.

Subject & Background Distance

A pro tip to always keep in mind is the distance between your subject and the background. The best macro photographs have a sharp subject and a blurred background, and to achieve this, all you need to do is adjust your position and angle until your background is as far back as possible.

Focus Stacking

Focus stacking is a very clever and useful technique to take your macro photographs. In simple terms, focus stacking means taking multiple photos with slightly different focus and then combining them. This is very useful when you want a sharp subject, but a deep depth of field.

Perspective

Finally, always take the time to experiment with perspective. Macro photography allows you to create incredible photos that turn perspective on its head. For instance, you can easily use perspective to make the smallest of insects appear to be gargantuan.

Super-Macro

When you want to upgrade from macro photography, super macro is a new challenge. It is most certainly for more experienced photographers, as it requires a controlled environment, specialized equipment, and lighting.

This type of photography captures even more detail, allowing you to go from photographing insects, to being able to capture the smallest of details on their bodies. It is definitely more niche, but if you have the money to invest and the time to learn, it is definitely worth investigating.