Macro Photography Fundamentals
Program Structure
Course structure
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Weeks 1-2: Equipment and magnification
Camera settings for close-up work, lens options from extension tubes to dedicated macro lenses, calculating actual magnification ratios, tripod techniques for stability.
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Weeks 3-4: Light management
Working with available light, building DIY diffusers, positioning artificial lights, avoiding harsh shadows and blown highlights on reflective surfaces.
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Weeks 5-6: Field techniques
Approaching live subjects, timing shots with insect behavior, wind management for flowers, focus stacking in-camera versus in post.
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Weeks 7-8: Post-processing workflow
Focus stacking software comparison, detail enhancement without artifacts, background cleanup, batch processing for efficiency, preparing images for print versus web.
All sessions include live shooting demonstrations and direct feedback on your submitted work.
Most people think macro photography requires expensive gear, but you can start with what you have. This course focuses on the technical side: understanding magnification ratios, working with shallow depth of field, and dealing with camera shake at close distances.
We'll cover different approaches to lighting—natural light, diffusers, ring lights, and small LED panels. You'll learn why aperture settings matter more in macro work than in regular photography, and how to stack focus when a single shot won't cut it.
What you'll actually practice
Each week includes field assignments: photographing insects without disturbing them, capturing water droplets on leaves, showing texture in everyday objects. We'll review your images in group sessions, discussing what worked and what didn't.
The second half gets into post-processing—how much sharpening is too much, cleaning up busy backgrounds, and combining multiple exposures for extended depth. No artistic theory here, just practical techniques you can use whether you're documenting specimens or shooting for stock libraries.