MACRO MASTERCLASS

Discover how to tackle the most challenging aspects of this niche genre and capture your best close-up images yet

Macro photography has to be one of the most engaging genres of photography. While landscapes have the power to be awe-inspiring, and portraits stir up core emotions, macro brings about surprise, intrigue and wonder. High-magnification images take us into a world that we all have access to but seldom see. Close-up shots of insects, flower petals and textured surfaces create the sense of glimpsing an alternative dimension, made all the more exciting by the knowledge that many of these frames can be found without leaving our own garden.

As with any niche subject, there are key challenges and techniques that are specific to the genre. When working with such high magnifications and close working distances, achieving correct focus becomes increasingly difficult, compared to other types of scene. The correct use of macro lenses also requires some practice and patience, as does the use of lighting equipment, accessories and even unwieldy tripods.

Rather than trying to adapt your existing photo skills to the world of macro imaging, it’s generally far more effective to start from scratch. While the rules of exposure, composition and focus are the same, the actual shooting technique you need to succeed can be completely inverted.

With that in mind, here’s a complete macro photography masterclass. Learn how best to approach individual subject types, get more from specialist macro gear, and overcome the most challenging technical adjustments.

SMALL WORLD, BIG IMPACT Due to the shallow depth of field that’s characteristic of macro imaging, there is great opportunity for experimentation with light, colour and detail, which can be blended in various ways for different effects