Composition in Extreme Macro Photography

Program Description - Composition in Extreme Macro Photography
This is a long, detailed video all about the difficult subject of composition when photographing tiny subjects. Even at this length there was barely enough time to scratch the surface and we will take a closer look at specific examples in future videos.
This is going to be my last long video. After careful consideration I have decided to change my approach to sharing my knowledge and experience with my KZbin audience (you!). I realize that very few people have the time to spend on full length, deep dive videos, especially if they include a little rambling. So from this point forward I am going to be trying a very different approach to making videos that should be just as helpful to those interested in macro photography, but will be much more condensed, and a lot shorter. I will still be doing deep dive videos and they will either be released as a series of shorter pieces or available in full on Patreon. I hope you like the changes and that the new format works for you - if it doesn’t, please let me know!
ME & MY GEAR
(or my gear and I)
When in the studio I use the Nikon D850 as my main camera - amzn.to/3zEznWK
It is always wearing a gorgeous black device called a 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom - my favorite video and portrait lens - amzn.to/3zzaoUy
Other cameras that are used as needed include a Nikon D7500 - amzn.to/371KoFe
A Nikon D3400 for emergencies - amzn.to/3xbwXgu
A Fujifilm XT-2, with a battery grip - amzn.to/3l3Agnw
Without any Fuji glass, I use a TS adapter from Kipon and any Nikkor lens I like - it is an awesome TS adapter - amzn.to/2Vikjze
I use Audio Technica shotgun microphones in the studio, - amzn.to/3iQLNnv
but I also have a Pro Caster from Australian mic-maker Rode - amzn.to/3rDPqkx
who also make my DSLR microphone - amzn.to/3iTxfU6
and my wireless microphone system - amzn.to/371C8oD
I record all my sound separately onto the awesome Zoom H5 Digital Audio Recorder. - amzn.to/3BM8aTG
I forgot to mention my trusty GoPro Hero 8 Black, complete with the Media Mod for on the go video - amzn.to/2UScm3J & amzn.to/3l3Desa
That is just some of the stuff I use - if you have any questions about my macro gear, or my recording equipment, just ask.
All my audio, music and sound effects comes for Epidemic Sound - I have been with them for about 3 years and they are pretty awesome - www.epidemicsound.com
All the photography you see on my channel, in my videos and on my website, was done by me. I tell you that so that you know I would never blame another photographer for my photographic mediocrity. But I love taking pictures, so I do.
FIND ME HERE
You want to hang out somewhere else on the internet? Here is how you can find me on:
Instagram: / old_dog_new_trix
Flickr: www.flickr.com...
Twitter: / allanwalls
Discord: This is an invitation… come on over and meet the rest of the gang! / discord
My website: www.allanwalls...
SUPPORT ME HERE
If you would like to support my work, you can do so in any of the following ways:
by becoming a Patreon patron - / allanwallsphotography
By making a donation to the video assistance fund on my website www.allanwalls...
You could buy me a cup of coffee via PayPal, but clicking on www.paypal.me/...
If you wanted to help me without having to give me anything, you could use this link when you go shopping on Amazon - that is it, you don’t have to do anything else but you will have helped the channel pay the bills - the link is amzn.to/3eV74vk

[@geekone4541]

You are an absolutely brilliant teacher, from the way you speak, calmly, methodically, slowly, with a dose of good humor and enormous knowledge and experience, thanks to you and your films for my 40th birthday instead of a motorcycle I have a camera (wife is more than happy) and now I walk around the neighborhood and in neighbors' gardens collecting all kinds of bugs in tiny containers with alcohol so that I have something to photograph in winter (when they ask me why I tell them that its Allan's fault) it will take me some time to assemble the entire stand and learn how to use it. I beg you, continue this mission of explaining to people like me from which side to bite entering the world of ultra macro.

[@MrGuit12]

Hi Allan, the two important words i learned today are "happy accidents". Thank you, Sir.

[@AnaaNis1233]

This kind of long videos is a thing of the past. Well, that didn't age well, did it? But who cares? We love your videos, every minute.

[@michaelranger9104]

Was hooked from start to finish ......the last section not only covered the topic but in my humble opinion life as well thank you for your in-site it would appear there is some one else thinking along the same lines...

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Thanks Michael - I get pretty passionate about this topic when working with my students - it is very hard to teach but worth all the effort when it clicks!

[@NJM1948]

Excellent indeed. I do like macro work but not extreme macro as I don't have the equipment!! Very well articulated piece that kept my attention throughout.

[@OwenEDell]

I think a lot about the relationship between playfulness and creativity. For me they go hand in hand. If I'm not in the mood to play, then it's not a good time to try to create something. It's also interesting to consider the role of the analytical side of ourselves, which is in many ways the antithesis of the creative, playful side. The technical demands of photography call on us to be analytical even if it's a weak part of our psyches. But once we have the technical problems resolved then it's time to drop the left brain stuff and get down to the joyful richness of our playful selves. For me that's when the fun starts, the freedom and the delight and the surprises. One can start asking, "What else can I do here?"

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Thanks Owen - you certainly have mastered that balance of creativity and fun, as so many of your daily posts demonstrate - keep up the good work!

[@OwenEDell]

@@AllanWallsPhotography Thanks, Allan. I guess it's all proof that life itself is a fine art.

[@Beatsy]

An excellent subject - and well done too! There is a tendency to "disregard" composition in macro, and extreme macro particularly. Not always and not by everyone, of course, but it's much more prevalent in macro than in other photography genres IMO. I think it stems from the inherent difficulty of even capturing a macro or extreme macro subject while getting all the right bits in focus etc. It's a thrill to succeed, especially for those just starting out, and the "technicals" are often the only criteria used to judge the "goodness" of the outcome. This is further reinforced when you post your images online, as others tend to use the same, narrow technical criteria in their feedback. You end up with just record shots, as "normal" togs would disparagingly call them. I shook this tendency with a little exercise I tried, and now regularly practice. It's fun. Go out with a small fixed-focus copy lens attached to your camera, or a low-power objective, or simply a macro lens fixed at closest focus. Fix your aperture at f/5.6 (for a macro lens) too, adjusting ISO and shutter speed to suit. Then try to capture "pleasing" images with it. Single shots first, and progress to handheld focus bracketing later (stacking in post). It's hard, frustrating work to start with, but once you bag your first "wow" image, you'll never look back. Composition, plus overall look and feel (style) very quickly assumes equal importance to all those technical bits. A good habit to foster.

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Well said Steve - sounds like we have both arrived at the same conclusion - only thing I would add is to always stay open to surprises! Thanks!

[@victormultanen1981]

Such an impotrant topic to discuss!

[@dunnymonster]

I really liked your finished result here despite your own disappointment. I would have brought that image into Photoshop and blurred the wings to give the impression you caught the bug in flight! OK I accept getting this depth of field in real life from a real bug flying would be impossible but it would have really given that image the Wow factor in my opinion 😊

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Good idea and I might have done that, but the idea was to share the image as it was, so I was reluctant to fiddle with it (though I will now). Liking an image is so subjective and this just shows that a technically sound picture is not always enough. But thank you!

[@onegreenev]

I have no issue with long videos as long as the content is usable. A little contrast from angle of light will almost always give some interest and depth to an otherwise boring photo. I also like adding more to the background to give the subject a space to move into like I do with much of my regular photography. I'll do that with my latest humming bird pic. I did not give it enough background negative space.

[@electrolyteblend]

I love the long videos

[@timoohlsen]

Great presentation! Thank you Dr. Allan. Did I spot some foam/ shock absorber at the corners of your rig by any chance!? What a genius idea! Does it make a noticeable difference? I might try it out myself. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and keep up the good work.

[@mark1hancock]

Some great ideas thanks. What is that small platform that you place the specimen on and raise and lower to the height you want? I'm sure that would come in handy

[@johnlambe2912]

Love your channel. But diffusers diffusers diffusers. I seem to remember a video on the godox macro flash where a certain Mr Walls recommended we didn’t use the diffusers that were supplied with the flash 😀😀 . Sorry but it’s the first thing I usually throw away and couldn’t help but notice.

[@TeezoDouble]

I noticed that too but he is using a double diffusion with the tracing paper to spread it out. It would not work without the paper 'tunnel'.

[@havefunwithmacrophotograph3839]

nice presentation

[@draknagar]

Your this tutorial has put me out of the rut of keep on producing document like shot instead of its art component. Right now I could see the importance of composition and arrangement of lights. One thing is not clear to me Allan, the test shot at 17:28 min time was having not only light bouncing at posterior end but a couple of legs also were out of focus; but the next shot with readjusting the light, the shot taken at 17:48 the whole wasp is in focus with no light bouncing. Did you readjusted the aperture and focus or you could do it by repositioning of light and intensity? Please help 😊🙏

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Hi Arun - well spotted! I did not notice that the clips were out of order a=until after the video was edited. The out of focus shot was actually the camera I was filming the D7500 with and I should have used the actual photograph to demonstrate, but the point I was making was simply to make your adjustments one at a time until you have built up the effect you are looking for. That's all. I meant to show that the wasp face was dark with only one light, but balanced with light #2. I need to work out a better second camera so that this doesn't happen but the iPhone would cut off every few minutes without me knowing and I am always losing clips because of it. By the way, because I was so focused on the composition, I shot every test shot at something like f/14 before I noticed - so in the actual shots I reset the aperture and had to down regulate both lights and the background. Sorry for the confusion!

[@havefunwithmacrophotograph3839]

think 2mm step enough as its close up but why do you think its boring dont get the idea?!