A Day with the Macro Lens: A Photographer’s Exploration
I want to share the story of my recent walk – a routine two-mile amble around my local area, a practice I’ve cherished for years to clear the head and stretch the legs. It’s my daily escape from the confines of the desk, a necessary ritual in the life of someone who spends hours peering through lenses and screens.
In the past, these walks have been accompanied by my trusty camera, and various lenses in tow. I’ve even had my drone hovering above, capturing the journey. Recently, I added a 360-degree camera to the mix, slung casually over my shoulder. Yet, despite these technological companions, the familiarity of the route meant I seldom found anything that sparked my photographic interest.
Art of Macro Photography – A Change in Perspective
However, all this changed last week, thanks to a shift in perspective – quite literally. Before Christmas, I made a decision that would redefine my walks: I bought a macro lens. This was a significant step for me. Macro photography wasn’t really my forte, something I had consciously steered clear of for years. But a recent project photographing jewellery for my friend Iain opened my eyes. I realized that the macro rings I had been using were far from ideal; frankly, they were a bit of a pain.
So, there I was with my new gear: a 100mm Canon macro lens. Not the latest model, but a decent piece to get started with. It was a chance to experiment with the focus stacking feature on my Canon R5. The idea was intriguing, but in practice, focus stacking turned out to be a laborious process with marginal gains. I shelved it, thinking it might come in handy for future projects with Ian, but not something I’d dabble in regularly.
The fascinating world of macro photography – Inspiration from an Unlikely Source
My breakthrough came from where most of us find our Eureka moments these days – YouTube.
There I found a chap who regularly posted about macro photography. His technique was ingenious, solving many common macro photography issues simply by using a flash. But not just any flash setup – this involved holding the flash in one hand while managing the camera with the other. This method allowed for lighting from any angle imaginable – below, above, left, right, front, behind. It was “off camera flash” – just without the cumbersome light stands.
The Technique in Detail – Basics of macro photography
I started discovering hidden beauty through macro photography! This newfound technique required a bit of finesse. My initial attempts involved setting the lens to manual and using my body to zoom in and out, a constant dance of rocking back and forth. However, this didn’t quite work for me. I found myself getting the focus just right, only to shift slightly and lose it. It was a frustrating exercise, to say the least.
So, I adapted. I switched back to autofocus, but this time with the servo mode on the R5, arguably one of the best autofocus systems ever designed.
The first step was to get up close and personal with my subjects – leaves, for instance. With the camera in servo mode, even if I moved slightly after focusing, the lens would maintain focus on the spot I had chosen. This was a revelation. The autofocus system was forgiving enough to handle minor movements, keeping the subject in sharp relief.
The Perfect Settings for the Perfect Shot – creative macro photography ideas
Next came the task of fine-tuning the camera settings. The macro lens, I found, didn’t perform well when stopped down too much (f16 or f22 best avoided). The sharpness dropped noticeably beyond f/8 or f/11. After some experimentation, I settled on a sweet spot around f/7.1 or f/6.3. The shutter speed was another critical factor. I needed it fast enough to minimize camera shake but not so fast as to compromise light intake. A 1/200th of a second struck the right balance. As for the ISO, I hovered around 400 to 800. The Canon R5 handles noise exceptionally well, so even at higher ISOs, the images remained crisp and clean.
Mastering the Flash – Equipment for macro photography
The flash setup was where things got interesting. I equipped my Godox AD200 with a dome diffuser, softening the light to prevent harsh shadows on these close-up subjects. Due to the proximity of the flash to the subjects, I could dial down the power significantly, often as low as 1/64th. This low power had an unexpected benefit: it allowed me to use the rapid-fire mode on my camera without overwhelming the subjects with light.
Rapid Fire Tips for Macro Photography: A Game Changer
This approach led to an exciting discovery. At such a low flash power, I could fire off multiple shots in quick succession, with the flash adequately illuminating each one. This technique was a game changer. By holding the flash in my left hand and the camera in my right, I could simultaneously adjust the lighting angle and shoot. The settings – f/7.1, 1/200th of a second shutter speed, and ISO around 400 – were dialed in. The flash set to 1/64th power, and the camera on rapid fire, I was ready to capture the microscopic world in all its glory.
The Journey Through the Lens: Finding Hidden Beauty
The walk itself transformed into an extraordinary photographic journey. It began in the graveyard adjacent to my house. The gravestones, weathered by time, offered a unique texture under the macro lens. I used the flash to cast dramatic shadows over the inscriptions, creating a moody, atmospheric effect.
From there, I moved to the vibrant life in the graveyard – the holly leaves. Lit from below, they revealed intricate details usually hidden to the naked eye. The statues in the graveyard, particularly a Christ figure and what seemed like an angel, were next. I experimented with side and backlighting, each angle telling a different story.
Exiting the graveyard, I encountered an ash tree. The ash keys, captured up close, resembled alien landscapes more than tree seeds. The pathway held more surprises – sprouting leaves, lit from above, their veins like rivers on a miniature scale.
Conclusion: Embracing New Techniques
This exploration with the macro lens and a handheld flash was more than just a walk. It was a journey into a world often overlooked, a world teeming with details and stories waiting to be told. Each photograph captured a moment, a tiny part of the bigger picture, revealing the beauty in the mundane.
Through this experience, I’ve learned the value of embracing new techniques and perspectives in photography. It’s a reminder that sometimes, stepping out of our comfort zone can lead to the most rewarding discoveries. This blog post is a testament to that – a story of a simple walk transformed into an adventure through the lens of a macro photographer.
