Photography never goes out of style especially now when most of us have access to cameras regardless of whether in our phone or a DSLR or point-and-shoot camera. These tools allow us to capture a moment which we can go back to time and time again without worrying about the photo deteriorating over time. Of course, there are some who are taking this hobby to a whole new level by taking portraits, landscape photos, or wildlife. Some even do macro photography which can be quite fun to do once you get to see the effects. However, many are missing out on the wonders of macro photography so if you want to try it out for yourself, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
- Study manual focusing. For those who are trying to capture an insect, turn off the AF or automatic focus so you will have more freedom to focus your lens on your subject. The AF can prevent you from capturing your subject as it will keep on adjusting its focus.
- Use the right gear. Macro photography requires the appropriate equipment such as the macro lens. However, they can be a bit expensive to purchase especially if you’re just doing this for a hobby. The good news is that there are alternatives to close-up lens such as extension tubes, reversing lens, as well as close-up filters among others. Keep in mind that if your lens has longer focal length you will get a shallower depth of field and minimal focusing distance.
- Crop your photos tight. If you plan on posting your photos online, you can crop your macro photos to tighten on the image that you want to enhance. This will give you a much better composition afterwards.
- Ring flash is your friend. When doing macro photography, it pays to have an external flash to assist you to capture more details about the subject. However, beginners may find this a bit expensive but don’t you worry, you can get yours later on. One reason why using a flash to shoot macro is that it will allow you to retain your aperture and shooting speed. This way, you will be able to capture your subject perfectly without worrying about blurring or using a tripod even.
- Use different angles. To make the most out of macro photography, try shooting your subject through different angles. This will yield better compositions compared to just shooting in one angle. Try experimenting and see some amazing results.
- Check shutter speed. Another helpful trick when it comes to macro photography is to check your camera’s shutter speed. If you will be attempting to capture an insect that keeps moving around a lot, increasing your shutter speed to 500 will enable you to capture your subject perfectly. Anything lower will result to poorly captured photo.
- Survey the background. The subject may be the most important part of your photo but what’s around it can make or break your photo. Think of the colors, the design, and such and ask yourself whether the background will help your subject pop out or not.
- Take multiple shots. With macro photography, don’t hesitate to take multiple shots. This will help you select better photos during the editing phase.
- Be patient. Being an expert in macro photography takes time hence the need for patience. To get that stunning photograph, you will need to have patience.
These are just a few tips and tricks that you can apply the next time you want to try macro photography. With enough practice, you will know what aperture and ISO to use as well as when to use a tripod to take macro photos too.
