A BUG'S-EYE VIEW

Sara Jazbar shows your how to turn tiny insects into images of beautiful big beasts that are a far cry from creepy-crawlies

Technically, true macro photography is when you magnify a subject by a ratio of at least 1:1, or life-size on your camera’s sensor, though we commonly refer to any close-up capture as macro.

If you’re interested in pursuing this genre, you need to have the right gear. The most important tool, of course, is a dedicated macro lens, but that’s not the only solution – and it certainly isn’t the cheapest. If you’re on a budget, you may prefer to try extension tubes, close-up filters or the reverse-lens technique.

The best time to photograph insects is early in the morning or late in the evening, when they’re roosting and so relatively inactive, as you can take your time and work around them without disturbing them. Read on for more tips for getting started with macro.

1 STEADY CAM