Macro Photography 101

Closeup photographs can be achieved with many combinations of equipment. The following recommendations assume you wish to produce "life size" (i.e., magnification rate = 1X) images.

1. A quality macro lens. Preferably, you would like a lens that will produce a minimum 1:1 magnification ratio. I recommend the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens.

2. A sturdy tripod. Depth of field becomes a critical factor at high magnification and a sturdy tripod will help you achieve sharp focus.

3. A quality digital SLR camera. Why digital? Macro photography can be hit or miss - the digital format allows you to shoot many images without the need to worry about mistakes adding to cost of film developing.

4. A ring flash. Macro photography often involves very close working distances and the camera's pop-up flash or hot shoe flash will not provide optimal lighting. Ring flashes are designed to mount on the lens itself and can be programmed to provide flat or three dimensional lighting.

5. Good eyes. OK - technically not "equipment", but you will need to learn to see the macro world around you. Take the time to bend down and examine nature, change your angle/perspective, and use your imagination.

Depth of field refers to the portion of a photograph that is in sharp focus. Depth of field is typically controlled by the aperture of the lens. In other words, shooting at a small f-stop (large aperture) results in a shallow depth of field, while shooting at a large f-stop (small aperture) results in a greater depth of field.

In macro photography, it is almost impossible to render the entire image in sharp focus. This is due to the fact that depth of field is also affected by the focal length and, therefore, the magnification of the lens. As focal length and magnification increase, depth of field decreases.

Consider the effect of depth of field as you compose your macro image. Be certain to place the most important elements of the image (e.g., the eyes) in the range of sharp focus. Whenever possible, keep this critical part of the image parallel to the camera back in order to maximize that limited area of sharp focus. Allow the background, or foreground, to go soft to create a more dramatic image. If your camera comes equipped with a depth of field preview button, use it to adjust your composition.

Given that you will likely be shooting with a relatively small aperture (for greater depth of field), your shutter speed may be too slow to allow for hand-holding your camera. A solid tripod will not only help you to compose a well balanced composition, but will also help you to capture a sharp image.

Yes, tripods can be bulky and they do tend to cut down on spontaneity. Unless you are attempting to capture a nervous insect, however, you will find that the tripod pros outweigh the cons.

Quick tips:

1. Be careful as you set up and move your tripod - don't squish your next subject!

2. You may find that setting manual focus on the camera lens and slightly altering the position of the tripod works better than autofocus in some settings.

3. As long as you are taking the time to set up the tripod, spend a few minutes to consider the best angle from which to approach your subject.

4. Check the background! Many macro photographs benefit from a clean and/or a dark background. Set up your tripod appropriately to achieve a pleasing background.

If you do not want to invest in a DSLR camera and macro lens but still want the option of taking great macro pics, try a quality point and shoot like the Canon G9. The G9 is a 12.1 megapixel beauty capable of macro focus down to 0.39 inches. The G9 can also capture images in RAW format which allows for the greatest flexibility in post-processing.

Looking to fill the frame? Try the following accessories for the G9:

Lensmate Adapter

Canon 500D Close-up lens

Canon 250D Close-up lens

FYI - you can view some macro test results at Kleptography

Don't get the wrong idea - you should certainly plan out your macro shoot. Be sure to have the proper equipment and choose the correct camera settings. Once you begin to work with your subject, however, keep in mind that digital images are cheap! Shoot a couple of extra shots a slightly different angles, try bracketing exposures, fire off 4-5 images in a burst, continue to move in closer an shoot some more. Because of the limited depth of field associated with macro photography, you may find that the "extra" shot actually produces the keeper. So, bring plenty of memory cards and plan to delete all but your best shots when you get back home.