Adding item to the basket... 28 August 2022
Sunday Reads
Laura Currie
28th August 2022
We're all mad here...
Are you just starting out with photography but not sure where to begin? If so, macro photography could be a wonderful jumping-off point. Utterly inane, everyday objects can be transformed into fascinating, abstract pieces of art with just the right angle, lighting and spark of imagination. Follow me down the rabbit hole as I introduce you to the magical world of macro!
Virtually any DSLR, mirrorless camera or even old-school film SLR can be used for creating macro art, but the lens is the really important bit. It is a common misconception that a macro lens has to be physically close to the subject, but it is down to the magnification value of the lens – a lens that can magnify the subject at a ratio of 1:1 is considered a macro lens. This means, that if you are photographing a subject that measures 2cm in size, when photographed at the lens’ closest possible focusing distance it will be recorded across 2cm of the sensor’s area. In other words, the true size of the subject is exactly the same as the space it takes up on the sensor. To make this a little simpler to imagine, think about when you photograph something large with a regular lens, like a car for example, the subject is much smaller on the sensor than it is in real life, it sort of has to ‘shrink’ – think of Mike TV in Willy Wonka’s factory appearing on the television screen!
Being able to get so close to the subject gives you access to a world of fascinating detail that would usually be out of bounds, like the eyelashes of a cat, the veins in a leaf or the fuzzy backside of a bumble bee. And it doesn’t have to be limited to nature, even man-made objects can become fine art when explored with macro, such as the texture of concrete, the mesh of a tea strainer or perhaps an intricate piece of jewellery. It can be so inspiring to simply wander around with no real plan, capturing anything and everything that catches your eye and seeing things in a whole new light.
Simple lighting can be very powerful when transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. Natural light may do the job beautifully, but if you want to go further when creating these unique images, the introduction of additional light sources that you control can create an almost other-worldly air! It may be something as simple as a torch or a lamp that gives you the desired effect, but don’t be afraid to play with different coloured lights too! A nice big aperture will give you a wonderfully shallow depth of field, meaning the foreground and background of the key focal point are both blurry, further adding to the abstract feel.
So there you have it, it really is that easy to create stunning, one-of-a-kind pieces that will fascinate and intrigue. If you’ve been exploring the world of macro lately, why not tag us on Instagram? We love to see what you lovely creatives come up with!
We’re all mad here…
Are you just starting out with photography but not sure where to begin? If so, macro photography could be a wonderful jumping-off point. Utterly inane, everyday objects can be transformed into fascinating, abstract pieces of art with just the right angle, lighting and spark of imagination. Follow me down the rabbit hole as I introduce you to the magical world of macro!
Virtually any DSLR, mirrorless camera or even old-school film SLR can be used for creating macro art, but the lens is the really important bit. It is a common misconception that a macro lens has to be physically close to the subject, but it is down to the magnification value of the lens – a lens that can magnify the subject at a ratio of 1:1 is considered a macro lens. This means, that if you are photographing a subject that measures 2cm in size, when photographed at the lens’ closest possible focusing distance it will be recorded across 2cm of the sensor’s area. In other words, the true size of the subject is exactly the same as the space it takes up on the sensor. To make this a little simpler to imagine, think about when you photograph something large with a regular lens, like a car for example, the subject is much smaller on the sensor than it is in real life, it sort of has to ‘shrink’ – think of Mike TV in Willy Wonka’s factory appearing on the television screen!
Being able to get so close to the subject gives you access to a world of fascinating detail that would usually be out of bounds, like the eyelashes of a cat, the veins in a leaf or the fuzzy backside of a bumble bee. And it doesn’t have to be limited to nature, even man-made objects can become fine art when explored with macro, such as the texture of concrete, the mesh of a tea strainer or perhaps an intricate piece of jewellery. It can be so inspiring to simply wander around with no real plan, capturing anything and everything that catches your eye and seeing things in a whole new light.
Simple lighting can be very powerful when transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. Natural light may do the job beautifully, but if you want to go further when creating these unique images, the introduction of additional light sources that you control can create an almost other-worldly air! It may be something as simple as a torch or a lamp that gives you the desired effect, but don’t be afraid to play with different coloured lights too! A nice big aperture will give you a wonderfully shallow depth of field, meaning the foreground and background of the key focal point are both blurry, further adding to the abstract feel.
So there you have it, it really is that easy to create stunning, one-of-a-kind pieces that will fascinate and intrigue. If you’ve been exploring the world of macro lately, why not tag us on Instagram? We love to see what you lovely creatives come up with!
Laura Currie – 28th August 2022
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