Macro photography masterclass
In this macro masterclass Emma interviews A Year With My Camera students to find out how they created some of their best macro images. Macro photography magnifies the world around you but it also magnifies your photography mistakes so if you need help with the very basics of exposure, focusing, shutter speed and depth of field join Emma’s photography workshop, A Year With My Camera, which is free by email:
Sue Collingwood
DSLR Nikon D3500 with Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 lens
ISO 100, 1/200th, f5.6
no flash, no tripod
I’d been seeing lots of grasshopper photos which inspired me, so I thought let’s have a go at that! We have a very small local area with a pond, trees, wild flowers and overgrown grass/weeds, I’ve noticed since last year (when I bought my camera) the life there has at least doubled, I did not manage to spot one grasshopper last year, this year they were everywhere, I could see them jumping from the corner of my eye so when I spotted the movement I got down on my knees and got as close to the bug as possible, held my camera as still as I could setting the shutter speed to 1/200 to help.
This was not my first attempt, it had taken me weeks to get one I liked, usually as soon as I get the composition I like they jump off somewhere else. After practicing macro I have found keeping my elbows as close to my body as possible helps reduce the camera shake and I never go out with my macro lens in windy weather, this is way too frustrating. I found photography has taught me patience, macro especially, I used to get very despondent when I returned from time with my camera to find only a few photos from hundreds were any good, now my view has shifted, in order to get that gem it takes hundreds, thank goodness for digital!
I’ve yet to learn one more thing, to keep breathing when taking a macro shot!
Dorothy Wedel
Canon EOS Rebel T6i
Sigma DG macro HSM105 mm 1:2.8
ISO 100, 1/125th, f/2.8,
manual exposure, manual focus, natural daylight, taken at approx 8:00 am, so about 1.5 hrs after sunrise
handheld
I had just returned from walking the dogs and noticed how the water drops were very interesting in the way they were suspended on the spider web threads. I took many shots, some turning out very poorly. Only when I looked at the images on the computer did I realise what an amazing view I had captured. The final image was cropped a bit too close in on as many water spheres in focus as possible. I increased the exposure a bit.
My advice to someone new to photography or macro - give it a try! You have nothing to lose. If you are not happy with the image you just delete it. Try different angles, different subjects, strong light, soft light, you may just end up with an amazing image!
Jim Roik
lens Canon 24-105 at 105mm with 12mm extension ring
tripod
ISO 100, 13 seconds, f11
diffused window light with white foam core reflector
I had just read an article describing how to use natural light for taking macro photographs, and I thought that I could do that. I selected the old pocket watch as the subject and wanted to capture the engraving and the watch movement.
I set the shot up in a location where I could get natural diffused light, and used white foam core to add fill light. I wanted the fill light to add depth to the shot. The background is a piece of black foam core. I also chose f11 to increase the depth of field. I shot on aperture priority with the ISO set low to reduce noise. I used a tripod both for the long shutter speed and to be able to set a sharp focus. The focus was manual, using the magnification on live view to insure sharp detail where I wanted. I also used a remote shutter release to avoid camera shake.
Advice that I would give to some one trying macro for the first time is to keep practicing, not to give in to early frustrations. Set your camera up in controlled conditions and learn what effect different settings have, including the range of focus distance for the lens. I found the use of extension rings not intuitive and have spent time to just get a feel for what they do.
Joy Swarbrick
Sony A6000, 16-50mm at 30mm with extension tubes
ISO100, 1/4 sec, f5.6,
tripod
the background is an old CD with white board as reflector
spray lightly with water and don’t breathe on the seed heads!
I like taking macro shots because the details they reveal never cease to fascinate me. Eighteen months ago I only ever used auto and knew nothing about macro. Thanks to following AYWMC I never use auto any more. Give macro a try, extension tubes are not expensive and open up a whole new world. Just make sure the camera is on a tripod or other stable surface, not hand held.
Helen Mitchell
phone photo, Huawei P30 on macro mode
ISO 320, 1/25th, f2.2
natural light, no tripod
This is a good example of what you can achieve even if you don't have a camera on you. It was a very tricky shot to get (luckily I have a very patient fiancé!).
The lighting was the hardest part: reflections always seemed to block some of the iris, but good natural light seemed to work best. Focus was an issue too, the phone normally focuses well on macro mode but it didn't with the eye as a subject, maybe as its wet and shiny?
My advice for macro photography is just to simply give it a go. It is often fascinating how plants and textures look close up and you can really surprise yourself with what you capture.
Val Mitchell
Canon 400D, 50mm lens and a 31mm C-AF extension tube
ISO 400, 1/60th, f4.5, manual focus
tripod
edited using Photoshop Express, Vibrance set to 160 and Contrast Punch set to 62
I am new to macro so decided before buying a macro lens to try extension tubes. I had read that scrunched up tin foil can create a bokeh effect background so decided to give it a go. I set up next to my kitchen window and started taking photos of small floristry beads. My advice to anyone trying macro for the first time is experiment with subjects, sometimes the best results come from the least expected compositions.
Jo Sherrard
Canon EOS 250D, 50mm with 20mm macro ring
ISO 800, 1/320th, f20
window light, no tripod, manual focus
I was down in Cornwall and had a few minutes to spare before being hurtled into some different sort of activity when I noticed this beautiful lacy skeleton petal and I thought it would be fun to play with my relatively new macro rings. I knew I only had about 5 minutes so the only thing I could find to place it on was one of my camera caps – hence the rather over-textured background – so I tried all the macro rings but found this one was the best.
I would say to anyone trying macro for the first time – or indeed any sort of photography where you want to take more interesting and even quirky photographs – is keep trying, enjoy having a go and learning from mistakes and definitely go for the tripod. Also be much less shy than I am about taking photographs! When I go out with my camera I am usually with other people who do not get my obsession and therefore my efforts are too hurried and also I need to get over myself about taking a tripod with me now that I have it!
Michelle Marquis
Canon Powershot SX60 HS, Raynox super macro conversion lens (DCR 250)
auto ISO, aperture priority, auto white balance, no flash
no tripod
I took a lot of shots in my garden this year, mainly due to lockdown, I'd sit and just wait for the different insects to land on the plants, then try and get close enough and focus the camera to take the shot, before they moved. This little guy was sitting for a while which allowed me to get pretty close and get this photo. I'm looking forward to learning about shutter speed to help with these sort of shots, but the macro lens certainly helped and shows do much more detail.
My advice for macro work is, used a tripod because you're getting so close that you really do need a steady hand, you could always use a timer too as even pressing the button to take the photo moves the camera and when you're up close that can ruin your shot and of course practice, practice, practice. I also watched YouTube videos for the macro lens which gave me some knowledge, although I still have lots to learn but they did help a little.
Free beginner’s photography workshop
A Year With My Camera is free by email for one year. It starts right at the beginning and takes you step-by-step to the point where you will be confidently taking macro shots like the ones in this post.