8 Take magical macros

Zoom in close to capture abstract results

As spring comes into full bloom, now is the time to get up close with your camera. If nature inspires you like Damon Clarke, then start exploring the natural world around you.

Damon considers his subjects from many different angles to capture the strongest composition. In his shot of a stargazer lily (below, bottom-left), he reveals that the main focus of the rippling edge stands out by blurring the background. “The composition is balanced yet dynamic by cutting across the field of view diagonally.”

There are a few general rules to follow when it comes to macro photography. First, a macro lens with a ratio aspect of one to one (1:1) will come in handy. If you don’t have one of these, a cheaper alternative is to attach an extension tube to your standard lens.

One of the most important technical aspects in macro photography is the aperture setting. Due to the close proximity you’re shooting at, the depth of field appears very shallow, even when you start to close the aperture down. A popular technique with macro photographers is focus-stacking. This is when you shoot multiple exposures at different focus points across the subject, then edit them together for one sharp shot.

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* A tripod is a must, as you’ll need to shoot using a narrow aperture setting. * It can help to bring in some additional lighting to help make your subject pop. LED light panels are a quick and easy solution. * To get crisp sharp results, use the Live View feature on your SLR and switch the focus setting to manual. You then want to zoom in on the back screen and ensure your focal point is pin-sharp.