☰   Menu

Deniz Bensason

Photography

Gallery-Icon

Photography Blog

My Photography – Covid-19 made me go Macro

One marble at the time

One Glass Marble in Macro


A praying mantis on two fingers

A praying mantis on two fingers

In previous posts, I indicated a number of times that I had a definite preference for close-up, in your face, snap-and-run photography.

Covid-19 and Macro Photography

I must have mellowed since then, or maybe, the Covid-19 social distancing rules have had a moderating effect on me. In the last few weeks, I have started experimenting with and exploring the world of macro photography.

So - What is Macro Photography?

Simply put, macro photography starts where close-up photography ends, and macro photography ends where micro-photography begins. Technically, in macro photography there is a need for some special equipment.

Reversing ring & Extension tubes

Reversing Ring & Extension Tubes

Either

  • Close-up filters they are like screw-on magnifying glasses for a lens. They create unwanted color problems like “fringing” or chromatic aberration. I would class them the worst possible choice.
  • A reversing ring, also known as a reversing adapter, is a very affordable piece of equipment that allows one to use a regular lens mounted on the camera in reverse.
  • Macro-photography extension tubes, these tubes are hollow, without any optical elements inside - therefore relatively cheap. They fit between the lens and camera body and work by extending the distance between the sensor and lens – thus reducing the lens’ minimum focusing distance and increasing the size of the image on the sensor.
  • Extension Bellows

    Extension Bellows

  • Extention Bellows, work exactly like extension tubes. Their advantage is that they provide a continuous range of magnification possibilities without changing lenses or tubes. Their main disadvantage; they are cumbersome, relatively heavy – not something to carry around on a field trip.
  • Macro lenses – they are a bit pricier than revers rings or extention tubes, but they have the advantage of greater flexibility. A good, mid-range lens will allow a greater working distance from the subject (quite advantageous if photographing insects or objects that you don’t want to get real close to). A working distance from the front of the lens is about 30 to 60 cm.

 


 

Nikon-Nikkor-AF-S-105mm-Macro-Lens

Nikon-Nikkor-AF-S-105mm-Macro-Lens

My choice was a Nikon AF-S Micro NIKKOR 105mm with a (healthy) Minimum Focus Distance of 31.4 cm

So armed with my trusted camera, the macro lens, a tripod and a borrowed flash – I started experimenting.

The problems encountered immediately were:

  1. Depth of field. The closer I got to the subject, the shallower the depth of field, the harder to focus property. However, the lack of depth of field has an advantage on the final product – if done properly, only the subject is in focus, all distractions are blurred.
  2. Most shots – so far – were with the aid of a tripod and remote shutter release. I am still training to get good shots with a hand-held camera.

I am still improving my macro skills (at home, controlled lighting and no wind). Soon, I will test myself with a less controlled environment outdoors.


  • Macro Photography: Two Glass marbels on a Plane - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: An Overripe Pomegranate - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: A pod, a husk - no covid mask) - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: Stigma and Style - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: Blossoming Succulent - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: Going somewhere special? - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: A snail on a one-way straw - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: Opuntia ficus-indica, the prickly pear, side view - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: Opuntia ficus-indica, the prickly pear, front view - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: The White Wraithlike Beauty of a Desert Candle (AKA Foxtail Lily or Eremurus) - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: The tiny flowers of a Desert Candle (AKA Foxtail Lily or Eremurus) - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: An array of Lupine pods - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: Lupine pods - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: A caterpillar at the end of the stalk  - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: Green Shieldbug on a stem - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: dragon-fly - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: Ant on Flower - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: A praying mantis stalking - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: colorful spider weaving a web - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: Closed lupine pods - © Deniz Bensason
  • Macro Photography: Green Shieldbug at the end of the stalk - © Deniz Bensason


Comments

Macro is a Magical World!

An abundance and variety of interesting subjects and one can find things you didn’t know existed! (like the colors on the legs of that spider)

Your macro images can really WOW people.

An additional plus is that one don’t have to get up early or wait for sunrise or sunset. No need to travel to far off lands. Suitable subjects can be found your house, backyard, or around town.

 

↑  Go Up
to Menu