From NaturePixels.org
May 2008
Contents |
Let’s Do Macro! – The Journey of Mendis
Author & Editor
Author: Mendis Tan
Editor: <Please add your name here if you have edit this article>
Photographs and article are copyright of Mendis Tan
Introduction
The world of macro living and non living things is intriguing to many photographers. I started photography because I was amazed by the pictures of insects by professional nature photographers like John Shaw.
About John Shaw [1]
Here’s the outline of my sharing.
1. Camera body and lenses
2. Support – tripod, monopod and using the environment
3. Lighting – Flash types
4. Basic handholding tips
Camera types and lenses
My primary shooting camera is my Nikon D2x or D2h. I used to have the D200, D100 which are actually more appropriate for general macro photography because of they are smaller and lighter. The lenses I use are
a. Tamron 90mmf/2.8 AF 1:1 Life size
b. Tamron 180mmf/3.5 AF 1:1 Life size
c. Nikkor 35mm f/2 to stack on 90mm
Recently, I added a Canon S5 IS prosumer compact camera to shoot macros too. I use 2 Raynox dcr250 apochromatic close up attachments for both the DSLR and prosumer setup.
Extension tubes are the best to get even more magnification and closer to your subject while maintaining the image quality of your macro lenses.
Pros of using DSLRs for macros
1. Faster – snap action for faster moving subjects
2. DOF control
3. RAW processing
4. Working distances of telephoto macro lens
5. Wide range of accessories available
6. Image Quality – Large prints
Pros of using Compacts for macros
1. Light and easy to handle
2. Flip LCD for some models of compacts extremely useful for awkward positions
3. image quality at close up is good enough
4. Cheap VERY CHEAP
5. Really fun to use! FUN!
Support
A good tripod like a Manfrotto 055proB and a good ballhead, Kangrinpoche NB-1, is the support I would use for taking available light macros. Of course, a cable release is necessary. A monopod is useful if you know you want to travel light and want flexibility to move around.
Lighting
I think lighting is the most important variable for all kinds of photography. For macro, the proper use of flash is particularly important because I find most of my subjects in some dark corner or dense forest.
Every macro photographer must have the following flash types
1. External Hotshoe flash
2. Macro Ringflash
3. Off camera flash sync
I know some cameras have onboard flashes. These work well too, together with a flash diffuser. There is the Lumiquest onboard flash diffuser that sells for about S$40. But this flash setup does cast quite a bit of shadows as the lighting is from the top.
To have fewer shadows, the use of a ringflash is needed. Macro ringflashes will provide the most ‘flat’ lighting quality of all flash types. However, the power of such flash types is usually small and unable to ‘spread’ to expose the background. Often, macro ringflashes will cast the background black.
The traditional hot shoe mounted flash gives you power and full control to manipulate when you need to.
Here’re some pictures to compare the flash types.
Normal Hotshoe flash – Nikon SB800 with Lumiquest mini softbox
Macro Ringflash – Vivitar Manual Ringflash (Notice the donut at the spider’s eyes)
Prosumer – Canon S5 IS, onboard flash, DIY Diffuser
Maintaining Focus, settings and composition
As I handhold 90% of the time when shooting macro, I use a ‘rocking forward and backward’ to focus. When I find my subject, I will move slowly and carefully towards it. Then, I ‘rock’ forward and squeeze the trigger when I get my focus right. Usually, I focus right on the eyes of my subject. And, to maximize DOF (Depth of Field) I try my best to align myself parallel to the body or face of my subjects.
The speed is use is between 1/60th and above. Aperture settings range from f/8 to f/16 for insects and critters. For flowers, I can shoot from wide open to f/16. It depends on what I want to achieve.
As for composition, I generally use the Rule of Thirds to compose my pictures. Here’s a link I recommend anyone to refer to.
http://www.colorpilot.com/comp_rules.html
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/learnmore/composition.mspx
Some pictures to share about my setup
Canon S5 IS with Raynox DCR250 and a DIY Flash Diffuser
D200, external flash and Lumiquest Mini softbox
My lenses and accessories
Finally, I just want to share a quote,
“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.” Ernst Haas [2] [3]
My sharing is by no means exhaustive. I hope you have found it useful in some way.
___________________above article, photographs contributed and copyright of Mendis Tan
