Macro photography is not for everyone. When I initially tried macro, I found it difficult. It was hard to get a subject in focus and I had difficulty deciding on a composition in the vast miniature world that I was faced with. Added to that I didn’t have a dedicated macro lens, and I was reluctant to invest in one given that they are expensive, and I wasn’t sure that I would enjoy macro photography.
Fast forward to today and I can say that I have grown to love this type of photography and regularly go out with my recently purchased macro lens to see what tiny subjects await me.
My progress in macro photography has been gradual, hence the delay in purchasing a dedicated macro lens. I started the journey with a few close-up filters. With these, despite their limitations, I did get a taste for what I could capture when I got closer to my subject. I initially practised doing close-up photography rather than macro, which I found to be very enjoyable, and I progressed to buying a Raynox DCR-250 lens attachment which worked with several of my existing lenses. This gave me the opportunity to discover the effect of using various focal lengths and, even though I still had difficulty getting an in-focus image, I enjoyed the experience. A small tripod and using a timer delay helped and encouraged me to keep trying.
Eventually I invested in a macro lens – the Olympus 60mm. It’s not the best macro lens in the world and its shorter focal length means it is most suited to static subjects, but it gets very positive professional and user reviews, it works well on the micro four thirds system and it’s reasonably priced. I love spending time with it.
Why have I grown to love macro photography?
There are several reasons.
1. Macro helps me to slow down and be present.
Macro is all about taking your time, being patient, experimenting, trying out different approaches, often failing and starting again. You can’t rush a macro image and that is a great advantage. In macro photography you must concentrate and stay focused, or you risk ending up with a blurry image. Because of the close working distance and the intricate nature of most of our subjects, macro encourages us to stay present and to connect closely with our subject. It asks me to stop, take a moment, pay attention and be alive to all of nature.
2. Macro helps me to connect more deeply with nature
I consider all types of landscape photography (and wildlife photography) to be a connection between ourselves and the natural world. Whether we photograph mountains or lakes, trees or coastlines, we are in the presence of the best that nature has to offer and through our photography we can experience a deep connection with nature.
Macro photography brings us into the realm of the miniature world where nature hides its best secrets. Here is the hidden world, the world overlooked by most people, but which grows and thrives and helps to sustain us through its seasonal activity. It is the world of flowers, insects and tiny plants, a world of delicate patterns, beautiful textures and intricate details. It is the world which provided our ancestors with healing plants and natural food. When we attempt to transform these miniature subjects into visual experiences, we are looking at the world from a unique perspective as we connect with our tiny subjects and realise their beauty and their value to our world.
3. Macro helps me to appreciate little things.
While all types of photography help us to appreciate the subjects we choose to photograph, macro photography goes further in that it helps us to appreciate the little things that often go unnoticed. Even if our final image is not what we would like, the process of looking for a subject draws us into a miniature world of plants and insects that we take for granted and seldom acknowledge. I have discovered tiny insects hiding in foliage, beautiful droplets on grass after a frost, magical raindrops glistening on leaves, and frost covered plants that display their beauty for a short while on a winter’s morning. I have followed a butterfly that finally landed and allowed me to capture its image, and I have witnessed nature’s amazing fungi display in an autumn woodland. I have observed the most intricate patterns and the most delicate textures that exist in nature and which I previously hardly noticed. It seems impossible not to stand in awe of this tiny world that exists at our feet.
4. Macro helps me become more creative.
Macro opens a whole new world of creative possibilities. As it allows us to explore and photograph delicate patterns, intricate details and fascinating textures often invisible to the naked eye, we get to appreciate the complexity and beauty of a miniature world we seldom get to see. Translating this world into visual form invites us to experiment creatively with colour, background, shape, form, perspective, different angles and distance. We can photograph while standing, sitting, kneeling or lying down. Whatever way we choose to do macro, it takes us on a journey of discovery and creativity where the process often surpasses the final result.
5. Finally, a practical consideration.
Macro works in all locations, all weather conditions and has something to offer in all seasons. Flowers, plants, insects, fungi and trees all provide great subjects for macro photography, and all these exist close to home for most of us. Many of us have access to a local park, which will be a treasure trove of macro subjects.
We can take a macro lens on a walk anywhere in our local area and find plenty to photograph in all seasons and all weathers.
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Macro photography is a great genre to try. The subjects are easy to find, it can be done in all weather conditions, it flexes our creative muscles and is good for our wellbeing. I still find macro photography to be challenging, but that’s part of the fun and when you come away with a pleasing image you can experience a great sense of satisfaction.
Why not give macro photography a try?
If you are interested, watch out for my next post in which I will give a brief introduction to macro photography, with some tips from my own experience.
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