Macro photography means getting really close and shooting extreme closeups of your subject. Flowers, insects, and everyday items take on a whole new meaning when you start shooting macro photographs of them. It's like a window to a world that's all around you but impossible to see — the details, in many cases, will astound you.

Real macro means a 1:1 ratio. "Macro" is a term that's tossed out there haphazardly. Technically, any reproduction ratio up to 1:10 is considered to be "macro," which is why you may see it printed on your zoom lens. In order to closeups like these, however, you'll need a dedicated macro lens capable of reproducing an image at a 1:1, or life-size ratio. A 1:1 ratio means that the lens reproduces an image that is the same size as your subject, so it fills your frame, bringing out details later when you look at an enlargement of your photo.

Working distance vs. minimum focusing distance.  Minimum focusing distance refers to the distance from the film plane (or image sensor) to your subject. This measurement has nothing to do with the physical size of the lens. Working distance refers to the distance between the end of the lens and your subject, a much more useful statistic. Macro lenses let you focus very close to your subject, but getting close is a double-edged sword. Get too close, and you might scare an insect or block the light you need to get the shot. This is why I prefer longer focal lengths in macro lenses — you can be farther away and still get the 1:1 reproduction ratio.

The shots above and below were taken with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro lens on a tripod, and thanks to the telephoto focal length I was able to step back just enough to let the sunlight light the scene. Of course, the trade-off between a 50mm macro and a 100mm macro is size — you might find it more pleasant to go tromping through the woods with the smaller lens.

Macro lenses are not only for closeups. They work just like any other lens, too. In fact, many photographers use their macro lenses to take portrait shots. And macro lenses are usually among the sharpest in any line, for those that love razor-sharp photos.

Macro photography has its challenges. Depth of field (what's in focus from near to far) is very shallow when you're working closely. Stopping down (closing up) the aperture gives you a little breathing room, but you'll end up needing a longer exposure to make it work. To get the shots above, I needed a tripod to keep still.If your camera has a "live view" feature, shooting macro shots is a great time to use it. I used live view and manual focus to take most of my macro shots while I was testing the Canon 100mm f/2.8 lens. So while it's not easy at first, macro photography is fun to do, and after a little trial and error you'll be getting extreme closeups like these.

Quick macro shooting tips:

1. Use a tripod.
2. Use smaller apertures (higher f/stop numbers) to gain depth of field.
3. Focus manually first, then move your camera until the image is sharp.
4. Try using your camera's live view feature along with manual focus.
   
5. Engage your camera's self timer (or use a remote or cable release) to help keep it still.
   

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Posted Wed, Mar 25 2009 8:25 AM by ZakB