1. Macro Photography Fundamentals and Techniques Making the small appear BIG Roy Dunn August 2009 www.quickblink.com

2. Agenda What is macro photography? Old vs New…. What do I need? What should I shoot? Issues to consider Examples Digital Darkroom Q&A References

3. What is macro photography? In the film days, it meant a life size image of an object on a 35mm frame – i.e. a magnification ratio of 1:1 or higher Now, we can loosen the meaning to close-up photography, as digital sensors vary in size, and a magnification ratio is somewhat meaningless Technology for macro photography has improved enormously over the last few years

4. The old way….. Euophrys frontalis ♀ juvenile 1990 (1.2mm long, approx 12X magnification) Canon F1, FD bellows, tubes (many!), adaptor, Schneider M Componon 50/4, several manual flash heads. 7 hours to get one shot!!

5. versus the new…(almost too easy) Drosophila merganser ♀ 2006 Wingless fruitfly (3mm long, approx 5X magnification) Canon EOS1D MkIIN, Canon 65mm 1-5X zoom, Canon Macro Twin Speedlite 10 minutes after opening boxes from B&H Photo!!

6. Even with a Point ‘n’ Shoot…. Technology is now such that anyone can take fabulous macro shots… Glass frogs (Centrolene prosoblepon) – Choco Rainforest, NW Ecuador Panasonic camera - photographer Jilda Mercx

7. What do I need? So many ways to do macro photography - –Point n Shoots Often focus down to 1cm - It doesn’t get any easier!! –DSLR standard lens and close-up filter –Canon 250D, 500D many others standard lens and extension tubes –Canon, Nikon, Kenko auto extension tubes reversed standard lens –Lens reversing adapter dedicated macro lens –Flat field, edge to edge sharpness bellows and any of the lenses above –More magnification, adjustable, studio bound bellows and macrophoto lens –Even more magnification extension tubes and T&S lens! –Tilt plane of focus away from the film plane, and achieve greater DOF $ $$$$ Oh, and by the way – a magnifying glass in front of a lens works too…

8. What should I shoot? Whatever you want! –We are surrounded by interesting macro subjects –Open your eyes and imagination –Start simple Spend an hour shooting 20 different subjects in your computer room – different angles, magnifications –Abstract –Bring out details that we normally don’t ‘see’

9. Abstract Detail

13. Issues to consider Stability is very important –Vibrations are amplified at higher magnifications – easy to produce blur Tripod Macro Slider Rail Flash Clamps and Plamps Mirror lockup Remote release Self-timer release (2 sec!)

17. Issues to consider contd.. Lighting –Natural light Reflectors, diffusers, tents –Flash Many alternatives History required a flash meter TTL Ringflash Twinflash Normal flash Reflectors and diffusers –White card or paper for on-camera flashes The larger and softer the light source, the better Be aware of highlight reflections!

19. Techniques Almost always manual focus –Set focus and move entire camera in and out until subject ‘pops’ into focus –Best on a macro slider Remote release Mirror lockup if possible Slow breathing, fire on exhale….

20. Constraints Depth of field/sharpness/diffraction –They all work against each other…. Focusing –More magnification requires more light to focus Moving subjects –Bugs (for example) are never still…. Timing –as they say, is everything….

22. Hints What is most important? –Composition –Exposure –Sharpness –Lighting For any living creature – eyes MUST be in focus Depth of field is subjective Shoot at eye level for maximum impact Any decent macro photographer has scars on his/her chin…..

24. 50mm lens65mm macro (~1X)65mm macro (~2.5X) 65mm macro (~5X)65mm lens (~5X) plus tubes and extenders….. (First image slightly cropped – the rest are uncropped)

39. Digital Darkroom Large sensors enable us to crop violently Diffraction issues can be repaired (somewhat) Depth of field can be extended without sacrificing quality by stacking images…. –Helicon focus

40. Macro photographers I admire: Anyone who does bugs/spiders! Stephen Dalton (UK) - www.stephendalton.co.uk Murray Cooper (Ecuador) - Google him! Ted Kinsman – www.sciencephotography.com Martin Waugh – www.liquidsculpture.com Rene Krekels (Netherlands) – www.renekrekels.nl Frans ‘fotoopa’ Belgium – www.pbase.com/fotoopa Piotr Naskrecki – www.insectphotography.com Mark Moffett – www.doctorbugs.comwww.doctorbugs.com Joe McDonald – www.hoothollow.comwww.hoothollow.com

41. Suggested Reading: Closeups in Nature – John Shaw Close-Up Photography – Jonathan Hilton Closeup Shooting – Cyrill Harnischmacher The Smaller Majority – Piotr Naskrecki Macrophotography (Learning from a Master) - Gilles Martin & Ronan Loaëc Close-Up and Macrophotography (A Photographer’s Guide) – Robert Thompson

42. References Continued…. Excellent tutorial on diffraction - http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorial s/diffraction-photography.htm http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorial s/diffraction-photography.htm Google is a beautiful thing…..

43. Q&A www.quickblink.com hsfpix@gmail.com