Top 10 Macro Photography Tips
PHOTOPHOTO
September 11, 2017
Macro photography has definitely become a very broad genre of the art form, thanks to the ability
of today’s cameras—from smartphones to professional DSLRs—to make capturing macro shots
as easy as clicking a button or two. However, the results may not always be what you desired.
Before learning to take your macro photography to the next level, let’s talk about what macro
photography is and how it is achieved.
,What is Macro Photography?
Macro photography is a unique form of photography that involves photographing small objects to
make them look life-sized or larger in the photo. The usual subjects include flowers and small
insects, which we don’t normally get to see up close with the naked eye. This type of
photography is also used for bringing out details in jewelry and other inanimate objects. It is a
widely used art form that is incorporated in almost every niche of photography, whether for travel,
portraiture, action, or even event photography, both in the film and digital age.
A true macro shot depends on the level of magnification. The ideal magnification is at 1:1, where
a 1-inch object is also projected at 1-inch on the camera sensor. When projected at half life-size,
the same 1-inch object would take up just a half inch of the sensor and would be at 1:2
magnification. However, true macro is anything that has been magnified at a ratio of 1:1 or
higher.
Nowadays, both point-and-shoot cameras and DSLRs have a built-in macro mode that helps
users capture significantly closer shots of an object from an observable distance. The camera
automatically adjusts lens elements and moves them closer to the sensor to best suit close
focusing, and without the need for extra lenses or macro tubes. Of course this cannot be
considered true macro, because to achieve that you will need a dedicated macro lens (or an
accessory that will enable your camera or lens to shoot macro).
There’s also an option to “fake” a macro by cropping your photo to make your subject appear
more magnified. However, since the digital output from most cameras (except for those with full-
frame sensors) are not as large as on film, resorting to such measures will usually result in
reduced image quality, which is why cropping does not yield desirable results.
, To achieve true macro photography, there is a wide range of macro lenses available for select
digital cameras (mostly DSLRs) that are optimized for achieving as much as 10x magnification
for professional macro images. But even with the right gear, pro macro photography can still be
hard to execute without knowing how to properly adjust your camera settings to suit your
shooting requirements, or without knowing how to create a more favorable shooting situation
before clicking the shutter.
Macro shooting may now seem to be more complicated than you thought it would be, but it really
isn’t—especially not after using some of our top 10 tips for capturing the best macro
photographs.
Top 10 Tips for Macro Photography
1. Get a good macro lens
2. Choose a suitable subject
3. Use a longer focal length for living subjects
4. Incorporate assistive accessories
5. Customize your background
6. Pay attention to your depth of field
7. Create better lighting
8. Improve your in-camera composition
9. Plan your point of focus
10. Be patient
PHOTOPHOTO
September 11, 2017
Macro photography has definitely become a very broad genre of the art form, thanks to the ability
of today’s cameras—from smartphones to professional DSLRs—to make capturing macro shots
as easy as clicking a button or two. However, the results may not always be what you desired.
Before learning to take your macro photography to the next level, let’s talk about what macro
photography is and how it is achieved.
,What is Macro Photography?
Macro photography is a unique form of photography that involves photographing small objects to
make them look life-sized or larger in the photo. The usual subjects include flowers and small
insects, which we don’t normally get to see up close with the naked eye. This type of
photography is also used for bringing out details in jewelry and other inanimate objects. It is a
widely used art form that is incorporated in almost every niche of photography, whether for travel,
portraiture, action, or even event photography, both in the film and digital age.
A true macro shot depends on the level of magnification. The ideal magnification is at 1:1, where
a 1-inch object is also projected at 1-inch on the camera sensor. When projected at half life-size,
the same 1-inch object would take up just a half inch of the sensor and would be at 1:2
magnification. However, true macro is anything that has been magnified at a ratio of 1:1 or
higher.
Nowadays, both point-and-shoot cameras and DSLRs have a built-in macro mode that helps
users capture significantly closer shots of an object from an observable distance. The camera
automatically adjusts lens elements and moves them closer to the sensor to best suit close
focusing, and without the need for extra lenses or macro tubes. Of course this cannot be
considered true macro, because to achieve that you will need a dedicated macro lens (or an
accessory that will enable your camera or lens to shoot macro).
There’s also an option to “fake” a macro by cropping your photo to make your subject appear
more magnified. However, since the digital output from most cameras (except for those with full-
frame sensors) are not as large as on film, resorting to such measures will usually result in
reduced image quality, which is why cropping does not yield desirable results.
, To achieve true macro photography, there is a wide range of macro lenses available for select
digital cameras (mostly DSLRs) that are optimized for achieving as much as 10x magnification
for professional macro images. But even with the right gear, pro macro photography can still be
hard to execute without knowing how to properly adjust your camera settings to suit your
shooting requirements, or without knowing how to create a more favorable shooting situation
before clicking the shutter.
Macro shooting may now seem to be more complicated than you thought it would be, but it really
isn’t—especially not after using some of our top 10 tips for capturing the best macro
photographs.
Top 10 Tips for Macro Photography
1. Get a good macro lens
2. Choose a suitable subject
3. Use a longer focal length for living subjects
4. Incorporate assistive accessories
5. Customize your background
6. Pay attention to your depth of field
7. Create better lighting
8. Improve your in-camera composition
9. Plan your point of focus
10. Be patient
