Beyond the naked eye

The fascinating world of macro photography

Macro photography is a fascinating genre that can reveal the intricate details of everyday objects that are often overlooked. It has the power to transform even the most mundane objects into beautiful and compelling images that offer a new perspective on the world around us. From flowers to coins to insects and fungi, macro photography can capture the intricate details and textures of these subjects, revealing their hidden beauty. In this article, we will be diving deep into the sub-categories of the macro genre, including objects, insects, and fungi.

Getting Close

One of the most important things to keep in mind when photographing macro objects is lighting. Good lighting is essential for capturing the details and textures of the object. Natural light can work well, but it’s often best to use artificial lighting, such as a ring light or a diffused flash. These tools can help to illuminate the subject and bring out the details of the object.

Another important consideration when photographing macro objects is depth of field. Macro photography often involves a shallow depth of field, which can make it difficult to get the entire object in focus. One solution is to use focus stacking, which involves taking multiple shots of the object at different focus points and then combining them in-post to create an image that is fully in focus.

Composition is also crucial - pay attention to the lines, shapes, and textures of the object and use them to create a visually compelling composition. Consider using a shallow depth of field to isolate a particular feature or detail of the object and create a more interesting image.

When photographing reflective or transparent objects, it can be challenging to avoid unwanted reflections or glare. One solution is to use a polarising filter, which can help to reduce reflections and produce a clearer image.

Macro photography can be a slow and meticulous process, but the results can be truly stunning. Take the time to explore the object from different angles and perspectives, and experiment with different lighting setups and compositions.

Capturing The Magic Of Fungi

Autumn and winter are two incredible seasons for nature photography, and it’s impossible not to mention a subject typical of this period of the year: fungi.

The many varieties of fungi, varying in shape, colour, and size, offer photographers multiple opportunities to take great photos which could turn into a bit of an obsession during the autumn-winter period when fungi thrive thanks to the cooler yet more humid climate!

From the beginning of Autumn, you should be able to spot the first specimens in the woods, especially after a few days of rain. Fungi love a humid environment and grow very quickly in dark shady places where there’s little sunlight such as densely wooded areas. Look for them in the undergrowth, among the dead leaves, and around the base of the trees. The older the wood, the more likely you are to find interesting varieties and quantities. Also look for fungi on stumps, among decaying plant matter, and on fallen branches.

Often the hardest job is finding suitable subjects for a portrait with most fungi photographers needing to overcome 3 types of problems:

1) Low light so needing to use a longer exposure time. In some cases, you might need to use a tripod, or place your camera on the ground next to the fungi to shoot.

2) Unable to raise the ISO due to unwanted noise yet photographing a subject that requires sharpness and richness of detail.

3) Needing to use a large depth of field so as to be able to capture both the front and back of the fungi cap and sometimes even part of the background to better understand the habitat.

Engaging in artistic fungi photography offers you the opportunity to use your imagination and come up with original compositions and even achieve photographs characterised by extreme detail and sharpness which have a certain scientific and documentary value - for this you need the whole subject to be in focus and perfectly sharp in order to identify and catalogue the fungi species.

Fungi are arguably the most fascinating and enigmatic kingdom on Earth. Current estimates suggest that there is more than six times the number of fungal species than plants. They’re incredibly fragile too, therefore it’s important to respect fungi when out shooting - avoid picking them up (risk of intoxication) and avoid stepping on them: always prioritise the conservation of the natural environment over your photography and educate yourself and others about what you are shooting, using caution over location sharing on social media if you’ve found rare and endangered fungi.

For more tips and inspiration see the photographs from our members and also check out the work of Steve Axford, an Australian photographer with a strong passion for fungi, his eclectic style is capable of transforming these simple organisms into real works of art.

Once you’ve been out to the woods camera in hand or have raided your hard drive for your fungi shots from previous years, be sure to share them with the community in our Excio Hub