Macro Photography: A Beginner's Guide to Gear, Focus Stacking, and Techniques

Braeden Silver | Sep 18, 2024 min read
Macro Photography: A Beginner's Guide to Gear, Focus Stacking, and Techniques

Macro Photography: A Beginner’s Guide to Gear, Focus Stacking, and Techniques

Macro photography is the art of capturing the tiny, often-overlooked details of the world around us. From the intricate textures of a dragonfly’s wing to the fine details of everyday objects, macro photography allows you to see the world up close like never before. In this guide, we’ll cover macro photography basics, essential gear recommendations, lighting setups, focus stacking software, lens suggestions, and popular genres to help you get started on your macro journey.

Magnification

When diving into macro photography, you’ll come across terms like 1:1 magnification or 2:1 magnification. These numbers refer to the magnification ratio. In 1:1 macro, the subject is recorded at life size, meaning the object appears on the camera sensor at the same size as in real life. 2:1 macro doubles that size, making the subject appear twice as large on the sensor. This is perfect for photographing tiny subjects like insects or capturing the intricate details of objects. This type of macro photography is sometimes called super macro.

Lighting

Macro lenses, such as my Sony FE 90mm f2.8 G OSS, require lots of light to bring out the fine details in your subject. Without sufficient lighting, your macro shots can appear dark and lose crucial texture. That’s why using a flash is essential for macro photography.

For example, I plan to purchase the Godox V860III for its compatibility with Sony cameras and its powerful output. However, a flash on its own can be too harsh, creating strong shadows and blown-out highlights. To avoid this, you can use a diffuser, which softens the light. You should also consider increasing the speed (decreasing the strength) of the flash to avoid overexposure.

Most macro photographers don’t use full power on their flashes; they rely on speed. Higher speed equals less power, because the cells have less time to fully recharge, which is actually beneficial because it reduces the chances of overexposing your shots. In this case, speed works in your favor by providing enough light while keeping the exposure balanced. I recommend the Cygnustech diffuser for macro work (though it’s a bit pricey). A well-diffused light source is key to producing high-quality, detailed macro images.

Focus Stacking

One of the most significant challenges in macro photography is working with a shallow depth of field, where only a thin slice of your subject is in focus. Sometimes, this can result in just a paper-thin line of focus. To solve this, many photographers use focus stacking, a technique where multiple images of the same subject are taken at different focus points and combined to create one fully sharp image.

Here are some popular software options for focus stacking:

  • Affinity Photo: Affordable, powerful, and great for focus stacking.
  • Adobe Photoshop: The industry standard, with built-in focus stacking tools.
  • Helicon Focus: A dedicated software solution for focus stacking, widely used by macro photographers.
  • Zerene Stacker: Another specialized tool for macro and micro photographers focusing on high-quality stacking.

Olympus cameras, in particular, are excellent for this technique, as they have built-in focus stacking features, which makes the process easier for beginners and experts alike.

Aperture and Depth of Field

In macro photography, aperture plays a huge role in controlling the depth of field. A small aperture (high f-number, like f/16) gives you a larger depth of field, meaning more of your subject is in focus. However, using very small apertures (like f/16 or higher) in macro photography can introduce diffraction, which softens the overall image and reduces sharpness.

For most macro photography, the sweet spot for sharpness and depth of field is usually between f/5.6 and f/8. This range provides enough depth of field to get much of your subject in focus while maintaining sharpness. A wide aperture (low f-number, like f/2.8) will give you a shallow depth of field, blurring the background and creating a beautiful bokeh effect.

Lens Suggestions

The lens you choose will significantly impact your macro photography. Here are my top recommendations based on experience and research:

  • TTArtisan Macro Lenses
  • Venus Laowa Lenses – They offer some of the best 2:1 third-party lenses available.
  • 7Artisans Macro Lenses
  • First-party lenses: If you’re using a specific camera brand like Sony, Canon, or Nikon, I recommend getting a first-party macro lens for the best compatibility and performance with your camera system.
  • Olympus (OM system): In my opinion, the best camera system for macro photography (especially for insects) is Olympus. Although its sensor is smaller, the lenses are exceptional for close-up work, and Olympus cameras have the best built-in focus stacking features.

My Gear

I’m currently working with a Sony a6000 and a Sony FE 90mm f2.8 G OSS macro lens. This setup has been fantastic for capturing close-ups of insects, small objects, and other macro subjects. Although I haven’t added a flash or diffuser yet, I plan to get the Godox V860III-S flash and the Cygnustech diffuser soon. I’m also eyeing a 2:1 lens for more extreme close-ups.

As I continue to learn, you can follow my macro photography journey on my GitHub or Instagram @braeden.silver.

Instagram Inspiration

If you’re looking for inspiration or examples of incredible macro photography, I highly recommend checking out the following Instagram accounts:

  • @macrochambers (Luke D Chambers): Specializes in stunning insect photography.
  • @reynantem (Reynante Martinez): Formerly had the same camera setup as mine, but recently upgraded.
  • @bens_small_world (Ben Salb): My personal favorite macro photographer. He’s an Olympus (OM system) user, and his work is simply amazing.

Macro photography covers a wide range of subjects, and each genre comes with its unique challenges and rewards. Here are some popular genres to explore:

  • Insects: Capturing the fine details of butterflies, bees, and other tiny creatures.
  • Product Photography: Close-ups of small items like watches and jewelry.
  • Miniatures: Shooting small models and scenes to make them appear life-sized.
  • Oil and Water: Abstract macro shots created by combining oil droplets on water.
  • Soap Bubbles: Mesmerizing, colorful patterns formed on soap bubbles.
  • Droplets: Close-ups of water droplets on surfaces, capturing reflections and refractions.
  • Plants and Fungi: Focusing on the intricate details of petals, leaves, and various fungi.
  • Eyes: Eyes look beautiful up close.

Conclusion

Macro photography is a challenging yet incredibly rewarding field. It requires patience, the right gear, and an eye for detail. As I continue to improve my skills, I’m excited to see where this journey takes me. I hope this guide helps you get started with your own macro photography adventures!

Thanks for reading!

– Braeden