Macro photography: A detailed guide

Macro photography, the art of extreme close-ups, opens up a completely new perspective on the world. When you get so close to things and living creatures and can suddenly observe them in every last detail, previously unnoticed little things suddenly come to the fore and what we usually overlook becomes a fascinating work of art, allowing us to marvel like children and discover our environment again and again. Another particularly exciting aspect is the fact that even the photographers themselves can discover details that they didn't even notice when they took the picture during post-processing and the associated close examination of the image. Macro photography is therefore always good for a surprise and takes photographers and viewers alike into the realm of the smallest details with their enormous fascination.

The trend towards macro

In recent years, macro-level photography has become increasingly popular and, above all, more accessible. Good cameras and the macro lenses that go with them represent a real investment and are not always affordable for amateur photographers or someone who just wants to take a macro shot now and then. However, many of the cell phones that have come onto the market in recent years now have the ability to take macro photos, which has made the whole genre more widespread.
In a narrower sense, we speak of macro photography when the image of an object on the camera sensor appears just as large as the object itself, i.e. the reproduction scale is then exactly 1:1. This is the maximum image scale often found with macro lenses. Of course, the images can be enlarged even further afterwards, allowing the smallest details to come into their own. Macro photography plays a special role in nature photography, where it has inspired us in recent years, especially with the depiction of insects and mushrooms. But it is also used in other genres such as product photography to emphasize details of processing or special textures.

The right equipment for impressive macro shots

In addition to a good camera, the right macro lens is the undisputed centerpiece of any macro equipment. Not a bargain, a good macro lens enables high magnification and a low focusing distance. A good tripod is also highly recommended for sharp shots at close range. You can also take good macro shots by hand, but a tripod significantly reduces the risk of camera shake, especially at high magnifications and long exposure times. To create even sharper images and avoid even the slightest shake when pressing the shutter release, it is also advisable to work with a remote shutter release when taking close-up shots.

Other pieces of equipment that can extend the scope of macro shots are additional light for brightening and creative lighting as well as umbrellas that can keep direct sunlight away from the subject. If the magnification possibilities of your own lens are not yet sufficient, you can also work with additional extension rings that can bring the object even closer.

The basics of macro photography

Close-up photography has some special features that are fundamentally different from other types of photography. One example is the depth of field, which is generally extremely shallow in macro photography. This means that only a small section of the image is in focus. Choosing a smaller aperture can help a little and increase the shallow depth of field.
The exposure time is also different in macro photography than in other photography genres. Longer exposure times are often necessary to get enough light onto the sensor. The ISO value is generally set correspondingly low, which prevents strong, disturbing image noise at lower values.

Greater depth of field through focus stacking

The technique of focus stacking combines classic photography with modern digital image processing. The term means something like 'layering of focus' and refers to the composition of an image from a large number of photos with different image focus. This requires a camera with this function, a good image editing program and a lot of patience when working on the computer.

However, the investment will definitely be worth it, because focus stacking not only saves a lot of time and effort when taking photos by automating the taking of differently focused images, but the image quality also changes dramatically through the use of focus stacking. Instead of only achieving sharpness in a few areas of the image due to the shallow depth of field, as is otherwise the case with macro photography, and having to leave a large area of the image out of focus, you can now have the entire image in focus. This makes the smallest details of the subject more visible and the overall result appears clearer.

If you love playful details, you can also adjust the depth of field of the image to your own requirements in post-processing by combining a larger number or a smaller number of the original shots in the corresponding program.

Creative design options

There are many creative options in macro photography that you can play with as a photographer. In general, it can be helpful to create a small photo studio area in which you have different textured and colored backgrounds and backgrounds ready. It is extremely worthwhile if the exposure can also be individually adjusted. In general, most macro photographers work with at least one external light source and often with additional reflectors.

Conclusion

Overall, it is hardly surprising that macro photography has become increasingly popular in recent years. It sharpens the eye for detail and can even make things visible that are invisible to the naked eye. If you want to take really professional macro pictures, you will probably have to invest in a good macro lens. To be able to work with the technique of focus stacking, which can significantly improve the image quality of macro photography, it is also important to have a good camera with this function. Enthusiastic photographers will quickly realize how different it is to capture the smallest details instead of the big picture and how much this focus on the smallest details will captivate them.

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of macro photography and discover the beauty in the details! With the right equipment from Oberwerth, you are ideally prepared to transport your camera safely and stylishly - whether for spontaneous shots in nature or planned projects in the studio. Our high-quality camera bags and accessories combine functionality and elegant design so that your valuable equipment remains protected and you can concentrate fully on your photography. Visit our store now and find the perfect bag for your next macro adventure!