My fascination with macro photography is in the details. There is certainly beauty in the big picture. Sunsets, grand vistas, and soaring mountains, are a wonder to behold and capture. But as we cast our gaze to the fine details, nature does not disappoint. In fact, the closer you get, the more there is to see.

Extension Tubes

An inexpensive way to get into macro photography is to use extension tubes with lenses you may already have. They are readily available with mounts for most SLR/DSLR camera systems, and work by changing the distance of the lens from the image sensor, thereby altering the minimum and maximum focus for that lens. It is also a great way to make use of those great old manual lenses. Since you lose camera communication through the process anyway, you can work on your manual photography chops.

How I Made These Images

I used live view on a Canon 5D MKII, and then zoomed in digitally to fine tune the focus. Once The the composition was set, I moved the plant slightly to adjust the focal point. Both of these images were shot in color and converted to Black and White in Lightroom.

Use A Tripod

I’m not sure if this goes without saying, so I’ll say it. Use a tripod, and a remote trigger if you have one. Or use the timer to set a delay if your camera has that feature. Macro composition is fine work. The slightest movement will cause the image to lose sharpness. Most of all, take your time, enjoy the process, and experiment. You might surprise yourself.

If you decide to give it a try, post some samples. I would love to see what you come up with.

Wishing you all the best from The Murphy-Cam Project!

Macro Photography

Rose Petals