Macro photography is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding genres of photography.
Many of us will immediately think of flowers and insects as the main subjects but you can find interesting macro subjects everywhere around your house and backyard and turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Extreme close-up pictures can reveal unseen beauty in everyday things. Water droplets, bubbles in drinks, peeling paint, rust, feathers, textiles, CDs and records . . . the list is endless.
Macro photography can be tricky to master but if you have a little patience and an eye detail, you’ll soon be hooked.
Most compact cameras and phone cameras have macro settings that will allow you to get super close but if you have a camera with interchangeable lenses you may need a macro lens to get the real close-up shots.
In this article we will focus on using phone cameras but all the basic techniques apply to cameras as well.
The main challenge with any macro photography is getting the focus and lighting right but you also need to be mindful of any movement in either the camera or the subject.
Two inexpensive items that will help manage these issues are a small tripod and a ring light.
Joby makes Gorillapods for cameras and phones. They have flexible legs that can be wrapped around things to help keep things steady. You can find them at camera shops and online for as little as $40.
You’ll find good LED ring lights for less than $20 and they are also a handy accessory to improve the lighting on your selfies.
Top tips for macro photography with your phone:
- Get as close as you can. Some phones like the new iPhone 13 Pro will allow you to get as close as 2cm.
- Tap the screen to set a specific focus point and lock in the lighting. The primary point of focus should be near the centre of the frame because that’s where the lens performs best.
- If your phone has more than one lens, experiment with the different lenses. The wide lens can be very effective but sometimes getting a little further away from the subject with a 1x or 3x lens can be better.
- Take a good look at the lighting because that’s what’s going to make the picture really pop. Don’t be afraid to shoot against the light, you can use a piece of white paper to bounce a bit of extra light on to the subject if needed or use a ring light to get a nice even light across the whole subject.
- For flower pictures like the ones here, try using a mister to create some nice droplets of water on the flower.
Macro photography challenge
Apple invites iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max users to capture the little things, in a big way, with a macro photography Shot on iPhone Challenge. The challenge runs until February 17, 2022.
To participate, share your favourite macro photos taken on iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max on Instagram and Twitter using the hashtags #ShotoniPhone and #iPhonemacrochallenge .
A panel of expert judges will review the worldwide submissions and select 10 winning photos. The winning photos will be celebrated in a gallery on Apple Newsroom, Apple, Apple Instagram and other official Apple accounts. They may also appear in digital campaigns, Apple Store locations, billboards or in a public photo exhibition.
The winners will be announced in April.
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