How to create better macro photography

Want help creating larger-than-life images? Macro photography is all about the little things. Getting up-close-and-personal. Let’s take a look at a few factors you can take into account to improve your macro photography: camera gear, environment, light, composition, background, aperture and stabilisation. Keep reading our tips and tricks to learn more. Plus, find out how to enter our macro photo competition.

Use longer macro lenses for nervous critters

Get closer, without moving closer. They can be expensive, but the benefits of longer focal length lenses will allow you to stand back from your subject—while still magnifying plenty of detail. It’s still possible to shoot macro wildlife using shorter lenses, but your hit rate will suffer if your proximity is disturbing creatures in their natural habitat.

Use aperture wisely

To achieve a narrow depth of field for the subject-background separation, macro lenses’ extra magnification means you don’t have to be fully open. Equally, unlike with standard lenses, large apertures might create too little depth—so stopping down might make it easier to focus, especially if you’re using manual-focus lenses. 

Think of your background

When you’re shooting macro wildlife, it usually isn't possible to move your subjects. So, if you want to make your shot more dynamic, try studying the area around the subject. Find angles to shoot from that maximise interesting backgrounds—incorporate colour, light and texture. Great macro photography isn’t just about the subject, it’s about the composition as a whole.

Research your environment

To find the perfect time to shoot your chosen subjects, you need patience and a little research. If shooting insects or other animals is your thing, try to research when they’re most active—both seasonally and at a given time of day. This will allow you to better plan your shoot. This goes for weather conditions. Some creatures might give you plenty of options, but others less so. Either way, knowing what to expect will allow you to be better prepared to capture interesting occurrences.

Add light

Natural light is arguably better. But, sometimes, it isn't possible to marry your vision with the possibility of shooting whenever certain creatures are most active. Adding light from a flash can help you better control your scene. Experiment using your pop-up flash, if you have one, then move on to off-camera flash—or ring flash, depending on your needs. To add a certain softness to your shot, try diffusing or bouncing light so it isn’t harsh on your subject. Experiment with shutter speed and ISO to darken or brighten backgrounds to add drama to your shots.

Use extension tubes

To get into macro without forking out for an expensive lens, try using an extension tube. They simply move the lens away from the imaging plane. While you may lose infinity focus, it will allow you to focus at a closer distance—with lenses you already own.

Use a tripod

While you may not always need one, it’s one of the first purchases you should make. The day you don't bring one is the day you will need it—so always carry one with you. In a similar way to long zoom lenses, extreme magnifications augment shake when hand-holding. Adding firm stabilisation to your shots will give you more control over your final image,

Flip your lens

Not quite ready to invest in macro lenses or even extension tubes? Flipping your lens is a great way to try macro photography on a shoestring—and you can also get creative. Simply unscrew your lens from your body, make sure you have a UV protector, and then flip the lens so that the front is now covering the sensor. This will reverse the optics in the lens and will act as a magnifier. It isn't an exact science, and some lenses will work better than others, but it’s a great way to experiment and try new things.

Check your lenses offer true macro

Some lenses—usually zoom—will say they have macro functionality. While they do offer some magnification, true macro begins at 1:1 magnification. These zooms often fall short.

Consider your composition

Composition is everything. With macro, the subject is often the most important variable in the shot—but there are ways to accentuate your subject. Using negative space can make the subject pop. Points of interest surrounding the subjects—texture, colour, aperture—will have a drastic effect on the overall composition of the image. Make sure you control as much of the shot as you can. If there’s something you don’t want in the frame, try to move it around so it's no longer in your composition. It may sound obvious, but a big part of photography is knowing what to shoot and what not to shoot.

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