Are you interested in pursuing macro photography?

If yes, you are in for a treat.

Through your macro photos, you will see all the intricate details your eyes missed seeing in real-time.

Splendid dwarf spider on a dandelion

And as a macro photographer, you will find subjects unlike any other.

From exquisite flora to alien-like faunayou will meet them all.

We promise you will start looking at the world in a different light.

Bud in Spring

Want to dive into the world of micro beasts?

Here is what you should be aware of.

Make your subjects pop by paying attention to the background and lighting conditions.

Pink Tulip

Try Out Different Angles

Your macro photos are a success if they evoke a response from the viewers.

To catch the viewers' eyes, you should be willing to try different angles and perspectives.

Usually, head-on shots of insects and reptiles make a better impact.

photo of a person holding a camera lens

Acrobatic skills can come in handy as a macro photographer.

Added to this woe, the autofocus mechanism on your lens doesn’t get things right all the time.

So, how do you nail your focus and bring your subject alive?

Tulip bud closeup

Switch to that M mode on your lens, and focus manually.

Since the macro lens lets you go very near your subject, it’s easy to miss your focus.

Don’t forget to zoom to 100 percent and check the image quality on your camera’s screen.

Reeds overlooking a lake

But, be careful about not scaring away your teeny tiny subjects.

A mid-range macro lens like theCanon 100mm f/2.8is excellent for this.

so you can avoid blurry photos, your shutter speed must be fast.

Photographer’s hand holding camera

So, unless you’re shooting in bright daylight, you will need some extra lighting.

So, feel free to bump your ISO high and edit the noise in your post-production software.

Or, try taking slightly underexposed photos and tweak the details in the software later.

Closeup of a lens on a black background

Having a sturdy tripod can also help.

If you must use a flash, verify to use an appropriate diffuser.

With your macro subjects, you need all the flexibility you might get.

Grass with dew drops

Unlike other subjects, these tiny creatures can quickly change between different lighting conditions.

Try Focus Stacking

Want your macro images to be ultra-sharp like those you see in magazines?

Then, your best bet is focus stacking.

American Toad

It is not a complex technique, and we havestep-by-step instructions on focus stackingfor you.

The Don’ts of Macro Photography

Now for the things you shouldn’t do…

1.

Choose the Wrong Time of the Day

You probably know all the rage aboutblue hourandgolden hourphotography.

Trash in a beach

Each tiny creature has a preferred time of the day when they are active.

So, you should plan your day around that.

On the other hand, early mornings are great for photographing fresh flowers glistening with dewdrops.

Similarly, it’s not okay to bring a bug to your studio to photograph it.

hey don’t take your subjects for granted just because they are small.

Also, remember those leaves, stones, and sticks may be there for a reason.

So, avoid changing them too much.

Stick to the trail when you’re out in the woods.

Leave Anything Behind

Photographing in nature is unpredictable, and it takes a lot of hard work.

So you should be prepared to spend long hours outdoors.

You may want to bring enough food and water with you.

At the same time, remember to take all your trash back with you.

As cliched as it sounds, aim to take only photographs and leave only your footprints.

More importantly, be respectful to them.

It will also help if you research your subjects beforehand and learn more about them.

Knowing your camera and lens' tweaks is also crucial.