Macro Photography

Macro photography – how can I get closer?

I have a Sigma 105mm lens and I was wondering what I can do to get closer to the subjects I want to photograph – such as bugs!

I know they make extension tubes and macro filters, but which one would be the best?

Thanks!

From an image quality standpoint, extension tubes are far better.

Basically, a lens normally focuses closer by extending the elements out away from the film plane.

An extension tube is essentially just a hollow tube that fits between the lens and the film plane by a fixed amount.

If you were to buy a 50mm extension tube and use it with your 105mm lens, you would get a magnification of aproximately 1:2, or 1/2 life size, with the lens focused at infinity. Since most macro lenses focus to 1:2 at least without an extension tube, so a 50mm tube will allow the lens to focus to 1:1, or lifesize. If your lens can focus to lifesize without the aid of an extension tube, you can focus to greater than life size with an extension tube.

Since extension tubes contain no optics, they don’t degrade the image quality of the lens in any way. By contrast, inexpensive closeup lenses are generally horrible, with a lot of chromatic abberation(red/green fringes).

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Taking Inspiring Macro Photographs

Macro photography refers to the situation where the photographer gets very close to the subject. This means approximately 1:1 ratios or more, producing a picture that is the same size or much larger than the subject that is photographed. The exact definition of macro photography is questionable. Generally macro refers to size ratios ranging from 1:1 to 10:1. If you want to become a good macro photographer, you need to make some investments in the equipment needed for this kind of job. Just buying a lens and focusing on close in the hope you’ll get a good photo is not a good approach. Firstly, you need a good camera, such as a Nikon or Canon, and a high-quality macro lens with proper zoom.

Choosing the subject of the photo can also be tricky. You can have difficulties in getting depth of field in a macro photograph, especially if it is an abstract one featuring a part of an object. Here is an example. If you are taking a photo of part of an ornate candlestick, good lighting is very important, as is having the vision in advance. If you have no DOF, you will get more magnification and a more original photo. However, when taking photos of insects and other small creatures, magnification plays an important part. DOF is therefore reduced but it still plays some part in the photo. In order to increase the DOF you have to set the F number – F stop higher. The highest setting is F8.0. The higher the DOF, the smaller the aperture of the lens, thus reducing the amount of light to reach the light sensor. To make up for lower lighting, you need to either use a flash, increase shutter time or use other light sources. If the subject is still increasing shutter time should be enough, but if it is moving you need to use the flash to avoid getting a blurred image. You could also use a tripod if you are shooting still or waiting for the subject to show up. This way you will avoid moving the camera, which can ruin a macro photograph. A release for the tripod is also useful. This way you can move the camera while still attached on the tripod.

Macro photography is a form of art if you do it right, as it allows the viewer to explore things that are not visible with the naked eye. The subjects to choose from are literally countless, even if you are just looking inside your home or garden. Think about what would make a really good shot: the colors, the texture or a very interesting feature of the subject you can catch on camera. There are a lot of different ways to shoot a good macro photo. You just need to be creative and experiment with various angles and lighting. You could even build your own mini photo studio for shooting macros, consisting of a plain box that you can paint in a color of your choice. Black, for instance, would work great for colorful subjects. As sources of lighting you could use two reading lamps with GE revealed bulbs that are less harsh than normal bulbs.

All in all, macro photography, just like other types of photography, is mainly about trial and error. Even with these tips you will still throw away most of the first photos you take. However, when you do get it right, the results will be well worth it. Even this experimenting process can be great as it gives you a chance to explore your creativity. Just make sure you enjoy it!

About the Author

Alex D. uses to write in the field of photo resizer applications for the company Reshade. The business targets online photo resizers and makes available a free
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