Close-Up & Macro Photography

How often do we spot that ladybug resting underneath a blade of grass while walking along a grass-covered path? We do not often acknowledge the existence of this teeny, but colourful world. However, a peek into this world of tiny living and non-living things is surely exciting and immensely satisfying to a photographer. This month, let us help you explore this world with a few tips.

- Rohinton Mehta

At the outset, let us be clear about certain terms and definitions about close-up and macro photography so that we are on the same wavelength. Note that though there are several ways to achieve higher magnification, I will be stressing more on close-up filters and macro lenses.

Close-up photography

This is a general term for ‘tight shots’. You take the shot by moving closer to the subject – using one of the several methods available – while taking in very little background. The idea is to get a large frame-filling image that can show more details than a ‘normal’ shot – one that includes the subject with a generous amount of background.

Close-up photography is limited to a maximum magnification ratio of 1: 10.

Close-up lenses, also known as close-up filters or dioptre lenses are supplementary lenses that attach to the front of the lens via the filter thread (consider them as a magnifying glass). This is the easiest and the cheapest solution for close-up photography. Generally, we attach close-up filters only to prime lenses and not to zoom lenses but with extra care, that too is possible.

Dioptre lenses are available in different strengths, ranging from +1 dioptre to +10.

Dioptre

+1

+2

+3
+4

Focal length

1 metre (approx. 40”)

1/2 metre (approx. 20”)

1/3 metre (approx. 13.12”)

1/4 metre (approx. 10”)