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6 minute read
The Next Steps with Macro
Advancing your macro photography skills and achieving professional-looking results is no easy feat, but these tips are sure to point you in the right direction
One of the principal attractions of macro photography is the abundance of available subjects – but crafting a gorgeous frame is about far more than just filling it. Similar to other photographic genres, creating images on the small scale is a nuanced undertaking. If you’ve noticed some disparity between your own pictures and those of the professionals you admire, there’s sure to be a reason for it. But with the advice contained in this article, that may be about to change.
As you’ve probably discovered, simply approaching the majority of macro subjects poses challenges. While flowers, fungi and a wide variety of miniscule abstracts do make for nice images, the most stunning targets are live ones. But a butterfly will not remain still like a sprawling vista – and it’s far more evasive than humans on the street. That’s why it’s so important to invest some time developing your fieldcraft.
This could mean researching the habitats of specific insects and their life cycles, or exploring for yourself and making mental notes of any patterns you discover. Generally speaking, as cold-blooded creatures, micro-beasts are more docile during cooler morning and evening periods. Still, don’t expect the process to be easy. Remain persistent and follow eye-catching subjects for as long as needed – without disturbing them, of course. When you have a dream photo in the bag, it’ll all be worthwhile.
Photo 2023 © Akin Acar | FUJIFILM X-T2 and XF80mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro, 1/500 sec at F8, ISO 640
Critical techniques
Working on such a minute scale, focus is second to nothing. You’ll achieve the most precise results in Manual mode with the use of a tripod, improved further still by utilising all the tools your Fujifilm camera provides. Focus Peak Highlight illustrates in-focus areas using colour, while Focus Check digitally zooms, enabling you to get a close, clear preview at the most integral parts of the image. Using the LCD rather than your viewfinder is optimal here, given the larger display.
Enter the MF ASSIST menu. Select FOCUS PEAK HIGHLIGHT. Choose a colour and intensity suited to you.
X Series cameras are equipped with highly advanced autofocus capabilities, so this is an option. Eye AF can be successful, even with non-human subjects, and this will be the desired point of focus on your subject almost every time. Some X Series cameras even have AF detection modes for a variety of subjects themselves, including animals.
Focus bracketing also works wonders. You can tailor the number of frames, the time between them, and the specific variation in focus distance to suit your needs. This technique can be challenging with faster-moving subjects.
Enter the SHOOTING SETTING menu and choose DRIVE SETTING. Select BKT SETTING, find FOCUS BKT, then input your desired FRAMES, STEP and INTERVAL. Ensure the Drive Dial is set to BKT before photographing. Alternatively, in Auto Focus Bracketing, set POINT A and POINT B, then let the camera automatically calculate the ideal focus stack, based on the lens, aperture and distance to subject.
While obtaining pinpoint sharpness will be your primary concern, it’s not the only one. Lighting and composition always require due care and attention. These two aspects, in particular, are what distinguish the astounding from the average in the world of macro photography.
On-camera flash will often be obscured by the lens with such close focusing, so consider a specially designed ring flash, a handheld LED panel, or an off-camera speedlight – such as the FUJIFILM EF-60 paired with the Wireless Commander EF-W1. With this in hand, you’ll be able to add some much-needed fill to complement natural light in the scene. A degree of diffusion produces soft, ethereal results, although the stark look of a bare flash can also be particularly arresting.
Photo 2023 © Shinichi Eguchi | FUJIFILM X-T2 and XF80mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro, 1/500 sec at F8, ISO 640
You’ll be pleased to hear there’s no unique set of compositional rules for macro photography. Old favourites – such as the rule of thirds, symmetry, and being mindful to remove any clutter – still apply. It may be beneficial to approach this aspect of your macro work as though you were making human portraits. For example, go for glamorous close-ups to highlight the subject if they’re the draw, or include some context if it speaks to the overall scene. With the former, work through various angles to find the best option – particularly low ones for a sense of scale. And don’t forget, depth-of-field should feed into this element of the picture-making process.
Essential kit
The stability of a tripod is important, but doesn’t offer the same freedom of handheld. The introduction of off-camera light can’t be overstated, but may detract from rare moments of natural perfection. You should be malleable when using these accessories within your workflow.
What you simply cannot be without is a macro lens. There are three dedicated options for X Series users, at present. The FUJINON XF60mmF2.4 R Macro offers a 1:2 (0.5x) magnification ratio, meaning any object in front of camera will appear at exactly half its size on the sensor. This puts you much closer than any traditional lens – and the level of detail is astounding. Plus, with a versatile focal length and fast aperture, it’s an optic that can easily be put to use on virtually any other subject.
Photo 2023 © Ania Elias | FUJIFILM X-H2 and FUJINON XF80mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro, 1/250sec at F7.1, ISO 250
The FUJINON XF80mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro takes things further, offering what many advanced photographers consider to be a ‘true’ macro magnification ratio of 1:1 (1x). Not only that, but its linear motor delivers astounding autofocusing. Weather resistance means no subject is off limits, while optical image stabilisation ensures handheld pictures at slower shutter speeds remain sharp.
The newest addition, FUJINON XF30mmF2.8 R LM WR Macro, shares XF80mmF2.8’s full 1:1 magnification ratio – facilitating focusing at 1cm from the lens’s front element to infinity. There’s also the same advanced autofocus and weather resistance. Combined with the 40-megapixel power of FUJIFILM X-H2 or X-T5, the lens resolves truly astounding images. Where the shorter lens shines most of all, however, is in versatility. This 46mm full-frame equivalent can be seen as a perfect standard prime, with an exceptional twist.
Lenses alone are one thing, but when we add macro extension tubes, capabilities are transformed. Sitting between the body of your X Series camera and lens, the FUJIFILM MCEX-11 and MCEX-16 tubes allow for closer focusing. Used alongside the FUJINON XF80mmF2.8, the more powerful 16mm extension delivers massive 1.27x magnification. It can even bestow magnification beyond full 1.0x upon certain non-macro lenses, including the FUJINON XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR.
Compare macro lenses
XF30mmF2.8 R LM WR Macro
