A beginners guide to close-up photography

Being able to photograph something that is not visible to the human eye is immensely satisfying. A few years back, I relied on the standard macro setting of my SLR. If I wanted an extreme close-up, I just shoved my head among the bees and got as near to my subject as my standard lens would allow. Flowers were, and still are, fascinating to photograph and I love being able to see the intricate detail inside.

I invested in a macro lens a couple of years ago. I was thrilled when it arrived but quickly became frustrated as I couldn’t achieve the results I wanted. The margin for error is huge and it was a very different experience to what I was used to. It took a while to familiarise myself with it and now I love it. But macro photography isn’t about having a good lens, it’s about your approach to your subject and using your eyes to visualise what the end result should be. Your equipment doesn’t necessarily make you a good photographer, you do.

There are a number of different cameras and cameras types you can use for close-up photography. Many of these are already well suited to macro or they can be adapted to suit. Here are a few of the options:

Camera phones

The picture quality from most mobiles is pretty good these days making them great for point-and-shoot close-ups. If this is the route you’d prefer to go down, it’s worth investing in an attachment like theSquidCam, Eye Scope or Olloclip. These clip onto your iPhone for example, providing a high level of magnification. Tips on taking close-ups with your iPhone can be found here.

Compact and bridge cameras 

There are a huge number of compact and bridge cameras available, the latter providing greater control. Many have a good level of magnification and a dedicated macro mode (flower symbol). This is specifically for close-ups and enables you to photograph just a few centimetres from your subject. You need control over aperture to vary your depth of field. With an aperture of f/4 the depth of field is narrow and with f/22 it is much larger.

Compact system cameras (mirrorless cameras)

Compact system cameras offer the benefits of an SLR but with a lower price tag. They have big sensors, interchangeable lenses, and advanced controls, but in a smaller, lighter body.

Digital SLR’s 

If you take macro photography seriously, a digital SLR is the best option as it provides the greatest versatility, speed, image quality and level of control. Macro lenses can be expensive but there are other alternatives available if you’re on a budget. These include extension tubes which fit between your camera and your lens.

Tips for taking better close-up photographs

You can capture anything close-up but it’s good to see the image before you take it – choose your focal point. Be mindful of time of day and backgrounds – both can impact the end result. Keep it simple and aim to shoot from above or below if feasible. Look for repetition and diagonal lines. Make sure your subject isn’t damaged – especially applies if capturing insects. A tripod is great if you have shaky hands although you can teach yourself to stay still. I’ve found using your body, the wall or the ground is just as effective!

This is the first in a series of posts about macro photography in conjunction with the Macro Photography Project. You can link up your posts with PODcast (June Linky is here) or join in on Instagram using #macrophotoproject.