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Macro photographing requires special lenses and knowledge. (07.03.2015)
The first signs of the spring are already evident in the nature. At least we can smell the spring coming. Now is a good time to look over the equipment you have in your camera bag. Today we would like to focus on a very exciting theme of macro photography. We often notice the first flowers and butterflies but if we look at them closely, we are able to see a totally different world. Now is the right time to purchase the necessary equipment for macro photography and do the first trial works indoors. I think that it’s not the simplest way to get to know the new equipment by photographing the moving and living nature. To photograph the nature, you should already be able to manage the equipment and know what you are doing. You can start by taking photos of your potted plants or be much more creative and create abstract photos of totally different things. May it be the water drops on a glass surface, the rainbow-coloured surface of the soap bubble or a close-up of the bird feather!
When doing a macro photo, macro lenses with focal length from 40mm to 200 mm are used in front of a DSLR camera. Short-focus lens shows a larger angle in the frame but in order to have the subject big enough, you have to move quite close to it. Short-focus lenses are suitable for photographing food, flowers and other things with what the environment also plays an important role on the photo. Of course, with a more closed aperture, it is possible to have a more detailed and sharper background. When photographing butterflies, insects and other careful little animals, a long-focus lens should be used. The matter of the depth of field cannot be ignored when dealing with macro photographing. The field of depth actually depends on three parameters. First, the focal length. Here, a certain rule applies – the longer the focal length of the lens is, the shorter the field of depth of the subject becomes. The second influential thing is the diaphragm of the lens. The more open the aperture is, the smaller the depth of field on the photo is. It is especially critical when doing a macro photo – often, while photographing a flower for instance we only get one part of the flower sharp when using an open aperture. The third thing is the photographing distance. There is a rule here too – the closer you move to the object, the smaller the depth of field becomes.
Nikkor 40mm f/2.8 DX lens meant for half frame
This is a compact, light-weight lens with small f-stops that is meant for using in front of the DX format sensor cameras, thus for Nikon’s D3000, D5000 and D7000 series’ cameras.
In the sense of the angle, this lens’ 40mm focal length changes into the focal length of the 60 mm lens in front of your camera. But the important thing is that you can photograph much closer. Wider angle is suitable in situations where it is also important to show the environment in addition to the subject. That is why this lens is so many people’s favourite who photograph food, flowers and jewellery. Bear in mind that this lens is not just good for taking macro photos but you can also consider using this lens in bad lighting conditions and I think you will be surprised to see what this lens can do. Thanks to the large aperture of f2.8 you get quite a nice non-sharp background and at the same time, the subject is very sharply drawn. I have to add that this lens is very good-priced when it comes to the group of lenses meant for macro photographing!
Long-focus lens is necessary to get a larger magnification and to be able to be a bit farther away from the subject while taking a macro photo. For this, DX format 85mm f/3.5 lens is a good choice.
Full-frame camera lenses can be successfully used in front of half-frame cameras!
To photograph insects and butterflies, it is necessary to have a lens with a longer focal length. This would ensure that you don‘t have to put the lens too close to the butterfly. Those centimetres that are added with the longer focal length aren‘t enough not to make the butterfly or insect fly away. I sometimes think that when it comes to butterflies, staying put is equivalent to their beauty. If you see a very beautiful butterfly, you always miss about half a meter from the suitable shooting distance!
By the way, at this point I have good news for half frame sensor camera owners. If you are willing to invest in macro lens that is meant for full frame cameras, for example Nikkor Micro 105mm f/2.8, then this lens‘ focal length corresponds to the focal length of 157mm in front of DX sensor camera. This is a very suitable focal length for photographing butterflies and insects.
Some simple tips of macro photographing!
When taking macro photos, it is necessary to know the subject you are photographing. It is not a good time to photograph butterflies during noon. This is the time when the butterflies are the most active and moving. The early hours of the day are much better time. When the sun has risen, the butterflies warm themselves and sunbathe with open wings. This is the best time to photograph them.
Is it easier to photograph subjects that are not moving? Yes and no. Taking a macro photo of a flower could be a serious challenge with a windy weather. Usually, when it comes to macro photographing, the most critical aspect is the depth of field of the subject. Often it may only be some millimetres. That is why every movement is of critical importance. Quiet weather and using a tripod may be helpful. With a lighter wind I have used a white umbrella. The umbrella has two main characteristics. An open white umbrella usually creates a sufficient windscreen. It is also possible to scatter the sharp sunlight through the white umbrella.
A small reflector is also of big help – you can make it yourself from a stronger white paper or a crinkled folium glued to a piece of cardboard. You can totally lead the light yourself when doing macro photos if you use the flash light system that is created just for that.
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