Macro Photography – The best method of Shooting Flora and Fauna
February 6, 2009
Macro is generally referred to anything that is large and big. In the photographic field the term Macro Photography also known as close-up photography is used to reproduce images almost the same size of the subject. This technique is mainly used to capture various types of flora (plants) and fauna (animals); in which the realistic details are portrayed. For this purpose the lenses designed for capturing macro are generally most sharp at their macro focus distance but are less sharp at other distances.
Equipments Required For Macro Photography: -
A special purpose lens called as a macro lens is used for Macro Photography. These lenses come with an elongated barrel specifically meant for closer focusing. A macro lens can be optimized to perform better at a magnification of 1:1.
Depending on the focal length of the camera there are different types of macro lenses. They are:
- 50-60m range :- This is used for photographing small objects.
- 90-105mm range :- This is considered as the standard focal range that is used to capture flowers, insects etc.
- 150-200mm range : - This is considered apt for larger insects and small animals.
You can also consider placing an extension tube between the lens and the camera body. The tube is a hollow one without any glass whose purpose is to increase the distance between the camera body and lens as this reduces the focusing distance. However by doing this the camera loses its ability to focus at infinity.
Things to be considered for Macro Photography: -
It is important to focus on the most essential part of the subject as macro offers limited depth of field. Ensure that though you are close to the subject, the lens of the camera do not touch the subject as in case there is very little space for light to pass and thus the image reproduced would be dark without much details. This problem can be overcome by using telephoto macro lenses. These come with a focal length ranging between 100 to 200 mm, which allows enough distance between the camera lens and the object for light to pass through.
In case you want to use the camera's in-built flash, just try to prevent any shadow from being cast on the object. This can be done by using a diffuser. Always ensure to use the camera's self timer mode, this will help prevent any kind of blur due to handshake. You can use a high aperture, as this reduces the depth of field thus focusing on the subject directly.
Try and inculcate these factors while practising macro photography and get close to nature with realistic shots of flora and fauna.
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