Featured Article

MASTERCLASS IN MACRO

What you’ll need:

Camera

Preferably with manual modes

Macro lens

Between 50 - 200mm

Tripod

For steady, stunning shots

Skills you’ll learn:

    Macro in the field

Seize outdoor opportunities

Indoor lighting

Set-up your own studio

Capture and edit

Master the art of macro    

There’s a whole world waiting to be explored and macro photography helps bring us closer to it. A macro image means that the subject is recorded at life-size on the sensor, known as 1:1 ratio. There are lenses that are designed specifically for the purpose of macro photography so that the smallest of details can be revealed to human eyes. Flies that you wouldn’t give a second’s thought before swatting away are revealed to be alien looking creatures with monstrous eyes and a body that sprouts the tiniest of hairs.

In this month’s guide we invite you out in the field and then back in the studio on the hunt for stunning macro material. You’ll discover the ideal camera settings, lighting, and the all-important subjects to create impressive macro images. 

Discover how to take magnificent macro shots in the field

There are lenses on the market especially designed for macro photography. A 50mm lens is great for still life shoots, as you can creep up as close as you like without disturbing your subject. If it’s a rare or timid insect that you want to photograph, however, a 200mm lens will enable you to be further away from the subject and still capture a close-up.

As DCE always points out, compact users can still immerse themselves in every genre of photography and macro is no exception. In fact, the majority of digital compacts are designed to focus as close as 1cm away, or even 0cm. Macro modes are commonly indicated by the flower symbol that you might have experimented with before, but never considered important aspects like composition, lighting, and subject matter.

Here you will learn how to take advantage of photography-friendly weather and practise the art of macro outdoors. Your back garden is filled with photo opportunities, and these pages will help you get set up and shooting macro images to impress your friends and family.

Attach the lens

We are using the Nikon 60mm lens with the Nikon D300S, which will be suitable for tabletop photography and capturing insects that aren’t easily scared away.

Steady on

A tripod is a must-have piece of kit for macro photography. The slightest movement will result in blurry shots, so always ensure you have something to rest on.

Be patient

Take the time to observe the insect you want to photograph. Discovering their habits will help you to capture a better image.

Four steps to capturing the perfect outdoor macro

Focusing

Ensure the most important area of the subject is sharp by zooming right in and adjusting the focus so that once you pull back out and frame your shot the insect’s face, for example, will be in focus. If you’re using a point-and-shoot, select the macro mode and depress the shutter so that it will automatically focus before you take the photo.

Aperture

Photographing insanely small creatures at close range and high magnification means the depth of field is compressed. Even f16 may only give about an inch of focussed detail. Try using a high f-number like f22 so that your subject is in focus and the background is blurred. Always use a tripod or stable surface to place your camera on, as the smallest of body movements will affect the aperture.

Lighting

 By using small apertures for greater depth of field and macro lenses or extension tubes, there is significantly less light reaching the sensor. For correct exposure, choose a spot where there is plenty of natural light. On a dull day you may need to call upon a reflector or use the fill flash. Make sure to expose correctly, especially when using a white subject.

Colour

Macro shots can’t help being in your face, so consider colour, texture, and shapes to create an eye-catching image. Even though the background may be out of focus, make sure it isn’t the same colour as the subject. It should also be as de-cluttered as possible and avoid detracting attention away from the object of focus.

TOP TIPS

- You can diffuse the light from your flash by placing a piece of tissue over it

- It doesn’t have to be about magnifying small objects – try focusing in on a particular part

- Outdoor macro photography can be ruined by movement, take a windbreak with you

Macro in the Studio

When rain threatens to destroy your equipment, let alone your shots, it’s time to take macro indoors. Homes are stocked with unsuspecting macro subjects lurking on shelves or in kitchen cupboards. Ornaments, a stamp collection, or even some pencil shavings lying in the bin would be great subject matter when put under the microscopic glare of the macro lens.

You don’t need a studio to hand, either. Natural light through a window and a desk lamp will still produce good results. You could even get creative and fashion your own reflector and light box – these pages will tell you how. Discover the optimum settings for your camera and cheaper alternatives to a (rather expensive) macro lens.

Getting started…

Light up

If you lack equipment, try placing your subject into a cardboard box lined with white paper, and then remove the side panels and replace them with white tissue. Shine a desk lamp from the outside and voila – your very own light box.

Subject matter

Macro is often associated with insects and small mammals, but household objects can be just as striking close-up. Think stamps, coins, or even utensils like the forks we used. Shiny surfaces are great to bounce light off, and can make these ordinary items appear abstract and interesting.

Mount the tripod

A tripod will ensure your images are in focus, saving them from dreaded camera shake. It is worth investing in this essential piece of kit, as a good quality tripod can make your shot. By purchasing a head to go with the tripod, you get added manoeuvrability.

Shutter speed

If you’re using studio flash, set the shutter speed to 1/250^th of a second so that the shutter is open for the same amount of time as the flash. This will make sure your shots are not over or under exposed.

White Balance

If you get the white balance wrong, you could end up with an orange or blue colour cast over your image. Set the white balance to Tungsten (symbol of a light bulb) for studio photography. Tungsten is the name of the metal that the bulb’s filament is made from!

Aperture Priority

As mentioned earlier, the close proximity of macro photographs decreases the light entering the sensor and therefore a high f-number doesn’t produce the great depth of field you would normally expect. Use wide apertures like f11 and above to see more of your subject in focus.

Water Droplets

Use a bottle of water or a water mister to spruce up your subjects. A few droplets on flowers can create the appearance of morning dew and add interest. We even used some sprinkled onto some forks to create texture and liven up the shot.

Experiment

Try a range of different subjects to discover their macro potential because even the most accessible of objects, like this shell, can appear wonderfully interesting up-close. Play with the lighting to produce mysterious shadows on textured items. A desk lamp will give you greater control with effects.

Macro kit

Extension Tubes

These plastic or metal tubes fit in between the camera body and the lens, which enables the camera to move closer to the subject and still maintain its focus. They are a cheaper alternative to macro lenses and whilst they don’t give as much detail, they are a viable option for those on a budget.

Reversing Rings

A reversing ring allows you to attach one lens in reverse to another lens, which magnifies the subject and enables you to focus closer, depending on the focal length of the lens. In order to stop vignetting, the reversed lens should have a large maximum aperture and the other lens must have a long focal length. The downsides are that it has a fixed magnification and focus point, and you can only use manual or aperture priority modes.

Teleconverter

A teleconverter lens is fitted between the camera body and another lens, which provides an alternative way of adding extra magnification. For instance, if you use a 2.0x teleconverter, it will give the effect of using a lens with twice the focal length. The difference is that you can use teleconverters with reverse rings and close-up filters. Sigma offers 1.4x and 2.0x autofocus APO teleconverters and have a list of compatible lenses on its website www.sigma-imaging-uk.com.

Macro lens

If you’re considering taking pro macro images, you need to invest in some quality kit. A macro lens designed specifically for your camera model will offer a number of benefits. They come with wide maximum apertures so that you can keep your shutter speeds fast, and give you the ability to focus manually. Visit the manufacturer’s website to see what’s on offer for your model.

TOP TIPS

Use a piece of coloured card to single out a flower in the garden and de-clutter the background

Keep your ISO low (ISO 400 or under) for noise-free images. If using a DSLR, lock up the mirror to minimise camera shake

Compose your shot using a tripod and use the Self-Timer mode to prevent camera shake when you press the shutter

JARGON BUSTER

Bokeh

Bokeh describes the quality of the out-of-focus parts of a photograph. Pronounced ‘bo-key’, the term is connected with macro photography as the shallow depth of field makes out-of-focus regions more prominent. The shape of the aperture affects how the bokeh looks because it is reflected in each point of light. The aperture in a lens is made up of blades, and fewer blades means the bokeh appears as polygonal shapes. Higher quality lenses will have more aperture blades and produce an attractive bokeh that is smooth and circle shaped.

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