An Introduction to Macro Photography

Tim Cooper Photography: timcooperphotog...
Upcoming B&H Event Space Seminars: bit.ly/bhevents...
From backyards to city streets, to the National Parks, Macro Photography allows you to become delightfully lost in the intimate detail of our world. Professional landscape photographer and author, Tim Cooper, introduces you to the fascinating world of Macro Photography.

[@66Redbat]

I have been doing macro photography for about 50 years. I started with a 4X5-inch view camera for Industrial Photography. This is the best intro lecture and slide show I have seen to date. Some very good points. Couple of things he could add, but if you use the ideas he presents, you will do very well. The digital camera has sure made it a lot simpler than it was.

[@Janet_Airlines802]

Wilson E. Stevens I don't even know how you guys did it with film. Digital has made it so much easier.

[@crocellian2972]

I can't thank B&H and its presenters enough for these videos. I I have spent every photo dollar I have had for 30 years at B&H. You have proven my choice to be correct. I live 200 miles from the nearest airport that.could get me to New York. Thanks to you, I don't drive that road much.

[@1Tomrider]

I love the view here, which I embrace, that you don't have to go to the Galapagos Islands, the Grand Canyon, or on an African camera safari to have an adventure and a rewarding photo shoot - it's all around you via macro, and, additionally, taking advantage makes your everyday life just a little richer!

[@Photo_doctor]

Agree

[@jeffreymliss]

If you're considering macro photography, this is an excellent class. The art of macro also requires much science to master it. It's also not cheap, so it behooves you to watch this before investing time, money and effort in the discipline.

[@domebjorkskogen7454]

Spent the last weeks watching tutorials to get started with macro photography, and this 2 hours had so much more information then the rest and was also explained much easier too. Would recommend this to everybody that gets started with macro.

[@1bredd]

Mr. Cooper delivered one of the very best teaching events in the BH event space that I have seen so far. He was informative, concise, and determined to teach. Thank you Mr. Cooper. I'm looking forward to your return to the BH Event Space.

[@foxysilvergal]

This was, by far, The BEST videos I have wTched on macro. I learned so much you won't believe. At first the thought of sitting for an hour and a half didn't appeal to me and I considered bypassing, but once I started could not stop watching even if it was 1:00am. Will save and watch again, this time with notepad in hand. Way to go B&h

[@JimSignorelli]

Really excellent seminar on macro photography. Watch this and you won't have to watch anything else.

[@bobjimenez4464]

my job needed a system to photograph gear teeth used in aerospace applications so we bought a nikon d7000, nikon R1 speedlight and a nikon 60mm macro lens from you at B&H. The results are outstanding but most engineers shy away from using the nikon system unless it is absolutely required. Maybe some day a few of them will take the time to learn a little about macro photography. With the knowledge first and the right equipment anybody can take clear macro photos with good depth of field. When I really need detail I put the camera on a tripod, use the timer to fire the shutter and take the photo at f40 with 2 or 3 second exposure using a fluorescent desk lamp for the lighting. Thanks for the system, please stop by to train us a little the next time you are in Park City, Utah.

[@ginawood5991]

I have been doing macro photography for 20 years. I learned so much watching your video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I am going to purchase some of your videos from your web site. I can’t wait to learn more. You are an excellent communicator.

[@PattyD8541]

I have been searching for several weeks for an indepth video to help me get started with Macro Photography, and THIS IS IT. Very comprehensive and easy to understand and follow. Thank you Tim and B & H.

[@BandH]

Glad we still have this video up to help you! Thanks for watching.

[@jeffreyjaculbe3347]

Thank You Tim Cooper and B&H...learn a lot from this seminar, it is an all in one package.

[@EricDankbaar]

Very complete and clear tutorial. Even the spoken English is good to understand for non native viewers in other languages. Thanks for sharing this video!

[@navin8112]

brilliant, classic macro video I have ever seen.

[@AliMohaqiq]

I found it very helpful. I recommend everyone to watch it at least once. Good luck.

[@imtiazindia]

If you want to learn macro photography, this session will not only get you going, it will get you straight into it. Amazing presentation by the expert. Thank you b&h.

[@BandH]

Glad you enjoyed, thanks for watching!

[@walkingtalkies3566]

Thanks B&H. One of the best macro-photography tutorials on youtube..

[@nancymabry]

I am only 20 minutes into this video and stopped to comment. This is an awesome, clear, easy to understand video! I have already learned a lot, and Tim, you are a great speaker! I'm guessing you are from somewhere down here near Texas, because you just have that friendly, welcoming way of talking. Okay...back to the video so I can continue learning. I'll definitely check out your web site after I finish.

[@PhotosOfBuildings]

Thoroughly enjoyed this, even if I didnt quite understand all of it, on first watch.....Will watch again as I do with most B&H videos.....Tim Cooper is awesome!

[@martianleaderrichy1520]

I'm just a novice hobbyist in photography but I really enjoy it, specific tree lines in all seasons and a lot of aquatic pond and woodland/nature etc. I love how you talk to people and share your thoughts and perspective instead of saying we HAVE to do something this way or THAT way. The eye is in the beholder, experiment and enjoy photo's what you like the look of, not what some say it "should" look like. Many great trick n tips in this and also another video I just watched by you. I've not really gotten into Macro stuff this close but inspired to try sometime because of this video. Subscribed and Liked, thank you. :)

[@divinerdetective44]

Tim Cooper is a great teacher & speaker, really enjoying his seminars. Thanks, Tim!

[@firefury6090]

I use 31mm extension on a 50 - 250mm canon lense, works BEAUTIFUL, especially with autofocus, and if you really wanna get grimmy, you can adjust the settings in the camera option to focus how you want using electronic extension tubes, so you dont have to move in and out all the time. The problem with that is the camera will decide what to focus on, so most of the time the portion of your subject will be out of focus because the camera doesn't know what your trying to focus on.

[@L.E.Santo02]

Thank you for this, Mr. Cooper and B and H. Great teaching skills.

[@glennvanderheyden987]

The most in depth training video I have seen on Macro Photography. It helped me to understand a lot of information. Thank you.

[@nightwrite1]

This is a real value of service. The more you know the more you will do.

[@ypebanbung-michael8865]

one of the best video I've seen so far about macro. Thank you Tim Cooper

[@macrordinary5769]

Thank you Tim Cooper and B&H for providing such a useful class. The world of Macro is amazing and getting better at capturing it is so exciting.

[@NaveedBarq]

I just cannot say thanks enough for the premium knowledge and lecturer. God Bless You All

[@changchaw1]

one of the best photography class I have viewed.....magnificent

[@avinbarana3015]

Simply one of the best in macro photography..

[@quebecer4605]

Always enjoy Tim Cooper's lectures.

[@GrizzneyGames]

This is the most helpful video I've found so far on macro as well as regular photography. Thank you so much!!!

[@stevengotz]

Excellent presentation. Very informative. I bought a Macro lens when I bought my camera knowing that I would want to "get lost" in it. It really is fun. I should do it more often. Maybe now I will. Thanks Tim.

[@cha3119]

Thank you Tim and B&H. I picked up quite a bit from your video, especially about the focus stacking. I was avoiding this aspect of photography until i saw your results - so good. Cheers!

[@jnatiuk]

Great instructor - love the approach and not too dry!

[@FoxzLady]

Hats off to Tim! All my questions answered even before I thought about them! Can't thank enough!

[@GSchmitable]

A huge amount of good information on Macro photography that was entertaining and delivered in a organized and clear way that was easy to understand.

[@PetePistachio]

So full of good, clear, useful information on the subject. While the author calls it an “introduction” to macro photography, it covers much more than any other lecture or tutorial I’ve seen on the subject. I not only feel well-informed now, but excited, too!

[@mejican22]

Tim's lectures are always amazing. Easy to follow and with a lot of great and useful tips. Thanks for sharing!

[@shalabhgupta3622]

very comprehensive tutorial. right from the basics to the composition and light . thoroughly enjoyed it. thanks a lot

[@timgrist2238]

The best seminar on macro photography I've seen. I wonder how my newly acquired Nikkor 105mm VR would work with extension tubes as it doesn't have an aperture ring.

[@BandH]

+Tim Grist - If you're looking at the original Nikkor tubes they are not compatible with Nikon G type lenses. Other brands such as Kenko and Vello offer extension tubes with electronic contacts to communicate exposure data and focus distance information. They are all I have recommended for Nikon autofocus shooters as long as I've been doing this. There are not any optics in them so there is no degradation of optical quality with them. See the links below for details on the two brands' extension tube set options. - Yossi bhpho.to/1gSv92G bhpho.to/18FdzXT

[@iUnderdog1]

I just received my extension tube from you guys today and now this comes up in my recommendations. Going to watch it fully when I get home from work.

[@Berus7777]

So much valuable knowledge in this lecture. Mr. Cooper has a true talent for explaining some of the more arcane aspects of optics in a manner which allows us to put these principles to work effectively. Thanks to Mr. Cooper, and thanks to B&H for posting these.

[@dongregor1813]

Fantastic intro into Macro, just started Macro photography and I learned so much watching this, thanks so much🐝

[@MisnadHaque]

Brilliant presentation. Absolutely informative and really enjoyed watching every minute of it. I always thought of the tripod as a hassle for macro photography as setting it up would take forever, but I now realise the importance of it especially when coupled with a rail focuser. What I loved most though was the emphasis around composition as well as background especially via retaining larger apertures. I used to stick to f/22 all the time for macro, but I'll definitely start mixing it up with the focusing methods I've learnt from this video. Thank you!

[@tomallen100]

Really good video, learned a lot. will keep B&h in mind for future purchases, Thanks Guys!!

[@victoriamoskwa3421]

Thanks so much for simplifying the world of Macro! Now, I'm ready for that challenge.

[@margomichellebannister9967]

This was very informative and helped me to understand a lot more about macro photography, light and composition.

[@margaretvandenhul7675]

Thank you this was such a great class it really helped me a lot I love macro thanks for all the great tips

[@yasaisony]

Thank you sir for this great lesson. I have learned much.

[@jamesw.lovem.ed.5912]

One of the funniest things that ever happened to me while shooting was a few days after I got a bellows for my Minolta 201 back in 1981. I had done a few shots with it but wanted to see how close I could go. I found a tiny piece of blue rock (maybe tumbled Lapis) and set it on an over turned paper cup on a window sill. Just as I started to get focused in a little six year old outside started yelling at me not to take his picture. After several minutes of trying to ignore him I stopped and went to the front door, I called him over and told him I wanted to show him what I was actually shooting. When we arrived at the camera I pointed down to the rock. "see that little blue rock?" "OK, so what?" he was angry. "Now look into here on the camera," I pointed to the view finder. "Look at the rock now." "Wow, its huge." I laughed, "you see even if you were standing outside the window you would be too far away to be seen. You could say its a special camera." I later heard that he was bugging his parents to get him a point and shoot. Sometimes the photo bugg is contagious!!!!

[@JackDausman]

Patient, encouraging and tips that are really solid.

[@g0fvt]

An absolutely excellent presentation, thank you for uploading.

[@Sparkalisha]

..I don't do ratio either. Pretty. Click. I'm by no means a professional photographer (nor do I aspire to be, I'm just having fun with my D3100), and I never had a photography class in my life, but I know what I like. What I like is what looks pretty. So that's what I photograph.

[@janlasalle8845]

During this pandemic I went from dance photography to trying my hand at macro...thanks for the tips. I have a 105 macro lens and a Nikon 850 camera which lends itself well....but let me tell you Ive made some hugh mistakes...lots of patience required especially with reflective surfaces...but I practice everyday and have a few images i really like....so zen like...takes me out of this crisis for a few hours each day. Thank you for an excellent tutorial. I miss seeing my friends at BH during this time . Stay safe (April 2020)

[@urismckay2910]

Great lecture. I learned a lot and will use new knowledge this weekend during the snow storm that is expected here in New York City.

[@KVID1000]

An excellent lecture and so very well delivered by Mr Cooper.

[@Bareego]

I've been shooting macro for some years now and have forwarded a link to this video to several places. Very comprehensive and well explained. I learned a couple of things, too :D

[@juanramirezjardua2082]

Thanks. I've learned a lot. I own a canon 100mm and two extension tubes, but my photos were not soo good. Now I understand was I was doing wrong. I'll restart again using this lens.

[@HarshithJV]

Wow! I never thought youtube recommendation to be so good. This is great tutorial recommendation I got. Though a long video, Its simple, clear and detailed. Thanks to Tim Cooper for great workshop.

[@nenadcvetkovski5682]

Thank you so much. I'm amateur in photography and this is the only one lecture that I found on the internet that was useful.

[@kalelissuperman]

B&H thank you so much for this presentation, thanks to it, it got me hook into Macro Photography. I truly appreciate it...

[@stevar4505]

Very well done. Tim covered volumes of information and quickly broke it down (and put all back together very well. This was a somewhat advanced "intro" but I enjoyed it.

[@krellft]

Fantastic seminar ... went into great detail ... I have learnt a lot more ... thanks Tim and B&H ...

[@jackieconnell7183]

This is an amazing lesson on macro photography, thank you!! i just got my 105mm and very excited to get out and try it,this lesson will help me in the future i'm sure.

[@BandH]

+Tanguero5380 The extension tube wouldn't change the calculation you would use to find out DOF. It will still just be a matter of format, focal length, aperture, and distance from the subject. The calculation doesn't change if you need to use an extension tube to be able to focus that close to the subject. So, if you are getting a DOF of 0.067 cm, that would be the same regardless if you needed an extension tube to focus 5 cm from the subject. -Christina- [e-mail]

[@alb41ful]

Wow! Great presentation! Thank you Tim & B&H

[@ronstowell2163]

Best presentation I have seen on this subject!

[@echogod]

There is actually one more way to do macro photography (I know all the lens snobs will scoff at this but I do it a lot). A macro reversing ring is great for magnification of greater than 1:1, and if you have some wide lenses it is a very easy way to also include those lenses in the fun. It's easier to do with Nikon lenses because of the mechanical aperture lever on the lens, and also requires you be in manual mode. It is a little more fickle but you can get some amazing macro shots that you can't get even with some of the most expensive lenses.

[@CharlesUibel]

Holy cow, among the best of the videos

[@glynparry6598]

Agree with all the positive comments.....a first class lecture and I’ve been photographing (not macro even if I have a 105mm lens) for over 10 years. Thank you.

[@supranomicon]

Awesome, thanks for that Tim, really useful information and lovely photos demonstrating each point.

[@SenorGancho]

Tremendous resource Tim. Really opened my eyes to a new aspect of photography. I've done a bit of macro before but I now look back at the lost opportunities. I very much appreciate your teaching style. One aspect I did find a little frustrating was not seeing where your laser pointer was 'pointing' to underscore the point you were making. The examples were brilliant but they would have been that much better if we could have seen where you were focusing/highlighting the learning point. Thank you

[@ChrystianGuy]

"Pretty... click!" Genius!

[@jocliff7387]

Thank you very much. This is was a great tutorial, both interesting and clear. I have learnt so much. Thanks again.

[@MrExel47]

Everything well explained. I always struggle to understand the techniques behind the pictures. thanks a lot!

[@PavelMelnikov1]

Really Great video! All areas perfectly covered. A lot of useful tips.Thank you Tim!

[@Ixodides]

Two things actually made my day. - the relation between extension tubes and focal range (i was like why 24mm with 62mm tubes give better magnification than 100mm with the same amount of tubes, now I know, so thank you) - the rail focuser. I was kind of disappointed you have never mentioned reversing a lens or even using tubes and then reversing a lens at the end of it. Very good lecture anyway. Subscribed.

[@BandH]

Welcome to the group!

[@MsZawojski]

Wow I just learned so much about my new macro lens ! Amazing info! Well worth watching...

[@jonrubio2993]

Great vid, learned a lot. Keep up the awesome seminar vids. Now to put my new 60mmMacro to work!

[@stacyeckelbecker3102]

Thank you! I just purchased my first macro lens and this video was so helpful. Now for practice.

[@BandH]

Glad you enjoyed.

[@xspongeyx]

This video explained so much, and answered a lot of my questions about macro photography :)

[@mohsinjessa8951]

Thanks Tim, nice presentation with some v good points covered. Just one suggestion - I wish the laser pointer was also shown in the video. That would have helped a lot for online viewers.

[@casper1181s]

This video was riveting! I'm a beginner, and this was very helpful, Thank you,

[@rui62nobre]

Thank you so much, was great learning about Macro photography from you.

[@CHixon]

Two simple rail focusers attached 90 degrees to each other will give you back and forth and sideways movement

[@rami8361]

Thank you very very much........ beautiful amazing photos........great tutorial.........VERY HELPFUL

[@1solorainforest]

Very informative lecture... as a Naturalist photog im still learning.. thanks B&H

[@freddyfredrickson]

Thanks for this video. This video has helped me a lot when it comes to understanding macro.

[@AeroPR]

Amazing class and instructor!

[@meetyoge]

Hi, Nice explanation I am Using High speed camera, right now I am Using Nikon 18-55 mm lens. Because some constraint my working distance is @ 1000 mm, I want to focus an area @ 3mmX 3mm, could you please suggest

[@manuelzenteno2]

THANKS!! learned alot with this video.

[@SyedKollol]

That was the best youtube experience...Thanks a lot.

[@aaron4784]

Great video and very informative for a complete novice like myself.

[@bloodmoney88]

I use full frame lenses on an APSC camera, which cuts much vignetting. I find that helpful in work flow.

[@germanugarte5288]

Best lecture ever...

[@veedubrep]

Thank you guys for making this it's very informative and it's helped me a lot!

[@nizamali4378]

This is an amazing lesson on macro photography, thank you!!

[@sheridanprice9821]

Wow. Lots of info. Especially good on ideas for improvements that can make a decent photo better. Good overview of hardware but doesn't get bogged down in it.

[@yevgeniyskachko5793]

One thing that I didn't hear was, how tube extensions effect "f" number of a lens. As I understand, the more you put tube extensions on lens the bigger the maximum aperture opening ( f) number you will get. For example: if I have a 60mm lens with maximum aperture opening of f1.8, and I add a tube extension between camera and lens, thus increasing my maximum opening f number to, let's say f2.8. So the lens is no more 60mm f1.8 but now it's a 60mm f2.8. So the more tube extensions you add, the less light you will get at the widest opening of a lens. And that's one more disadvantage to the tube extension.