Macro photography - the best tips

In this article, we give you helpful tips on macro photography.

This is how macro photography works

• Only a few flowers look really flat from above: take pictures outdoors if you should lie on the floor. It is best to take a mat with you to protect your clothing from moisture and grass stains.
• Hard shadows are usually undesirable in macro photography. So it is better not to take photos at midday, but preferably in the morning or late afternoon. Direct sunlight is also less suitable, it creates too strong shadows in the subject.
• But not only the sun - the wind can also be a problem for macro photographers: the effect of minimal movements is much greater at close range. In addition, you work with very short focus ranges. Your motif will be more easily out of focus.
• Speaking of sharpness: Focusing is often difficult with short shooting distances. The auto focus is confused by blades of grass in the foreground or flowers move in the wind. For an exciting picture, you should try not to focus on the front flower - rather farther back, but not in the center.
• Also try different panels. Aperture 5.6 is a good value to start with. Or: Sharp at the front, everything blurs at the back - and yet you can see that there are the same flowers as in the foreground. With an open aperture (the smallest possible number of apertures) you create a pleasant impression of depth, but still reduce the image to the essentials.

Tools for better macro photography

• In addition to the settings, there are also aids that help when taking small objects: With a circular polarizing filter, you reduce reflections on flowers and leaves, for example, and thus ensure richer colors. You can determine how many reflections should be filtered out simply by turning the filter.
• A small folding reflector (approx. 15 euros) is the ideal aid to lighten shadows. A diameter of 30 centimeters is sufficient for macro photos. With the white surface, the light is reflected in a neutral tone. The golden surface gives the motif a warmer note.
• The remote control is a useful tool for the sharpest macro photos possible. This is because the minimal vibration that the shutter button depresses can have a negative effect on the image sharpness. You can use your camera's self-timer instead of a remote release; with SLRs, it can almost always be set to two seconds.

Motif choice in macro photography

The right bleed can turn a boring shot into an exciting one: take your time taking pictures and try out unusual image sections. Many plant details also benefit from a few drops of water. If you get up too late for the morning dew drops, you can take care of it yourself: from your own water bottle. Or you can take a plant sprayer with you on your photo tour.