Macro photography

I was recently asked by the director of the nature center where I do alot of my photography, specially macro work, if I liked photographing small things ? My somewhat flipant answer was since there are no griz in Illinois, I make do with what we have. But, made me think about my enjoyment of macro/close-up photograph. So why do you like to photograph small creatures or other non-living things? Just curious.

I don't do it often, but I like the challenge. Also, I enjoy looking closely at the world for the things the people in a hurry will always miss.


Kent in SD

Agree with Kent that it is a challenge as I'm fairly new to it. Another thing is that it never ceases to amaze me what plants and insects look like really close up. Particularly insects. They are just incredible when we can see the detail of their bodies and relate it (sometimes) to their behavior, etc. Another big plus is that I can do it in my own back yard. So time and distance aren't an issue. I can brave inclement weather knowing a hot coffee is just feet away. Right now I'm starting to work on bees that come to the flowers my wife has planted. Have dozens of individuals and at least a half dozen species. It could be almost a full time job just on those. Hoping to post some successes in the near future. Highly recommend Mike Moats Macro Boot Camp. Lots of info, time to practice, and a very fair price.

I always liked to see things in nature that I cannot readily observe with my eyes: very small things (macro), far away things (tele), fast moving things (short exposure or flash). Maybe that's the explorer in me. I used to do landscapes (and I will do that again), but now the lenses I use most are my 150-500 (almost always at 500) and, now that I have one, my 150 macro plus 1.4 TC.

I find it fascinating the see the world that exists in miniature that most persons don't bother to notice or are even aware of. Finding the unnoticed beauty in close-up nature becomes like a treasure hunt for me that I find almost addicting! Macro photography becomes a vehicle where I can share my love of nature and allow others to experience the wonders I have found. Hopefully this can help influence people to take time to "stop and smell the roses" so as to not miss all the beauty and wonder that exists all around them. I also like the fact that I don't have to travel to find things to photograph. So much beauty is to be found right in my backyard or neighboring meadows. Whenever I need my "fix" I can just walk out my back door and find something unique to photograph!

I think William Blake said it best in his poem Auguries of Innocence : ` To see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower '

Carolyn and Ian summed up my feelings the best. I shot nothing but landscapes for the first 20 years of my "career". I started dabbling in macro about 5 years ago as I was getting tired of traveling and of the expense involved in trying to remain competitive in the landscape/scenic market. Now macro comprises about 90% of what I do. There is an endless supply of subject matter and I believe that the opportunity to produce unique and creative imagery (something I haven't accomplished yet) is greater with macro. The natural patterns, details, and textures found in what I've always taken for granted are fun and challenging to photograph.

Not having to hit the trail at 4 AM for sunrise is kinda nice also....

Carolyn captured my main reason. I originally got into macro while recovering from an injury that prevented me from hiking to my otherwise favorite locales. Macro kept me sane when distance was painful to cover.

I do for all of the reasons stated above. John, your flippant response most accurately describes how I got into macro/flora, except that I'll expand it a little. In Ohio, there are no griz, oceans, mountains, rain forests, volcanoes, deserts, grand canyons, redwoods...well, you get the idea. In the words of CS&N, slightly paraphrased, if you can't shoot the scenes you love, love the scenes you shoot. Flora and macro provide enormous options for artistic expression and, for some, species/habitat documentation in additon to artistic expression. It's also just plain fun. It also can be expensive (especially when I buy the D800E and 200 f4 micro-nikkor I'm eyeing), challenging, time-consuming, and frustrating, but what nature photography isn't?