MASTERCLASS

Tiny critters, macro lenses: how to shoot insects

There’s wildlife in your own back garden. Zoom in and capture the spectacular world of insects in their natural habitat. ANDREAS EISELEN tells you how, using this image by Martin Heigan

Take it yourself

The closer you get, the more fascinating your subject (and image) becomes

EQUIPMENT

DSLR Use a macro lens (100mm or 105mm), a tripod and shutter release (if the subject is still or slow-moving) and a small reflector – a piece of white cardboard will do – stuck to the front of your camera or above the lens. If you have a longer lens, such as a 120–300mm, it’s possible to take pictures of insects without a macro lens by zooming in on the subject, although you won’t get the same crisp results.

SETTINGS

When you get really close, the depth of field becomes narrow and shutter speed becomes very important if the insect is moving. Open up the aperture (between f/2.8 and f/5.6) to get a faster shutter speed (about 1/250 sec). If the insect is still, a slower shutter will be fine, in which case you can close down your aperture to get wider depth of field. Adjust the ISO until you have the shutter speed you want.

PRACTICAL

Anticipate where your subject is heading. Wait for insects just as you would wait for game at a waterhole. Set up near a flower or in a spot where you’ve seen them perch. Look at the direction of light and decide what will work best. Backlighting highlights the wing structure and exaggerates textures on bodies. Use a reflector to bounce light back towards your subject in order to balance the contrast and help provide good exposure. Move in as close as you can to get a nice tight crop and interesting angle. Set the colour temperature to suit your scene, as large parts of your frame will likely be filled with one colour (see Know Your Stuff on the next page). Use the distance lock on the lens (a switch on the side) to fix the focus. Because you are so close to the subject, the lens struggles to focus and runs through the entire focus range. Using the lock prevents this.

STARTER TIP Shoot in the early morning or after rain, when the light is good and insects are less active. AMATEUR TIP Use Live View to frame and focus when shooting on a tripod. Using the LCD screen instead of the viewfinder makes it easier to see what you’re doing. PRO TIP Use colours to contrast your focal point with the background to provide more ‘pop’. For example, if the insect is yellow, shoot it against a green background.

MARTIN’S TIP Experiment with different shutterspeed and f-stop combinations until you develop a sense of what to expect from different settings. This will allow you to make fast decisions when you shoot. In nature, there is often only a split second to capture a fleeting moment.