The macro world is beautiful because it magnifies the microscopic realm, capturing what we can't see with the naked eye in daily life, thus creating a stronger visual impact.
The macro world is beautiful because it magnifies the microscopic realm, capturing what we can't see with the naked eye in daily life, thus creating a stronger visual impact. Macro photography isn’t mysterious, but some photography enthusiasts find this style elusive, mainly because after engaging in regular photography, they assume macro photography is an alternative approach. In reality, macro photography is an extension of regular photography. When traveling, the flowers, birds, fish, and insects around you can all be captured in the most stunning and breathtaking ways through macro photography, as if you have the eye of an angel in your hands.
The principle of macro photography—you get it…
Macro photography refers to the camera’s ability, through the lens, to capture images that are the same size as the actual object (1:1) or slightly smaller. For example, to photograph a flower with a diameter of 21.6mm, it can fill half the area of a 35mm film frame (with a diagonal length of 43.3mm). In the photo, the flower is magnified at a ratio of 43.3:21.6, which is 2:1 (2x). The magnification ratio of macro photography usually ranges between 1x and 50x, though strictly speaking, it should be between 1x and 10x.
1. Focus as Best as You Can
The trick to shooting macro photos is precision focusing; because the range of sharp focus in macro photography is very small, often just a tiny fraction of an inch. For example, when taking a macro image of a bee on a flower, you must ensure the bee is in sharp, precise focus; even a shift of less than 1 centimeter from the lens to the bee can cause the image to lose sharpness. Therefore, achieving those amazing macro shots can be quite frustrating.
If you’re photographing moving subjects like insects, the challenge becomes even greater. If used carefully, a tripod is still a viable option. But if you’re shooting handheld, you’ll need to pay attention to your shutter speed and take more shots to increase your chances of success. Of course, high-speed film can help increase shutter speed.
When shooting outdoors, even if you use a tripod, you still need to consider wind. Many subjects are easily affected by wind, so besides waiting for calm, you can also use objects to block the wind. In the past, some photographers would carry black card umbrellas for this purpose.
2. Use the Best Lens You Can Afford
It must be pointed out that the lens is undoubtedly crucial for image quality, and many forum users enjoy discussing the imaging differences among various lenses. However, few actually make the most of the lenses they own. Comparing the quality of different lenses, or even using one lens to outperform others, at the very least starts with making the most of your own lens.