If you've ever tried to take a photo of a friend, a plant, or a pet super close up, you can probably attest to the fact that it's not always easy. Getting everything in-frame and in-focus with ordinary gear will, at times, present something of a technical challenge.
Macro photography puts your world under a microscope. If you've ever thought about what it would be like to be an ant for a day, macro photography might be one interesting style of photography to try.
What Is Macro Photography?
Macro photography is the simple art of capturing very small subjects right on their level. This style of photography makes minuscule subjects like insects, tiny electronics, anatomical details, and the most minute creatures in nature appear larger than life, more than big enough for us to gawk at and enjoy.
Many define macro photography strictly as photography taken at a 1:1 ratio in terms of size, but this definition has fallen out of popular use to some extent. Colloquially, you're shooting macro photography any time the photographed version of the subject ends up being significantly larger than the real thing.
50 times bigger? 100 times bigger? It doesn't really matter. The basic principle that all macro photography boils down to: tiny subject. Big picture.
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Macro Photography Equipment: What You'll Need
Depending on what you're going for, you might want to invest in a macro lens or a macro lens attachment. Some brands offer macro lens filters and macro lens extensions that allow you to bring even very small subjects in closer, all on a dime. You can even buy them for your smartphone for mobile macro photography on the go.
Macro lenses can be very expensive, but they let you see the world through what feels like a real microscope, and many are made with incredible glass. It's a great investment if you're a professional photographer or a hobbyist who works regularly with small subjects, up close and personal.
When considering a macro lens, focal length will be one aspect that you'll want to factor into the equation. Just like with any other type of lens, macro lenses of longer focal lengths bring you progressively closer to the object that you're photographing macro-style, while wider lenses may confer something of a fisheye effect, depending on how you use them.
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A cell phone macro lens will usually fall somewhere around a 35mm or a 50mm, which is great for stuff like social media food photography and other fun casual macro photography.
A 200mm macro lens, on the other hand, is a much more powerful and intentional tool; long macro lenses act like miniature telescopes, putting you right into the subject's face. They do so at a relative distance, resulting in a clean, undistorted, and true-to-life account.
If you're just getting started, a macro lens accessory is a great place to start. There are even DIY macro photography tutorials on how to enhance your camera's ability to shoot close up with a paper towel tube.
Macro Photography Ideas to Try at Home
You can shoot anything with a macro lens—it's a natural choice for product photography and things of that nature especially, but there are no real rules to follow here. It's less about what you're shooting and more about the way that you use the macro lens to frame what's in front of you.
The true, underlying quality of a macro photo lies in the theory behind it: composition, charm, intention, and skill.
If you're eager to try it for yourself, you can start literally anywhere, including your bedroom, your backyard, and even your kitchen. Any of the following can be great common subjects in macro photography for beginners:
- Flowers
- Bugs
- Food (especially fruits and vegetables)
- Common household objects
- Jewelry
Obviously, very small subjects are prime targets for classic macro photography. We encourage you to look beyond only things of small stature as you explore, however.
Ordinary, average-sized objects look very different through the eye of a macro lens. Any of the following macro photography projects might potentially yield unexpected and fascinating results:
- Ice cubes
- Raindrops on a window
- Ink drops in water
- Oil and water
- Smoke and fire
- Plants and nature
- Fabric and clothing
- Rocks and dirt
- Human skin and hair
- Animals
Your subjects of choice will depend a lot on whether you're after something abstract or something more recognizable. Listen to your gut and try new things whenever you have the opportunity to branch out.
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Macro Photography Tips and Tricks
Photography is largely intuition—it comes from within, not to sound like a sap. Try not to chase down every subject with a macro lens as a go-to gimmick. Instead, whip it out only when the occasion calls for it. You'll know immediately when you're out in the field and just have to get a closer look at something.
A dainty diamond earring stud in a model's ear? An army of fire ants devouring an unfortunate little beetle? Macro lens photography isolates the subject to some extent without yanking it entirely out of context. It can be useful when calling attention to a number of interesting or novel details.
A couple of macro photography tips to keep in mind the next time you're shooting something new:
- Make sure you've got plenty of light to work with for the sharpest photo possible. A flash, a speedlight, or a strobe can help when shooting indoors or at night.
- If you're using a real macro lens, shoot with a reasonably narrow aperture.
- A tripod is ideal for extremely small subjects, especially ones that happen to be moving. Sometimes, a steady hand just won't get the job done.
- Avoid relying on auto-focus when shooting macro photography subjects. When working in such close quarters, precision is key. Set your focus carefully and avoid jostling the camera after that point. Use a remote control camera trigger if necessary.
- When stuck for an idea, try coming at your subject from a unique angle or distance. When you can't get into the groove, take a step back or dial in closer.
- Sometimes, a different perspective on something familiar puts a whole new spin on the matter. Look high and low for unusual details to hone in on, things most people would never think about.
Macro photography is a listening game. Set yourself up, let the story unfold, and wait for the right moment to strike. You'll be sure to break away from the situation with something more than worth your trouble.
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Macro Photography Techniques for a Dramatically Different Photo
We're human; it's natural to be fascinated by that which our own eyes cannot readily perceive. Macro photography provides that alternative viewpoint. Step into the world of the unseen and see everything that you know from a totally new point of view, Magic School Bus-style.
