8 Beginner Mistakes in Macro Photography

[@MicaelWidell]

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[@KingPInAut]

Hello! Thank you for the video! Is there any difference between the diffusor you always show and the ones that you put directly on the flash (like a cap, hope you know what i mean)?

[@evawettergren7492]

Ha ha... 'many new photographers are just happy if they get the focus right on the insect'... That is sooo me right now.

[@sanaouah]

And me 😂

[@sabyasachibanerjee124]

Sounds like me. Need to be careful henceforth

[@hans6304]

Same here 😅

[@RegalPlatypus]

Same. Rarely do I make it out in the early morning when it's cool and insects are more sedentary. When I see something worth shooting I usually feel I have about 5 seconds to get my shot (if I'm lucky).

[@gamingwithedward491]

Mee too🤣

[@sometimesrex]

Micael, your such a gentleman giving us your professional input. Thank You.

[@ruthm1384]

Really good advice! Thank you! I have personally done all the mistakes in the past, some I may still keep repeating today at times. But one thing I would like to differ in opinion a little though is that at least in the beginning, as an inexperienced photographer, it was good for me NOT to use flash, as it made me work harder in finding good lighting and figuring out the settings so that I can get a sharp and pleasing image. Yes, it didn't always work out but I learned so much from it and about the settings and functions of my camera. And only later it was the time to add flash! Which again lead me to work hard in figuring out how to use it, how to make the most of all the settings and how to apply them in different situations.

[@brynthomas1498]

Excellent video

[@SC-bg8wf]

All your points make good sense. Millions of future photos will now be improved. Thanks.

[@toojeffcjs]

I love how you captured that lady bug eating an Aphid.

[@genemcloud4114]

Once again you nailed it. I’m like a sponge right now soaking up as much as I can and trying to apply as many of your tips as possible. BTW, just purchased the v350 as you suggested. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@jimmyg7806]

I had fun working through all of these mistakes. I feel like I had to go through them all to gain the deeper understanding of the limitations they put on my photography. Like a trip down memory lane, I can remember the times I learned these lessons. Excellent video!

[@dr.ravigandhi8573]

Nice tips. Will work on them.

[@1689solas]

Yeah I'm interested in this but I haven't started yet and I'm seeing a lot more to this than I thought

[@albe2002]

Good job, thanks! Please tell us something tricky about macro videography

[@Al.j.Vasquez]

The worst thing about white balance is that when you stack photos, the AWB can use 2 different temperatures for different shots, even when the lighting is virtually the same.

[@LittleClovis]

Thank you. Im not new to photography...but wanted something less stress than photojournalism...ive been experimenting with macro and im in live with photography again. Thanks for these.

[@urdr_urdr]

Shooting in direct sunlight looks miles better than using a harsh flash.

[@alirezaghafari2898]

THANK YOU

[@sintijainnature]

Thank you so very much! Next week I'm getting my macro lens and I will try not to make these mistakes :D :)) I'm sure there are plenty others to make, though.. :D

[@belpoo9892]

Great video! Thanks for sharing but i want to share something about the 'not minding the background' park. We have seen photographers re-locating the animals such as frogs, snakes, stick insects in our nature park just to have their preferred background and this practice has harmed the natural habitat of the animals. Now our authority has imposed all photographers/visitors to be accompanied by the park ranger. No one is allowed to touch or re-locate the animals/insects in our nature park anymore.

[@kenn6592]

Wow! I have been taking photos a very long time but am only just thinking about trying macro. This video taught me SO much. Thank you.

[@liz8454]

This video is so helpful!! I feel called out 😂 thank you for all the great advice!!

[@DevrajChavda]

Great sir ✌

[@MicaelWidell]

thank you :)

[@paulstickley4819]

Spot on. I shoot in RAW and adjust white balance in post but doing as you say is is good practice. Great advice on all points.

[@Sudarshansridhar]

Really helpful video.

[@javiercasalderrey9905]

Fantastic!!!! Thanks.

[@jayspeidell]

Bring a white card and use that to set the camera's white balance in the same light as the subject.

[@martinwujet8424]

Perfect !!

[@SandyMartinelliSullivan]

Awesome, Thanks!

[@pragawa]

Thanks a lot

[@mattiacerquetti4076]

not shooting an insect if it sits on an ugly background was the most shocking. very simple tip yet game changing. 🌈

[@henrikw377]

Surely you have noticed this yourself when you review your photos, that the ones with messy backgrounds never look great despite how good the subject is?

[@Hrishi1970]

Great tips

[@Sebastian-lw1ei]

Excellent advice. Thank you!

[@B_a_c_k]

Реально полезные советы. Буду практиковаться.

[@aaronmariano9578]

Thank you for another useful tips. You’re really inspiring us.

[@MrMorsecat]

Congratulations, Michael, this is one of the best videos about making really good macro photographs that I have found online. Thanks a lot for these invaluable tips. Actually, I think that these mistakes are not only made by beginners. I have learned so much about macro photography from your videos. Keep up the good work!

[@MicaelWidell]

Thank you :)

[@ruby_moon]

I almost made the mistake of buying a ring light flash that cost a lot during the pandemics. Thanks to your videos, I started to use my flash and an improvised diffuser and it all worked out very well for me.

[@justiceformenboys]

Thanks

[@ozzie-sk9dh]

Thank you for sharing your great knowledge.

[@parusland]

Micael, thank you so much for your advice, they seem obvious, though many of them I am constantly and can't stop being surprised of poor results. Especially I am so much grateful for convincing me not to purchase ring flash, which I was going to do, believing that it was designed for macro photography.

[@kurtdyer]

I'm an absolute beginner in this. Just bought the Sony 90mm and followed you on IG. LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!

[@davegrice9546]

Just starting with macro and this was so helpful. thanks

[@rectify2003]

Micael you are such a great Photographer

[@angeladyson7367]

Thank you. I'm just starting with macro. New subscriber. 👍 Great tips.

[@MOAB-UT]

Great tips for Macro shots!

[@ketomaupa]

Hello and thank you Micael for great tips! Have a nice day! :-)

[@MicaelWidell]

My pleasure!

[@CatherineWesterberg]

Thank you. That was very helpful. Lots of great tips, suggestions, etc... Now I'm going to look for a diffuser. Cheers!

[@MicaelWidell]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Wayfarer-1111]

Excellent video! Well done, and thanks.

[@mariosnicolaou8770]

Thank you so much for an excellent and very informative video !!

[@Sabaki]

Great tips I do somewhat disagree with the ring flash comment. Yes! The twin light flashes are better as you have better control of diffusion. Yes, ring flashes often produce ugly images but they also help with some awesome images. I do intend to move to the Canon MT-26RT this year though as proper diffusion takes your macro images forward

[@Elias-nj6gi]

You're doing a great job with these videos. They are super helpful. Really appreciate it!

[@cornishblue58]

Looks like I need a flash and a diffuser. 😂

[@ludwigvanbeathoven]

yeah me too

[@cornishblue58]

@@ludwigvanbeathoven I have now got mine today and the results are so much better.

[@cameranews]

I like your eight tips , thanks

[@alvinyueuc]

Thank you for sharing all the good tips! Already subscribed this channel. Will signup for newsletters.

[@jsr8884]

Thank you Micael.

[@mehmetb389]

Thank you for everything 👏👏👍👍

[@rosscosan6647]

Great video thanks. Recently bought my Nikon D500 plus a Godox flash with diffuser. Just waiting for my newly bought Macro lense Sigma 105mm 2.8 to start Macro photography.

[@RelaxingSleepMusic24-7]

Bravo!!!

[@ijontichy471]

omfg now i understand!!! Thanks a lot buddy!

[@leandrossoilemezidis3608]

man,very very good

[@scottplumer3668]

Just got an extension tube a few days ago. This was very helpful!

[@shivanandchinnappannavar7404]

Thank you very much for your simple and valuable inputs , Ys they helped me great.........

[@benthomas3395]

Read the following comment in an article on flash diffusers; "With macro photography, it’s not normal to use flash diffusers. The flash can be positioned very close to a small subject. In this case, the flash is relatively much larger than the subject, so the light is softened without the need for a diffuser." Who do I believe?

[@MicaelWidell]

Look at that guys photos and ask yourself if it is the kind of result you want. If the comment author does not have any photos to show, I guess you have your answer right there.

[@SinaFarhat]

Tack för tipsen! Ha en bra vecka!

[@iamdcraze]

Great info and tips! Thank you!!

[@axnaknibar3883]

Thanks so much sar 👏👍❤

[@leniehulse1621]

Thank you Micael!!

[@mikejenner4994]

Thanks for the tips!

[@KenHilts]

A very useful video, Micael. Thank you!

Thank you for the great tips. 👍👍

[@Charlie-Mouse]

Yea I do a few of these 😏 Great tips thank you.

[@educationgene1707]

Love from 🇮🇳

I want to thank you again. I followed your advice and my photos are much much better. Ok, maybe not pro good but I'm happy with the result. 👍🇨🇦👍

[@amaureaLua]

I thought the ones in direct sunlight were quire pretty actually, especially the green fly.

[@johnnyzhang9892]

very good

[@Dentist4KidsJaipur]

amazing thanks

[@breathfocused5472]

brillliant

[@jimgardiner3476]

Good advice, thank you.

[@samuelchum6018]

Great tips and video. Enlightening 🙏🏻👏🏻

[@EddyHerreraCC]

I want to get more into macro photography and these tips seem great! Nice video 👍🔥

[@bkc1965]

I usually use my ColorChecker Macro Passport and very politely ask the insect if he would mind holding it for a test shot. Normally, they agree and then I can set the white balance in post processing later. I always get very accurate colors by using this method........just joking of course. Most insects are very rude.....haha.

[@MicaelWidell]

Hahaha 🤣

[@terezarasovska8346]

I was reading it and was like wow maybe I should try asking them too...then I read the last sentence lol

[@podhoncisty]

Very useful and interesting, thank you very much 🙂

[@jerrylags]

Another nice, informative video

[@craig83cg]

I love the "not very creative angle" example, it looks like 90% of my macro shots, green coloured fly on a green leaf in sunlight 😂

[@AngeloTullio]

Thanks so much!!!

[@Greg_J]

Great tips. Thanks for sharing. Subscribed!

[@MicaelWidell]

Thanks for the sub!

[@metphmet]

A strange statement about the distance of the flash ( 4’40’’) The closer from the subject is the light source, the softer is the light . This a rule that you learn when you start using artificial light in photography. To avoid harsh shadows set the flash or the lamp as close as possible to the subject. A diffuser makes the source bigger which has the same effect as proximity.

[@MicaelWidell]

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. Your statement is factually correct, but what I mean is that if the flash is too small and too close to the subject, there is not enough distance to diffuse the light enough to make for beautiful soft light.

[@metphmet]

@@MicaelWidell A light source is never to close if you want it soft. Those flashs are too close to adapt a diffusor if I understand you correctly. A diffusor makes the source bigger and closer.

[@PinkPulpito]

The blurred ant photo is a masterpiece in my book 📕

[@IgorPetrovic13]

awesome video, thanks.

[@dattaprasad.p.anvekar1521]

Nice

[@klaush.8116]

Thanks for these great tips. I wanted to buy a ring flash :-) Now I don't do that anymore

[@terezarasovska8346]

Me 1 month ago: buys an expensive makro lens. Great now I will make the best makro photography Me now after I bought it: you need a flash, special editing program for focus stacking, tripod, diffuser, make 100shots per seconds so the insect doesn't move. Success 10%

[@obernardodias]

Hi, Micael! Can you make a video with macro tips for eyes? Congrats!

[@MicaelWidell]

Maybe some day I will, no promise though :)

[@nnalujim7848]

I have the same Ikea cabinet ;-)

[@BSEntomology]

Discovered your videos recently and have found them very good. Hope to benefit from your tips. However one of your mistakes about shooting in direct sunlight I find confusing. I am an entomologist and I do know that casting a shadow over insects Where I come -Ireland- from usually means you don't see them again. Shadows mean predators so they fly off. So you have to shoot in direct sunlight as that is where the insects tend to be.

[@danielepassegua7828]

Which diffusor do you suggest? Thanks.

[@noxnox2172]

Yeah, diffusors

[@ALCOR_46]

What an eye opener video. Thank you Micael !! One question: what is the diffuser that you use in the video? I would like to buy one for my flash. Thanks!!

[@MicaelWidell]

Hi! It is of the brand DÖRR. Linked it in another comment on here. Not sold everywhere unfortunately.

[@LtOne-im1fl]

I really like your video, it helps a lot since I am trying to get into macro photography. What kind of diffuser do you use? A lot of the ones I am finding are almost like caps that cover the flash.

[@MicaelWidell]

Currently my favorite is the pope shield. See my latest video for tips on more diffusers.

[@thomasfplm]

Your tips are mostly for insects, I usually take photos of miniatures I paint, do you have tips for that? Since things don't move, and I have a tripod, I don't usually have problem with increase exposure time. I'm using a ring flash, because it helps with changing the shadows of certain miniatures and make them less flat (specially if they are very white). I'm thinking about buying a second flash to have better light for the background.

[@MicaelWidell]

Yeah still objects indoors is very different. Since you can use longer exposure times you don’t need a flash

[@Hong-WunChen]

Hi! I am curious about if a photo does not have any white element, how can I adjust the white balance? Thank you!

[@brentturcotte2627]

I am in a different camp -- I take insect photos to generate observations in hopes to generate scientific data and add new species to my life list. So I don't care if the image is spectacular just that I got it (even getting a single image of a species can be difficult at times) and it is identifiable from the photos. I personally am getting an Olympus TG6 to increase the probability of getting identifiable insect photos.

[@MicaelWidell]

Every photographer has their own motivations and goals, and that's what makes it beautiful :)

[@Chrispitchwildlife]

With a TG6 you will have to go extremely close to the insect, right?

[@brentturcotte2627]

@@Chrispitchwildlife ​ That is correct (maybe 4 times closer than a typical DSLR/mirrorless). It is a downside to a camera that has a small sensor compared to DSLR and mirrorless. If you capture the insect (catch and release with an insect net), then you can get as close as the camera allows. You might need the ring light to illuminate the subject sufficiently. The TG6 performs poorer than bridge, DSLR and mirrorless for butterflies which are usually not captured as you can only get so close before you spook it. If you want clear pictures of insects in flight, don't bother with the TG6, you need the large sensors that DSLR and mirrorless provide just like with birds. Other advantages of the TG6 is its durability, light weight and the ability to use it in the rain (it can be used underwater). Now that it is winter, I am using the camera mostly for lichens and mosses. I can get really detailed shots of lichens with handheld focus stacking, ring light and full 4X zoom at 1 to 2 cm away. My favorite shot of an insect I took can be seen at inaturalist.ca/observations/170928466. Second image of the four. Note that I was holding it by its legs with my fingers.