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Macro Photography Basics #1
By: Parkeybros.com / The-Design-Trade.com
This article will outline the basics of macro photography, or at least the way I go about my macro photography.
Macro photography has always fascinated me, I started with a Canon G5
back in 2001 and took some very nice butterfly photos.
As time passed I found myself wanting more out of my photos.
I wanted to get close, so close that human eye could not see, and so I decided to invest in a digital SLR camera.
I choose the Canon 300D (Digital Rebel)
because it was the least expensive in the market, and I thought that I would rather have a less expensive camera and invest more in a nice lens.
I truly believe that the lens is the most important aspect in photography, the camera was the least of my concern.
I ended up saving for a Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX Macro
and have been using that for my macro photos since.
All of my photos of insects are taken in their natural environment, I very rarely handle the insects that I photograph.
When I do handle them, it is only to move them to a spot where my lighting or background will work better. I do not have a fancy flash or
any other fancy lighting equipment for macros and because of this I only shoot on very light days. Sometimes to offset that
disadvantage I enhance the lighting using a photo editing software such as Photoshop. Purchasing a nice flash along with a diffuser will enhance your lighting in macro photography,
I hope to someday purchase one myself.
Once you get into macro photography you will be convinced that some insects are out of this world.
Some are so unique in fact you will not be able to help but look them up and learn more about them.
A lot of them also look like they are right out of a horror movie.
What seems like a tiny dark or light speck on your flower actually looks very different under the macro lens. If you visit a local park
with your equipment, look around for the smallest insects and you will see where I am coming from.
Most of my photos are taken in my garden, I created a garden with specific plants to attract some of these critters, I am
not a gardener, my objective is rather different then most gardeners. When taking macro photos I always use manual focus.
I twist the lens to the greatest magnification that I can get (I zoom it all the way in) then I rock the camera back and forth
until the image is as crisp as possible in my viewfinder, I never use a tripod (the bug may run away from me). Usually I
get 2-6 inches away from my subject.
On my camera settings I always use a small aperture, which means my F value is large, this helps to keep your subject more in focus.
Depending on your camera settings I would suggest you use F8-F11. Sometimes I play around with my settings depending on my mood, and
sometimes I even use the maco mode that is already avaliable in my camera. My shutter speed is usually at 1/200.
You can also use your AF Area mode at 49 points to grab focous of bugs eyes.
When getting close make sure to move very slow and make sure you do not cast any shadows over the bug.
When you spot an insect such as a dragonfly on a branch or leaf go slow and be very quiet if they fly away don’t fret, just
keep your camera there be silent and wait for him to come back. 99 times out of 100 they come back to the exact same spot they were just on.
Some are braver then others, I had a dragonfly who after a few shoots let me touch him :). Most bug photos should be taken
early in the morning, this is the best time or right in the afternoon when it starts to cool down, that is if you have decent lighting equipment.
Patience is the key you are bound to take many photos and most will not turn out.
Keep in mind that only one or 2 photos you take will be sure winners out of many that are taken, that is just the way macro
photography works, until you get better at it. Don't get discouraged. Below is an example of a usual blooper.
This is the end of part one in this article, as I learn more I will create a part 2. I have a lot to learn and I am eager to share
what I learn with you, so stay tuned and thank you for reading!
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