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Expert Tips and Techniques for Macro Flower Photography

Expert Tips and Techniques for Macro Flower Photography

Macro photography is an exciting subject for every photographer. We love to shoot tiny objects like flowers, insects, water drops, spices, and many other things. Macro photography allows you to show details that are impossible to see otherwise. This article will talk about how we can capture vibrant and sharp macro images of flowers.

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Equipment You Need:

Camera Body:

The first thing we need is a camera when it comes to photography. For macro photography, both full-frame and crop sensor cameras are good with some advantages and some disadvantages.

If you have a full-frame camera, it'll capture more details because of the bigger sensor size, and it'll also give you better results in low-light conditions. The only downside is that the full-frame sensor gives you a shallow depth of field compared to the crop sensor, which can sometimes be a disadvantage. 

On the other hand, a crop sensor gives you a deeper depth of field, so if you want to capture the whole flower in focus, you can do it much easier with a crop sensor. The second advantage is that it increases the focal length of your lens, so you don't need to go very close to the subject.

So no matter if you have a full-frame camera body or a crop sensor, it's DSLR, or a mirrorless camera, all cameras are suitable for macro photography. Nowadays, mobile phones can capture good macro photographs, and you can also buy a clip-on macro lens for mobiles. 

macro flower photography

Lens: 

The lens plays a vital role in macro photography. A dedicated macro lens has 1:1 magnification capabilities to get really close to the subject and click every detail. In simple terms, if you have a macro lens on a full-frame body, you can go closer to capture a subject 36mm X 24mm in size, which is the same as the size of your camera sensor.

A 100mm macro lens is the best choice for macro photography. You don't need to go close to your subject with this focal length. If you don't have a macro lens, don't worry. You may use other alternatives like macro close-up filters, extension tubes, or reverse rings. But if you are serious about macro photography, invest in a macro lens.

macro photography ideas

Flash and Diffuser:

A flash also plays an essential role in macro photography. When you capture a tiny subject, you need fast shutter speed to avoid motion blur and a smaller aperture to get the entire subject in focus. This combination requires a lot of light which is not available every time. With a flash, you can capture sharp images, and it also helps you capture bright colors.

A flash diffuser is also necessary for macro photography. It gives you soft light, which helps you capture details and colors. You can use domes or a mini softbox, or MagSphere. If you don't have these, place a diffuser cloth or butter paper in front of the flash or bounce the light with a white card.

You can use on-camera flash, but the off-camera flash will give you better results. The only disadvantage is that you need a light stand or a person to hold it.

flower photography with camera slider

Camera Slider:

If you are a serious macro photographer, you should invest in a good camera slider like MIOPS Slider+. You can use it for focus stacking to get end-to-end sharpness in your photos. Focus stacking is a big subject and can't be covered in this article. We'll write an article about it soon.

Things to Remember in Macro Flower Photography:

1. Depth of Field: 

Depth of field means the part of the photograph that appears sharp and focused. When you shoot with a macro lens with 1:1 magnification, you get merely 1-2mm DOF with f/4 aperture, and the chances are that some part of your subject comes out of focus. To get a deeper depth of field, you need to narrow your aperture. You can get 5-6mm DOF with an F/16 aperture and get the entire subject in focus. But you will need lots of light with such a narrow aperture, so a flash is necessary.

There are two ways to get the entire subject in focus. First, choose an angle where your whole subject is in the same focal plane like the top of the flower. Second, if you have a high megapixel camera, don't shoot with 1:1 magnification. Shoot with some distance and crop the picture in post-processing.

flower photography

2. Focusing: 

Some photographers believe that you should go for manual focus in macro photography, but I always use autofocus. The reason behind it is that it's fast and accurate. Since both of your hands are free to hold the camera, there are fewer chances of getting a blurry picture because of the camera shake. Remember that the camera doesn't move between focus lock and clicking the image.

green flower photo

3. Background:

In macro photography of flowers, the background will be out of focus most of the time, but make sure that it's clean. If there is any distraction, change your position a little bit and always try to have contrasting colors in the background.

4. Find some unusual angles:

Don't always take photos of flowers from the top or the side. Try to find some unusual angles, so your photographs look different from others. Sometimes flowers look more beautiful from the backside.

unusual angels in macro flower photography

5. Dead flowers can look beautiful too:

I know fresh flowers always look stunning, but dead flowers can also look beautiful in macro photography. The flower's petals have fallen and started making seeds in the following image, but it looks stunning.

dead flowers

6. Shoot in RAW:

If you are into photography, you probably already know this. Shooting in RAW always has a significant advantage because RAW files contain more details than a JPG file. RAW files always look dull in post-processing software, but it's always better than in-camera jpg files after some enhancement. 

macro photography editing

7. Keep your hands steady:

You can use a tripod in macro flower photography, but it's tough to use when you want to click the flower from an unusual angle. Also, sometimes you don't have a firm ground to place the tripod, so it's better to take a picture with a handheld camera. Hold your breath when pressing the shutter and keep your elbows inside. It'll reduce the chances of camera shake, and you'll get sharp images.

8. Choose a windless day:

It's always better to choose a calm day for macro flower photography. When your subject is still, your camera will focus quickly, and you'll have fewer chances of motion blur in the image.

focus stacking in macro photography

9. Focus stacking:

Go for focus stacking if you are not getting the entire subject in focus even after using a narrow aperture. In this technique, we take multiple images with different focus distances and combine them in post-processing to make everything in the picture sharp. A camera slider is handy equipment for focus stacking.

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10. Practice and patience:

After practicing everything you have read in this article, don't lose heart if you are not getting the desired results. Have some patience and keep practicing. You'll get the results soon.

So, keep clicking, and all the best.

Blog Credits

Ramakant Sharda is an author, iOS App publisher, passionate photographer and a MIOPS Ambassador based in the beautiful “Pink City” of India, known as Jaipur. His work has been published in various magazines, newspapers, and blogs. He has published three Coffee Table Books, he writes about photography and also teaches photography in his workshops. Check out his website http://ClickManic.com to see the masterpieces created by him or download his free app for iPhone and iPad “30 Days to an Ace Photographer“.

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[faq q1="what is macro photography?" a1="Macro photography allows you to show details that are impossible to see otherwise." q2="what do you need for macro flower photography?" a2="For macro photography, both full-frame and crop sensor cameras are good with some advantages and some disadvantages." q3="what is depth of field in macro flower photography?" a3="Depth of field means the part of the photograph that appears sharp and focused. When you shoot with a macro lens with 1:1 magnification"]

What to Pack for an Insect Macro Photography Shoot

What to Pack for an Insect Macro Photography Shoot

There’s a whole wide world out there that is just waiting to be discovered and photography gives us a glimpse of what it has to offer. Often, the most amazing things about the world are left unnoticed until someone curious and creative comes along to finally appreciate and acknowledge their existence through the click of a button. 

Nature photography, for example, allows us to observe and experience life in different forms. While most people are familiar with wildlife photography or images of birds and other large animals in action, there’s one type of photography that has provided a sense of wonder and surreal fascination to those who know where to look: insect macro photography. 

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What is Macro Photography?

In definition, macro photography allows us to capture extreme close-up shots of very small subjects, including living and non-living organisms. The resulting images are bigger than life-size and often introduce new perspectives and appreciation towards what most people consider “creepy crawlies.” Macro photography allows us to see the beauty of this hidden world and appreciate the colors, textures, and out-of-this-world details that they present to the human eye. 

Insect Photography

What Should Be in Your Camera Bag for Insect Macro Photography?

Insects and different types of bugs are the most common subjects in macro photography. For this article, we’ll help you get in the game of nature photography through insect macro photography. The most important thing that you should know is the list of camera equipment for photographing small insects. 

What to pack for an insect macro photography shoot includes these camera gear and accessories: 

Camera with Manual Mode

Needless to say, you’re gonna need a good camera with manual mode so you can easily make adjustments to your settings to fit the shoot’s requirement. Both the latest DSLR in the market and older models have manual modes so that you can customize the values of exposure, aperture, and shutter speed depending on the subject, source of light, and the location where you’re doing the shoot.

Experienced macro photographers can agree that the success of macro photography does not really depend on the type of camera that you are using. It mostly depends on the type of lens. This leads us to our next must-have items for macro photography.

A Good Macro Lens

Since you are photographing tiny insects and similarly smaller subjects, you’re gonna need macro magnification. This can be achieved using a macro lens. Aside from making sure that you’ll have the opportunity to get a close-up shot, you are assured that your camera gets a good focus on the subject.

Macro lenses are also specialized lenses that give you a more detailed and high-definition magnification of objects. Insects, specifically, have highly elaborate patterns and colors that make these subjects have some of the most stunning images out there.

Make sure, however, that the macro lens you buy is compatible with your camera. More importantly, you should know how to choose the right focal length for your shoot. 

Beginner Macro Lenses 

Basically, macro lenses around 60mm in length are often recommended for beginner photographers. Aside from being more affordable, they allow newbie shutterbugs to shoot their subjects from a six-inch working distance.

Advanced Macro Lenses

If you’re an advanced macro photographer who wants to venture into insect photography, then you’ll get the most out of the experience by choosing more advanced macro lenses. Experienced macro photographers often use longer lenses that range from 80mm to 105mm. This range can also give you a much farther working distance of one to two feet compared to the 60mm focal length.

If you’ve decided to go hardcore and become serious in your macro photography, you can go for a range of 180mm to 200mm. Through these lenses, you’ll get the working distance and more freedom to be highly creative in your shots. 

Macro Photography

Extension Tubes

Extension tubes are highly recommended items for beginner macro photographers. These are used in between your camera body and your regular lens. Yes, you don’t necessarily need a macro lens to take on macro photography. Through the use of extension tubes, you’ll be able to change the Minimum Focus Distance (MFD) of your camera and let you increase your lens’s reach and magnification. 

The only consequence of using extension tubes is, since they do not have any special optics, the image quality is not that great compared to using actual macro lenses. Therefore, this equipment is only practical to those who don’t have a dedicated macro lens in their camera bag yet.

Reversing Rings

Another alternative to a dedicated macro lens is the reversing ring. This equipment is commonly used by newbie macro photographers. Also known as the reversing adapter, it lets you use your regular lens. How does it work?

Using a reversing ring, you can cleverly mount your regular lens in reverse. In other words, the front side of your lens will face your camera body, resulting in more magnified images.

Just like extension tubes, however, reversing rings have cons. Reversing adapters will only work if the necessary adjustments to your focus and aperture control are made. The optics are not also that perfect so expect a lower-definition image. 

Close-up Filters

Some beginner macro photographers got introduced to this type of taking photos by using close-up filters. These special types of filters are best for newbies because of their ease of use and affordability. Also called diopters, close-up filters can be screwed in and attached to the front of any regular lens. These filters are designed to increase your lenses’ magnification by reducing their MFD.

Close-up filters in the market today vary in terms of magnification strengths, from as low as +2 to as high +10. Like other alternatives to macro lenses, close-up filters have the same disadvantage: the higher magnification, the lower-quality images. This is because the resulting magnification makes edges softer and less defined. 

A Macro Tripod 

When taking a macro photo of an insect as your subject, there are two important factors that you should pay attention to. These are sharpness and composition. This is where the importance of having a good tripod comes in. Aside from eliminating the risk of blurry images, a tripod allows you to set and plan your composition. 

A tripod will also make sure that your camera is stable and is at ground level, especially if the position of your subject is down below. While some macro shutterbugs can go handheld with shooting their shot, this is not ideal. With a tripod, you can also use remote camera triggers to release your camera’s shutter for that perfect shot.

Flower and Insect

What’s the Best Type of Tripod for Insect Macro Photography?

Seasoned macro photographers recommend tripods with longer handles instead of tripods with ball heads. The difference is significant especially if you are using a beginner type of macro lens.

Tripod heads with long handles will allow you to easily adjust the position of your camera especially if you only have inches of working distances. The most ideal macro tripods are those that have variable angle legs. Others also recommended those tripods that can easily be adjusted in terms of angular position. 

Seagull Viewfinder

Another piece of equipment that ensures you are free to position your camera according to the macro subject is the seagull viewfinder. This special accessory lets you point your lens to the ground level and comfortably get your composition right.  Using the right-angle view of this accessory, you can freely look down through your viewfinder with ease.

Flash 

Lighting is important in insect macro photography. For this reason, you’re gonna need reliable flash lighting for your shoot. Aside from its high-speed burst of exposure that freezes the image in milliseconds, it gives you a sure way to avoid motion blur. When used together with a smaller aperture, you’re going to get images with a more defined depth of field.

Diffuser

Flash bursts often create heavy and harsh shadows. Using a diffuser or any material that softens these shadows will exponentially improve your image. Diffusing materials are useful and effective in scattering the light or bouncing light off, especially from powerful flash bursts produced by your flash unit.

Ring Flash

In order to eliminate the problem with heavy shadows, some macro photographers make use of the most popular item for medical and scientific macro photography: the ring flash. What makes it ideal? A ring flash does not produce a shadow. It also exudes soft light that is often used for illumination. 

Macro Rails or Macro Slider

Insect macro photography, just like any form of photography, requires magnification. The last and most important camera accessory that you need for this type of shoot is the macro focusing rail. Also called macro rails, macro sliders, and focusing rack, this equipment lets you control your camera’s position during high-magnification shoots.

Ladybug Photography

Why is a Slider Important in Macro Photography?

Macro sliders are often used for studio photography sessions for macro subjects. This device lets photographers adjust the composition of their shot as well as focus on the subject by accurately moving and taking multiple images.

The movements happen in very small increments. They are accurately timed to make sure that the lens stays focused on the subject. The process produces images perfect for focus stacking. 

Focus stacking is a photography processing technique that delivers images with greater depth of field, thanks to the use of multiple images shot at different focus distances. 

What’s the Most Intuitive Macro Slider in The Market Today?

Just like the types of macro lenses, tripods, and other macro photography accessories there is a long list of macro sliders out there. However, seasoned macro photographers can agree that MIOPS Capsule Slider and Capsule360 provide the most ideal and user-friendly focus-stacking functions than any other brand.

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The combination of MIOPS Capsule Slider and the Capsule360 has helped beginners and advanced macro photographers to produce refined focus-stacked photos of the most beautiful and mesmerizing insects in the wild or in their studio. Aside from providing an ultimate front-to-back sharpness for macro images, these devices can be controlled wirelessly through a dedicated MIOPS smartphone application. 

How Do You Use the MIOPS Capsule Slider with Your Other Macro Photographer Gear?

When used as an automated focus stacking rail, the MIOPS Capsule Slider can be mounted on a regular tripod. You then mount your camera onto the slider. Through your smartphone, open the MIOPS application and easily connect and control the MIOPS slider. 

How is MIOPS Capsule360 Different from Other Macro Sliders Out There?

The answer is simple and interesting: the ability for specific setting controls, customization, and freedom. Through the MIOPS smartphone app, the MIOPS slider is transformed into a more powerful device capable of so much more than a typical macro slider.

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Through the dedicated camera application, users can easily choose the Focus Stacking Mode on the app’s user-friendly menu. They can then easily adjust the settings, including the movement direction of the slider, whether to go left or right.

Users have also the freedom to set the Frame Parameter and the Interval Parameter to determine the number of images and the amount of time that it takes to shoot between shots, respectively. The value of exposure can be adjusted through the Exposure Parameter option. Additionally, the Step Parameter will allow users to set the distance between each shot. 

Bee

Taking That First Step to Insect Macro Photography

Hopefully, this article has helped you take your first step to insect macro photography. As mentioned earlier, this type of nature photography can be one of the most intimidating, but it has its rewards. Being able to capture the macro world of insects is worth all the patience and effort, especially if you’re still trying to figure out the type of photography that you want to focus on.

Whether you’re a beginner photographer or you are already at a more advanced level, you’ll still be surprised with what you can find through your lens. Remember that talent won’t be enough to help you discover what is hidden. By using the right materials, techniques, and technology, you will be able to go above and beyond and test your creativity. All you have to do now is to try.   

Make sure to explore the world out there and continue exploring the wonders that nature has to offer. If you want to up your game in macro photography or any other photography type like high-speed photography, you can take your first step here.

Blog Credit: Charm Villalon

Charm is a writer and a visual artist. Her drive to share ideas and stories is evident in her background in communication arts and language studies. Years of professional experience in content creation have given her a broad proficiency with the process of engaging online communities. An appreciation for multiple languages and cultures drives her to seek out experiences and capture these moments through her writing, digital art, and photography. 

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Challenges in Macro Photography and How to Overcome Them

Challenges in Macro Photography and How to Overcome Them

In our previous article, we talked about the equipment we need for macro photography. In this article, we are going to discover some challenges you may face in macro photography and possible solutions to them. So, without further delay, let’s get started.

  1. Light:

The first challenge we experience in shooting macro photos is not having enough light. If you are shooting indoors, you have full control over lighting but when you are shooting outdoors, you need to depend on natural light and we can’t control it. You may say that this problem is with every kind of photography using natural light, what’s so special about it?

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Well, when we do macro photography, we usually shoot with a narrow aperture to get the entire subject in focus, and because of the narrow aperture, we need plenty of light to expose properly. If you are shooting in a forest, sometimes the light can’t reach the ground because of the trees.

The solution to this problem would be using an artificial light source. You could use a continuous light source like a LED light or flashlight on your mobile phone or you could use an on-camera flash or a macro ring flash. Whatever light source you use, just make sure that you soften the light using a diffuser.

light in macro photography
  1. Narrow depth of field:

In macro photography, we always get a very narrow or we can say almost razor-thin depth of field, which is not acceptable sometimes. Three major factors affect depth of field and that is aperture, the focal length of the lens, and distance between the subject and the camera. To get more areas in focus, we can control at least two of them.

The first one is Aperture. To get a deeper depth of field or we can say get more area in focus, always shoot with a narrow aperture like f/16 or f/18. When we use such a narrow aperture, we need lots of light and we already discussed it. Most of the lenses have the option to go up to f/22 or some even go up to f/32, but it’s not recommended to go such high, as you will start losing sharpness in the picture. Most lenses give sharper images till f/16 or f/18 aperture.

The second factor we can control is the distance between the subject and the camera, but you can do it only if you have a higher megapixel camera like 40 or 50 megapixels. In such a case, you can take the picture from some more distance and crop it later on. By doing this, you’ll get more of your subject in focus.

If you don’t need to make bigger prints and you are happy with 5-10 megapixels of the final image, you can use this trick with your 20-25 megapixels camera too. By the way, you can get a decent size of print with 5-10 megapixels final image.

One more option for a deeper depth of field is focus stacking. It’s an advanced technique, and we’ll talk about it in a future article.

focus in macro photography
  1. Focus:

Another challenge you are going to face is focusing. In macro photography, our subjects are mostly very tiny and our camera finds it difficult to focus on them. The solution to this problem is that you always use single point focus setting in your camera. You can easily move the focus point to the spot where you want to focus in the picture. 

The second challenge with focusing is the movement of your camera. In macro photography, we always get a shallow depth of field, even if we are shooting with a narrow aperture like f/16 or f/18. Sometimes the area of focus is less than one centimeter.  In such conditions, if your camera moves just a few millimeters, your entire subject could be out of focus.

macro photography

One solution to the above problem is using a tripod or a monopod so that you can restrict the camera movement but you can’t always use a tripod. Therefore, the best solution is that you train yourself to be still when you take the shot. Always tuck your elbows in to avoid camera movement, try to hold your breath when clicking, and find something like a tree branch for support.

Sometimes we know that we can’t have the entire subject in focus and we need to focus on some point of interest like another of the flower or eye of the bug. If your camera is not focusing where you want, you could lock the focus and move your body forward or backward slightly until your point of interest comes in focus.

Thanks to the technology that nowadays cameras are very advanced and can focus in challenging conditions, but if your camera is not able to focus for some reason, switch to manual focus mode.

moving subjects in macro photography
  1. Moving subjects:

If you are trying to shoot moving subjects like butterflies, dragonflies, and other bugs, they don’t stay still and keep moving from one place to another. Well, you can’t control them or make them stay in one place. Patience is the key in such a situation. One thing you can do is to use a longer focal length lens. With a longer lens, you’ll have more distance from your subject and the chances are that they will be less likely to disturb with your presence and stay still.

macro photography challenges
  1. Wind:

If you are clicking magnificent macro pictures of flowers and the wind is very strong, you may have difficulty clicking the picture. In such case, have patience and wait or better click macro photographs of something else which is still. BTW why stuck with only macro photography, if the wind is very strong, let’s click some motion blur instead.

  1. Get dirty:

Sometimes you have to sit, go down on your knees, or even lie down on the ground to get a perfect shoot. Thus, always wear clothes that are relaxing and easy to clean. Make sure you are fully covered and have comfortable shoes.

macro photography ideas

There are few points you need to remember too. Always keep mosquito repellents or bug spray when you are going into the wild. Make sure you have water and some snacks with you. Some insects may be dangerous if they bite you, so keep a safe distance from them.

Some people pluck flowers or try to move the insects where the lighting is good or the background is better. Please don’t do this. We would not like it if someone comes to our home and moves things away to get a perfect shot and it’s their home.

These are the challenges you may face in macro photography but don’t worry. When you start clicking macro photos, you’ll find that these challenges are nothing compared to the rewards you are going to get. So, gear up and get started.

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Blog Credit: Ramakant Sharda

Ramakant is an Award-Winning Photographer, Author, Mobile Apps Publisher based in the beautiful “Pink City” of India, known as Jaipur. Many of his works have been published in magazines, newspapers, and international blogs. He writes about photography and also teaches photography in his workshops. He has published three (so far) coffee table books. Get his latest book Mastering High-Speed Photography.

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[faq q1="how to shoot in macro photography?" a1="Well, when we do macro photography, we usually shoot with a narrow aperture to get the entire subject in focus, and because of the narrow aperture" q2="what are the challenges in macro photography? " a2="In macro photography, we always get a very narrow or we can say almost razor-thin depth of field, which is not acceptable sometimes." q3="how to capture moving subjects in macro photography?" a3="If you are trying to shoot moving subjects like butterflies, dragonflies, and other bugs, they don’t stay still and keep moving from one place to another."]

Ten Practical Tips for Macro Flower Photography

Ten Practical Tips for Macro Flower Photography

Flowers are the best subjects for macro photography because flowers are available everywhere and in every season. You can shoot them outdoors or you can buy them and click in the comfort of your home. Let’s talk about the ten things you need to remember for amazing macro photos of flowers.

We have already talked about the equipment for macro photography in a previous article (Equipments You Need For Macro Photography), so we are not discussing the equipment here. But in short, you need a camera body, a lens (preferably macro), and a flash with a diffuser for softer light. So, let’s get started.

  1. Shoot in the morning or evening:

The best time for shooting flowers is either morning or evening because that time light is warm and soft, so it gives vibrant colors. If you shoot in the daytime when the sun is high, you won’t get good colors, also it will produce harsh shadows that will ruin the shot. If you have no other options and you have to shoot in the daytime, use a scrim to soften the light and avoid harsh shadows.

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You may use a thin white cloth or butter paper to make a portable scrim. The best option is to buy a white translucent umbrella and use it as a scrim. It’s portable, easy to carry and it can protect you and your expensive equipment in case of rain.

  1. Choose a clam day:

For macro photography of flowers, always choose a windless day. If the wind is very strong and fast, the flowers will move rapidly and you will have a problem with focusing and getting a sharp shot. If you have to click pictures of flowers on a windy day because you are free on that day only, go to a florist shop, buy some flowers and take shots inside the home.

  1. Background:

Always check the background before clicking. Most of the time the background will be blurred but still, it should not have any distractions. It should be clean and have complimenting colors. If you are getting some distraction in the background, just move your camera a little and you can get a completely different background.

  1. Depth of field:

Depth of field is essential in macro photography. When we shoot tiny subjects, we get a very thin depth of field and it's not possible to get the entire shot in focus. There are two solutions to this problem. First, use a narrow aperture like f/16 or f/18 to increase the depth of field. It’ll give you a deeper depth of field but in this case, you need a lot of light, so using a flash would be a good idea.

Second, if possible, shoot in a way that your main subject comes in the same focal plane. Like if you are shooting a sunflower at 45 degrees angle, the chances are that you won’t get the entire flower in focus but if you shoot the same flower at ninety degrees angle, you will get everything in focus because it’s in the same focal plane.


depth of field in macro photography
  1. Focusing:

Some photographers suggest a manual focus for macro photography but in my opinion, autofocus is a better option. If you ask me why? Well, my reply would be that it’s easy, it’s faster and both of your hands are free to hold the camera so there are fewer chances of blurred photos because of the camera shake. Always use a single-point focus setting on your camera and focus on the point of interest.

Make sure that your hands and camera are still between focus lock and taking the picture. If your camera moves a little bit after focus lock, your subject could be out of focus entirely. By the way, if you are more comfortable with manual focus, feel free to go for that.

  1. Shoot in RAW:

Always shoot in RAW because RAW files contain all of the data that is captured by the sensor of your camera. In post-processing, you can use that data to get the best colors and sharpness. If you are shooting in RAW and you took a photo with the wrong setting, you can easily fix it in post-processing. Even if you have taken a black and white photo accidentally, you can get all the colors back if it’s a RAW file.

This tip is not just for macro photography, it’s for every kind of photography you do. Just remember, always, always, and always shoot in RAW.


raw shoot in macro photography
  1. Try different angles:

We usually take pictures of the flowers from the top or side, but sometimes the backside of the flowers can also be beautiful and interesting. So, always check your subject from a different point of view. You never know, you might find something which others can’t find and you come up with some extraordinary pictures. A good photographer’s job is to find and click something which normal people couldn’t see.

different angles in macro photography
  1. Don’t ignore dead flowers:

Fresh flowers always look good and we try to take pictures of them, but in macro photography, even dead flowers can be a very good subject. When the life of a flower ends, the petals fall and it starts preparing seeds so that more beautiful flowers can bloom next season. These seeds look amazing in macro photography.

Again, as a photographer, our job is to capture something that others can’t see.

dead flower

  1. Keep a spray bottle:

You must agree that after the rain, everything starts looking even more beautiful. Grass starts looking greener, flowers start looking more colorful. The raindrops on flowers or leaves make them vivid and that’s the best time to capture them.

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Well, you can create the same effect with just a simple household item. When you go for macro photography, always carry a water spray bottle. When you find a beautiful flower, take some shots and then spray some water on it and take another shot. You’ll be amazed at what difference it’ll make in your photographs.


macro photography tips
  1. Practice and patience:

And the last but the most important tip is “shoot a lot”. Macro photography is a difficult genre of photography that requires lots of practice and patience. However, the good thing about it is that you can do it any time you want as you don’t need to create complicated set-ups and subjects are available almost everywhere. If you are serious about macro photography, make it a practice to click at least 10 shots every day and within a few months, you’ll be an expert macro photographer.

I hope this article will help you to take amazing macro photographs and polish your skills. Good luck and keep clicking.

MIOPS Slider+ (It's New!):

MIOPS offers you to create perfect macro insect or flower photographs is the new Slider+. When it comes to taking beautiful nature photography focus stacking is an important aspect. MIOPS Slider+ provides you the perfect focus stacking to shot higher quality and stable photos.

Watch the video to get a clearer idea: 

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Blog Credit: Ramakant Sharda

Ramakant is an Award-Winning Photographer, Author, Mobile Apps Publisher based in the beautiful “Pink City” of India, known as Jaipur. Many of his works have been published in magazines, newspapers, and international blogs. He writes about photography and also teaches photography in his workshops. He has published three (so far) coffee table books. Get his latest book Mastering High-Speed Photography.

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[faq q1="what is depth of field in photography?" a1="When we shoot tiny subjects, we get a very thin depth of field and it's not possible to get the entire shot in focus. There are two solutions to this problem." q2="what is macro flower photography?" a2="Flowers are the best subjects for macro photography because flowers are available everywhere and in every season." q3="what are the tips for macro flower photography?" a3="Fresh flowers always look good and we try to take pictures of them, but in macro photography, even dead flowers can be a very good subject."]