The photograph above is one of the very first shots I had ever taken with my first camera. Back in Philadelphia, in 2005, with my pink Nikon. I was surprised myself that I could capture a piece of art like this, and after seeing my parents reaction, I became very interested to see what else nature held for my camera lens. Since that very moment when I was 13 years old, I have been driven to explore the macro art that lies within the nature surrounding us.
Macro photography is a form of close-up photography, usually focused around a small subject, that later is transformed into a life-sized photograph. So some of the best ways to utilize macro photography is through nature itself. Whether it’s plant life, insects, drops of water, or grains of sand, these all have the ability to be transformed into great works of art.
Now, when it comes to capturing a macro shot, there are a couple of tasks you may have to overcome, but do not fret, it’s all worth it, I promise. Sometimes to get that shot you really want, you have to get dirty. This occasionally involves laying down in the wet grass, the mud or even scuffing up your knees. I know I have to go through this myself whenever I feel that the angle of the photograph needs to be shot upwards at the subject, making the subject more bold. In macro photography the subjects are usually pretty small in size, so in order to get that upward shot, you really have no other choice but to get down and dirty. In the end, you’ll forget about all the grime and dirt that went into getting the shot because you’ll be left with a powerful photograph.
Personally, macro photography in nature is my absolute favorite because you have the ability to bring something so small and fragile to life. The things that we pass by everyday, that never get a second look, finally have the chance to hold a compelling statement of their own through the eye of a camera lens.