My first love of photography was photographing flowers, and a macro photography workshop was the first workshop I ever took. Though time has passed, and my genres have pivoted, renting the Sony 90mm f2.8 macro lens for my recent trip to see the Amsterdam tulips was a blast. Here are some of my tips for photographing macro images!

1) Use layers to add depth to your images.

Of course, a colorful tulip standing out in a blur of other tulips is beautiful. But, using a macro lens, getting really close, and using the other flowers around to add layers to your image just kicks it up a notch. Keep trying different angles until you get something you love.

2) Utilize the direction of the natural light and try to avoid the direct harsh sun.

When discussing creating macro images on vacation, I am not bringing lighting gear or a reflector and setting up for the perfect shot. The conditions are out of my control, and the only thing I can do is understand light and the direction and how the light will affect my image. Look for partly shaded areas of flowers, use the sun as a backlight, or look for even light (but not wholly shaded; think softer/diffused versus “dead” light).

Below images taken in a variety of lighting scenarios. Far left, the morning light was coming from the back left, diffused by trees around me. Second from left, a daffodil photographed with back light. Third from left, tulip photographed under a diffused white canopy indoors. Far right, harsher morning light somewhat backlit.

3) If you are using an actual macro lens, watch your aperture the closer you get to your subject.

Yes, you can photograph a tulip at f2.8 from a distance, and the whole flower will be in focus, however, with a macro lens, the closer you get to your subject, the smaller your aperture needs to be to ensure the flower or part of the flower you want in focus will be. Usually, f5.6-f8.0 or smaller is a good place to start, depending on your distance from the flower.

Below: Left image photographed at ISO 400, f5.6 & 1/200. Right image photographed at ISO 400, f7.1 & 1/50.

4) Play with slower shutter speeds and camera movement.

I love creating “blurry” images that have a painterly effect. Pan your camera side to side, create circle movements around the flower, or move it any way you want to create a pattern. Set your aperture somewhere around f11 or f8, depending on how much light you have.

Images below photographed with the Sony A1 + 90mm f2.8 macro lens. Both photographed at ISO 50, f10 and 1/8.

5) When you have a rainbow of color in front of you, put your lens in manual focus and photograph.

See what the frame looks like out of focus. It can create some visually appealing images and patterns.

6) For mirrorless shooters, make sure your camera sensor is clean.

Shooting close and at smaller apertures will enhance any dirt on your sensor and cause a lot of time in post-production to remove those spots. Ask me how I know :)

Don’t have a macro lens? You can get similar images with a 24-70mm f2.8 and macro extender tube set. If you want to rent a macro lens and play, use this link to save $25 on your first rental with Lens Rentals (within the United States).

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