Making the Common, Uncommon Close-Up and Macro Photography Charlie Ginsburgh Fotoclave 2019 E-mail: cginsburgh@gmail.com 1 Images: charlie-g.smugmug.com
Macro Photography Macro Photography is the field in photography relating to very small subjects One definition …. Macro Photography is extreme close-up photography, usually of very small subjects, where the subject is generally smaller than the camera sensor (which is roughly the size of a postage stamp) However since sensor sizes now differ (as do the size of postage stamps) this definition may be a bit out dated Regardless of the definition, Macro Photography generally refers to taking magnified images of small subjects • Insects (bugs) • Flowers (whole and parts) • Small items and/or Jewelry • The everyday and the exotic (ice crystals, sand, beads, skin, water drops, salt gains, spices …) 2
Close-Up Photography Close-Up Photography is the field in photography relating to smallish subjects. My definition …. Close-Up Photography is the photography small subjects, who are bigger than the camera's sensor ( bigger than a postage stamp ), but smaller than a loaf of bread ( my upper limit definition ) Why distinguish between the two ? The differences between Close-up and Macro photography will come into play a bit later • Whole flowers or leaves • Whole feathers • Small statue or figurine • Larger jewelry • Items larger than 2-inches in any one dimension 3
Example of Close-up and Macro Photography Want to see several examples of Close-up and Macro Photography ? Go to the fotoclave gallery to see several examples the types of subjects I employ in my macro photography https://fotoclavegallery.slickpic.com/gallery 4
Normally I show several slides to ease into this topic, but here let‟s just … “Cut to the Chase” Question: What is the single issue that Macro Photographers struggle with the most ? Answer: Insufficient Depth of Field Generally speaking… the greater the magnification, the less the apparent Depth of Field you will obtain (and this can be an issue) 5
Depth of Field - Limitations at High Magnification • When we take pictures of highly magnified subjects (as in macro photography), this effect can be problematic • We can get very detained views, but of very limited areas • Aperture changes have little impact (don’t you just hate that?) Picture from the file “Focus stacking Tachinid fly.jpg” from Wikipedia, the 6 free encyclopedia
So … with “Close - up” shots you can decrease the aperture to increase the depth of field (just like we do in our normal photography) with “Macro” shots decreasing the aperture has little or no impact upon the depth of field We need to use other techniques to improve the apparent depth of field More on this later … 7
What do you need to take a Close-up or Macro shot (Not that much actually) • A Camera (O K, so I‟m a master of the intuitively obvious) Any camera which will give you the appropriate exposure and magnification will do • A way to obtain a magnified image (zoom lens, macro lens, extension tube …) • A tripod ( in most cases you need to stabilize the camera to take a sharp image ) There are exceptions such as hand held macro shots with a flash • At times a flash is helpful In some (but not all) cases, specialized software (which we will also discuss in a bit) • And most importantly Imagination, Vision and Patience You may be capturing everyday scenes in an uncommon way, so you need to practice seeing these scenes in uncommon ways 8
Types of equipment that yields greater magnification D A Kenko Extension Tube Set (Set of 3 extension tubes at 12, 20 C and 36 mm for Canon mount) B Canon 500D “ Close- Up” Lens (77 mm) A C Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L USM Macro Lens D Tamron 180 mm f/3.5 SP Di B Macro Lens 9
Extension Tubes The extension tube allows a lens to focus closer than it does natively This is accomplished by moving the lens away from the camera body's sensor plane by placing the tube between the camera body and the lens The further the lens is from the sensor, the closer the focusing distance, the greater the magnification Least Expensive Option ($ 60 – 100) One set of tubes works across many lenses Extension tubes give more magnification with shorter focal lengths At times difficult to find good lens – tube pair with a reasonable or workable depth of field May push a lens to work at a distance it is not optimized for The Close-Up Lens The Close-Up lens allows a lens to focus closer than it does natively These lenses increase the optical power of the native lens, decreasing the minimum focusing distance, and allowing the camera to get closer to the subject A close-up lens is a high quality magnifying glass positioned in front of your existing lens Next Least Expensive Option ($ 100 – 150) One lens fits an established lens diameter (i.e. 56 mm, 77 mm) Close-up lenses give more magnification at longer focal lengths Hard to obtain a reasonable or workable depth of field May push a lens to work at a distance it is not optimized for 10
The Macro Lens (I believe that this is the right tool for the job) A macro lens allows you to you capture images where the life size of your subject is the size or smaller than your camera sensor without the need for any additional accessories ( Referred as 1:1 Reproduction, Magnification, Macro magnification and/or 1:1 ratio ) • They are designed to provide clean clear magnification • They allow you to move the lens much closer to your subject • These lenses are optimized to provide the sharpest, distortion free images at these magnifications and focusing distances • Canon designates these as “Macro” lenses while Nikon's designation is “Micro -NIKKOR ” ( go figure ) • Macro Lenses are also good high quality general purpose prime lenses – They take wonderful images when used as a normal lens – This is why I generally ( but not always ) get a macro lens with the autofocus feature ( even though I may not use autofocus in my macro photography ) – A 100 mm lens can also be a great portrait lens 11
The Macro Lens (I believe that this is the right tool for the job) Note: • The use of the term MACRO is a bit soft and is often used to refer to any magnification between 1:1 and 1:4 ( which I was informed was the industry standard for a “Macro” claim) • Some telephoto lenses are labeled as MACRO but may only yield a 1:4 magnification • I have yet to find a true 1:1 Macro Telephoto lens (they are all prime lenses) • These may not be the true 1:1 Macro Lens you may have intended to buy • Research the product !!! This is true Macro lens This is not a true 1:1 Macro lens 12
Macro Lens (I believe that this is the right tool for the job) Macro lenses of different focal lengths find different uses: • 30 – 50 mm – product photography, small objects that can be approached closely without causing undesirable influence, and scenes requiring natural background perspective (Cost: $ 300 – 600 range for decent quality lens) • 60 – 105 mm – insects, flowers, and small objects from a comfortable distance (Cost: $ 600 - 800 range for decent quality lens) • 150 – 200 mm – insects and other small animals where additional working distance is required or scenarios where greater magnification is desired (Cost: $ 750 - 1,600 range for decent quality lens) • Extreme Macro (such as the Canon MP-E 65 mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro) Note: This is a very specialized lens (Manual focus lens to 5:1, Cost: $1,045) A Note Regarding Used Macro Lenses Macro lens are some of the most often “returned” or ”re - sold” lenses so you can often get used Macro l enses that are “like new” or barely used at all However, I suggest that you use a reputable used lens dealer (KEH, B&H, Lens manufacturer) E-bay users: Buyer Beware 13
34 % magnification with 160 % magnification with 12 mm Extension Tube 56 mm Extension Tube Normal image with 35 mm lens 100 % magnification with 54 % magnification with 36 mm Extension Tube 20 mm Extension Tube 14
55 mm lens => <= 55 mm lens with “Close - Up” Lens 15
100 mm Macro lens 16
180 mm Macro lens 17
Canon MP-E 65 mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro lens at 2X 18
Automatic “Macro” Settings Some cameras have a “Macro” setting. Will this do the job ? With many cameras when you select a “macro” setting, the camera commands the lens aperture to close to its minimum, thereby expanding the depth of field Dependent upon the camera it may also reduce the minimum focus distance associated with the lens (not sure how this is done) This neither gets around any limitations of the lens (optics and/or design), nor in my experience, does it generally improve the depth-of – field sufficiently to be really useful If it were that easy we would not find “Macro” Lenses so useful (and we do) 19
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