Fresh ideas for spring

Capture more original seasonal close-ups with our inspirational guide

Macro photography always captures our eye, because the distortion of scale and level of detail that we are not familiar with draws our attention. This makes the familiar, unfamiliar, making us think twice about what we are seeing.

Nature is an abundant source of subjects for macro work, and most photographers try their hand at plant and wildlife macros at some point. Spring is the perfect time to give this a go, with the longer days and warmer weather, the vibrant flowers and greens springing back to life.

While there are several methods for capturing images close up, if you’re serious about macro photography you’ll need a dedicated macro lens. This is a lens that can focus exceptionally close to a subject; be wary of lenses claiming macro features, as not all will deliver the results you expect. A true macro lens will focus around 10-15cm away from the subject. You can get a variety of

Be wary of lenses claiming macro features, as not all will deliver the results you expect. A true macro lens will focus around 10-15cm away from the subject

focal lengths for macro, and most are prime lenses. Each lens is suited for a different use, from 50mm (ideal for portraits) up to 105mm, 150mm and even higher for shooting insects and other minute creatures/objects.

The basic technique can take a little time to master. Autofocus can often struggle when you’re shooting macros, while focusing manually can also prove challenging because you’re so close to your subject that any slight movement can lead to completely the wrong part of your image being sharp. However, with practice you’ll get the knack, and the results will be greatly rewarding. We’re going to try it on six seasonal subjects…