Macro Photography

Macro photography is the art of taking close-up pictures that reveal details which can’t be seen with the human eye. For example, while we can see the fly on the wall, our eyes aren’t equipped to make out the fine details of the hairs on its face. Although you may not want to see that particular detail, this is where macro photography comes in. It gives us a glimpse into the world of the very small, which goes largely unnoticed by us as we hurriedly shuffle through our day. Macro photography is a relatively new field which has proved very popular in the art world. Macro basically means 'close-up'.

The macro technique requires a dedicated macro lens which allows the photographer to get really close to the subject whilst maintaining focus and clarity. Some compact cameras have a macro setting (usually shown as a yellow tulip icon) but to get the best macro photos a 1:1 macro lens on a DSLR camera is preferred.

Depth of field is drastically reduced when focusing on close objects with macro lenses, so a high f-number should be used to ensure sufficient depth of field. This makes it essential to focus critically on the most important part of the subject, as elements that are even a millimetre closer or farther from the focal plane might be noticeably blurry.

As a consequence of using a high f-number the light-gathering capability of the camera is substantially reduced; in all but the brightest conditions, auxiliary lighting (such as from a flash unit) or slow shutter speeds are required. To provide even illumination of very close objects, ring flashes are available that mount on the end of the lens. Good results can also be obtained by using a flash diffuser. A steady tripod is also required for most macro photography to ensure a pin-sharp picture.

Virtually anything can have interesting detail when photographed with a macro lens. Insects show an incredible amount of detail which you would normally never see. Plants show off their tissue and water drops with reflection inside them. It's a glimpse into an incredible world that we don't normally see and in the hands of a great photographer it can create some really artistic photography.

Have a look in our Macro Photography section for some beautiful prints. As always, every macro image can be purchased from our site as canvas art, acrylic art or poster art for your walls. They make great prints for the home or office.