The Little Things
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Sometimes we miss the little things in life
Do you ever miss out on the little things in life?
I am forever amazed when I look at the beauty of the world through macro photography. For those of you not familiar with what macro photography is, it is simply close-up photography, usually of very small subjects. But often a close up photography of a tiny part of something bigger.
What inpired me to create this lens was some photos that my Aunt Pat shared on facebook. they were photos of tiny little pieces of sand magnified 250 times. It was so amazing, the incredible designs, colors and details in sand. Which really got me to thinking about how much of this world we miss because it is so small. Which brought me to macro-photography.
Classically a macrophotograph is one in which the size of the subject on the negative is greater than life size.
Take for example the photograph shown here in this introduction taken by the talented photographer Luc Viatour, this is a macro photograph of an insect. What amazes me is the world of beauty that macro photography opens up for us.
Come with me and explore some incredible images that are shared below. You may pick up a few tips along the way on how to take macro photos of your own and what kind of equipment is needed.
Contents at a Glance
The Little Things
A Red Leaf Beetle on a Green Leaf
A Bee Covered with Yellow Pollen
Orchid (Cymbidium) Detail with a Macro Lens
What a beautiful photograph of the inside of an Orchid flower. So soft and feminine looking, aren't they?
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Macro Image of the Head of a Bull Ant or Inch Ant on White Background
Iridescent Metallic-Looking Dogbane Beetle
This ant looks so intimidating when you look at it up close and personal through a macro lens.
If we saw this ant with our naked eye we wouldn't even think twice about it. A single ant, not too frightening!
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The Beetle has such incredible beauty in it's color.. Look at the amazing detail and shimmering colors in this beetle. We might just walk by, or even (gasp) just step on this "bug" if we walked by it.
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10 Tips for shooting great macro photographs
How to shoot a great macro photo
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1Hold very still.
Use a tripod if you have one available. When shooting macro shots it is important to hold the camera very still. If you don't have a tripod make sure to use a faster shutter speed so that the photo is not blurred. -
2Macro Setting.
Use the macro setting on your digital camera. ( Usually a little flower icon) -
3Manual focus
Use manual focus if possible, otherwise your camera may try to focus on the wrong part of the image you are trying to capture. -
4Limit movement
Use a self timer. If you don't have a shutter release cable, you can get everything in focus, then using the self timer you will not be touching the camera when the shutter goes off. -
5Focus
When taking macro photo's, there is a very small depth field. So only a certain layer of your picture will be in focus and the background will blurr. It is important whether you are using auto-focus or manually focusing on your object that you make sure the part you want to photograph is the part the lens is focusing on. -
6Lighting
Light is so important in all photography, but in macros sometime you get so close to an object that your shadow may fall on it, so use caution not to block your light. -
7Don't get too close
Depending what type of lens you are using, if you can't get your object to come into focus, just back up a little bit. Many times we tend to think we have to be closer than we need to take a macro, when this is not always the case. -
8Take many different shots
Especially when using digital you really can't take too many shots of the same object. Because many of them do not come out exactly as you wanted it to. So take lots of photos. You can always delete them later. -
9Experiment
Experiment and soon you will be taking fantastic photos.. -
10Have Fun!
You may be surprised to find out how much you enjoy those "little things in life".
Photos of Sand Magnified
Check out Photos of Sand Magnified at geology.com that inspired this lens.
Colors
Spanish Shawl on Nudibranch, California
Spanish Shawl on Nudibranch, California
The Spanish Shawl is actually a "sea slug" found in the ocean. Aren't the colors just incredible? The Spanish Shawl displays a stunning set of colors: the body is purple, the cerata are orange and the rhinophores are scarlet.
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Close View of Water Drops on an Insect Damaged Petunia Petal
Close View of Water Drops on an Insect Damaged Petunia Petal
When I look at this photo I am just amazed at the beauty and color in it. I especially like that the photographer choose to photograph this particular Petunia Petal. Many would have chosen the "perfect and undamaged petal" but it adds to the interest of the subject matter and the beauty of the photo.
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Red Spider Lily Flower Macro Art
Red Spider Lily Flower Macro Art
This flower is so complex it is interesting to study it when looking this photo. I am ever amazed at how unique everything is in this world we live in.
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Strawberry Macro Golden Seeds
Strawberry Macro Golden Seeds
Brilliant color, texture and perspective of a simple strawberry. Easily recognized by almost anyone as to what they are looking at, but not very many people think to capture the image and create a work of art.
This macro looks so juicy, sweet and ripe. Just makes me want to bite right into it.
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Digital Macro Photography
Digital Macro Photography
Digital Macro Photography
Digital Macro Photography
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SLD DG Macro Lens with built in motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
with built in motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SLD DG Macro Lens with built in motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Amazon Price: $169.00 (as of 06/03/2012)
Perspective
Macro Image of Fungi Growing Away from Grass
Macro Image of Fungi Growing Away from Grass
I love this image of a mushroom taken from a perspective that gives you a mouse's view of what the world must look like to them. I love photographs that are taken from a different perspective.
If you think of photos that take your breath away it is the way the photographer studied and captured the image from their unique perspective that makes it stand out from the rest.
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Grass Macro
Male Parson's Chameleon
Look at the way this photographer captured something as simple as grass with the tiny little water droplets balancing on the top of each little blade. Amazing!
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Unique perspective of a Chameleon.
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Close up Shot of Part of Snow Crystal
Water Drop and Splash
Have you ever really looked at a snow crystal up close and personal? You really can see the design in the little snowflakes, especially when they are falling in huge pieces from the sky.
I love the way you can also see the design in front forming on glass or windshields. Amazing what beauty you can find in this world when you really take the time to look closely at it. Especially through your macro lens.
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0.42X FISHEYE LENS W/ MACRO FOR CANON EOS DIGITAL REBEL
0.42X FISHEYE LENS W/ MACRO FOR CANON EOS DIGITAL REBEL
![0.42X FISHEYE LENS W/ MACRO FOR CANON EOS DIGITAL REBEL [Camera]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/316YY5SFEQL._SL160_.jpg)
0.42X FISHEYE LENS W/ MACRO FOR CANON EOS DIGITAL REBEL [Camera]
Amazon Price: $15.49 (as of 06/03/2012)
Abstract
Macro View Showing the Inside of a Red Protea Flower
Macro View Showing the Inside of a Plant
Both of the images below have become abstract artwork. You can find amazing shots with brilliant colors, incredible designs that when blown up just create beautiful abstract images.
Below: Macro View Showing the Inside of a Red Protea Flower
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Below: Macro View Showing the Inside of a Plant
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Macro Photograph of a Captive Ball Python, California
Macro Photograph of a Captive Ball Python, California
Sometimes macro photography is just taking a really close look at part of a larger object. Like the photo below of this Ball Python's skin. Isn't the detail amazing when you look at the texture of their skin.
The design on the snake looks like a work of art, doesn't it?
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Flash Techniques for Macro and Close-Up Photography; A Guide for Digital Photographers
Flash Techniques for Macro and Close-Up Photography; A Guide for Digital Photographers
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Amazon Price: $539.00 (as of 06/03/2012)
Bringing Focus
Macro Image of Purple Flowers in a Chinese Forest
Macro Photography Photo Workshop
The beautiful purple flowers from a forest floor in China are another example of beauty that may have gone unnoticed had the photographer passed by without capture the beauty in the tiny flowers.
That is what I think about when people say to stop and smell the roses. You also need to stop, and feel with every sense you have. Look at the tiny things and you may discover their is much more to this world than first seen with the naked eye.
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Macro Photography Photo Workshop
Macro Photography Photo Workshop
Macro Image of Purple Chinese Wildflower, Jingshan, China
Photographer David Evans
When the layer of your object focuses and the background blurs it almost brings it forward into almost a 3D look.
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Macro Image of New Fern Leaf About to Unroll Itself in Chinese Forest, Shennongjia, China
Macro Photography for Gardeners and Nature Lovers : The Essential Guide to Digital Techniques
The bud of a fern leaf about to unroll even looks incredible up close.
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Macro Photography for Gardeners and Nature Lovers : The Essential Guide to Digital Techniques
Macro Photography for Gardeners and Nature Lovers : The Essential Guide to Digital Techniques
Macro Image of Budding Tree in a Chinese Forest
Understanding Close-Up Photography : Creative Close Encounters with or Without a Macro Lens
I love the way you can pull the focus of your macro shot to one tiny object and blurr the background image. I brings the beauty of the image forward.
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Understanding Close-Up Photography : Creative Close Encounters with or Without a Macro Lens
Understanding Close-Up Photography : Creative Close Encounters with or Without a Macro Lens
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Thank you
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. I hope you enjoyed learning more about macrophotography and looking at the incredible photos shared on this webpage.
Here is to the "Little things in life".
May you never be too busy to stop and enjoy the beauty in this world we live in.
Linda
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vallain Aug 14, 2011 @ 11:34 pm | delete
- I do love macro photography. You selected an inspiring range of photos here and set them off nicely.
Blessed by a squid angel and featured on You've Been Blessed.
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sukkran Jul 19, 2011 @ 12:04 pm | delete
- awesome. enjoyed your beautifully constructed lens. stunning photos and useful tips. ~blessed~
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akumar46
Jul 17, 2011 @ 11:31 pm | delete
- Thanks for sharing beautiful pictures of the little things.Amazing lens.
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by ArtByLinda
Hello, my name is Linda I live in the beautiful state of Idaho and I love to write lenses about the things that are near and dear to my heart. Most of... more »
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