I thought I’d follow up the MACRO Photography & The Natural World workshop I co-presented on June 15th with more macro images. These images were captured this spring and are all from the natural world. Here are 10 of the tips that participants learned:
- Macro images require that your chosen center of interest be very sharp. Always use a tripod (or other support).
- Use live view if you have it and mirror lock-up if you don’t to eliminate camera vibration caused by the mirror flipping up.
- Use live view’s magnification and manual focus to insure your focus is as sharp as can be.
- While watching your subject in live view, wait until it is perfectly still before releasing the shutter using a cable release or remote trigger.
- Avoid busy backgrounds that compete with your subject by changing your position or using a shallow depth of field.
- Consider bracketing your f-stops (aperture) for a choice of varying depth of field and backgrounds when you process the images.
- Compose in camera whenever possible for the best quality and detail … and to make full use of your camera’s capability.
- Choose a camera angle that parallels the same plane as the subject.
- In bright, harsh light use a diffuser or umbrella diffuser to soften the light.
- Be patient! Successful macro photography requires a lot of tripod and camera adjustments before clicking the shutter.
Scroll down to Very Experimental and Splendor In The Grass for some fun, macro photography ‘how-tos’. And, feel free to leave a comment by clicking ‘comments’ at the end of any post!











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