Macrophotography focuses on small wonders

3 hours ago
2 min read

Do you ever take your camera outside when you go for a hike? No, not just to have your phone with you to scroll while you stroll, but to take pictures!

A close up of gray and blue lichen with a wavy texture growing on a green surface, showcasing intricate patterns and rich color contrast. — A macro photo of lichen. (Photo by Jerome Gabriel)

We often see so many amazing things outside that we want to capture them with a photo. A beautiful sunset, a deer grazing or a particularly fun looking cloud. But if you are only ever looking up and out, you are missing out on some amazing views of nature.

Try looking down, way, way down. Not at the big things, but at the tiny, tiny parts of nature that you might just step over while you walk down the trail.

There is a whole world of photography that focuses on taking photos of the smallest things. It’s called macrophotography.

Macrophotography is the art of taking pictures at life size or larger. Sometimes photographers do this with high-magnification lens, and sometimes photographers simply try to get their camera as close to the subject as possible.

A close up of a bergamot seed pod with hexagonal cells. The image focuses on the texture and intricate details of the nest structure. — A macro photo of a bergamot seed head. (Photo by Jerome Gabriel)

You can use a phone to do the same thing! Macrophotography lets us see very small parts of nature blown up to much larger sizes. Have you ever looked closely at a seed pod from a flower? You probably know what a flower looks like with all its colorful petals. But what about when the petals fall off and only a seed pod remains?

How can you be a macrophotographer? The first step is to slow down! Take a moment to look very closely at the things around you, especially when you go outside. What colors are the blades of grass? How many colors are there? You know that a tree has bark, but have you ever looked closely at it? What does it look like when you zoom in?

a close up of vibrant green moss with pointed leaves, showcasing intricate textures and patterns; a serene and natural ambiance. — A macro photo of moss. (Photo by Jerome Gabriel)

Once you’ve found an interesting subject, use your camera to get as close as you can. It may take some trial and error to move your camera back and forth to get a good focus, especially if you are looking at something VERY small. Once you get the subject in focus, snap your picture.

Congrats! You are now a macrophotographer! Keep looking for those tiny, amazing parts of nature to capture in your next photo!