Different Ways to Approach Macro Photography

Macro photography is a genre that many people love. But most people think the only way to capture these amazing images is with a true macro lens. However, there are many ways of approaching this kind of photography, and not all of them require a macro lens. Here are a few of those different approaches.

Macro Lenses
So, first off, what is a macro lens?  The official definition of a macro lens is that it should be able to reproduce a life-sized image of an object on the image sensor. Getting yourself a macro lens is one if the best ways of doing close-up photography. These lenses are specifically designed to allow you to focus very close to your subject. With most macro lenses, you can get as close as about four inches or 10 centimeters. That is with autofocus on, but if you turn it off you will be able to focus even closer. The best images will result if you use a genuine macro lens, of course.


Add Extension Tubes to Your Non-Macro Lenses
There are other approaches to increasing lens image magnification and closer focusing distances with your existing lenses that result in life size subjects on your camera’s imaging sensor. You could consider extension tubes. These will fit in between your camera and your Tamron Lens from Beachcamera.com getting your lenses closer to your subjects. Adding one of these to your 50mm lens will allow you to take photos that are very close to those from a macro lens.


Try Close-Up Filters
Close-up filters are like magnifying glasses. Close-up filters from Beachcamera.com have different levels of magnification. You also use the close-up filters on your macro lens. It will allow you to get even closer to the object. Sometimes you have to use everything you have to get as close as possible.

Focus Stacking
Focus stacking is a technique that uses specialized software to combine multiple images taken at different focus points throughout your subject.  This technique will work with multiple images taken by general purpose lenses and wide apertures, or the potentially large numbers of images taken with your macro lens, advanced through a tiny subject. The first step is to march through your subject at increasingly distant focus points, capturing images along the way. You can control the focus points either by moving the camera itself or leaving the lens focus alone. Also by adjusting the focus of the lens, leaving the camera stationary. Once you have your pile of images taken at different focus points throughout your subject, there are a number of software products that will combine them into a single focused image.


These are some of the different approaches to macro photography. You have to find the method that works the best for you.