Frame shots

Streamline lens and composition choices

Many photographers new to the macro genre wrongly assume that the key to the best images is to select the highest powered lens available and get as close as possible to the subject, for frame-filling shots. While this approach can sometimes yield impressive perspectives on small subjects, it is not a onesize-fits-all approach. Making the subject as large as possible in the frame does potentially reveal more surface detail, but can in turn exclude relevant peripheral details that would add to the impact of the composition.

This high level of magnification is also not always achievable, even with the correct equipment. While you may have a lens capable of 1:1, life-size reproduction on-sensor, the practicalities of shooting that subject in its environment may mean that this would impose difficulties that undermine the overall image quality. Working at such magnification ratios calls on all of your attention to maintain focus, correctly expose for maximum detail, and avoid introducing blur through camera handling. The more time you spend addressing these technical challenges, the less you have available to work on your creativity. It also makes you less adaptable to changes in the environment.

In these cases, opting for a wider view can give your shots greater narrative by showing more of the surrounding environment. A looser composition also makes more space available to try multiple framing options.

When photographing an insect, for example, incorporating the flower on which the subject is positioned gives a more inclusive view of the creature’s lifestyle, while enabling you to work with colour interactions, leading lines and focus effects. For this reason it is important to be mindful of not creating mere record shots when using higher magnifications.

That being said, it is sometimes desirable to crop in tightly on a small detail, and in these cases, aiming for repeating patterns or images with a strong sense of depth are good choices. Focus fall-off will always be more of an issue, but used with care this can effectively isolate the key areas of your subject.

Bottom HIGH MAGNIFICATIONS When you want to capture a highmagnification shot, use extension tubes if you don’t have a lens capable of magnifications above 1:1

X2 © GEORGE HAUXWELL Middle FILL THE FRAME Composition-filling shots work best with abstract intentions, where detail is the main component that is represented

Top SUBJECT SIZE When working with exceptionally small subjects, don’t attempt high magnifications at the expense of focus coverage

ABSTRACT FRAMING BY FILLING THE FRAME WITH A SMALL PORTION OF A SUBJECT, COLOUR AND DETAIL CAN BECOME THE FOCUS OF THE COMPOSITION, MAKING FOR A MORE ABSTRACT FINAL IMAGE © GETTYIMAGES