Doing THIS let me get better macro photos (tutorial with ideas, lighting, focus)

In this macro photography tutorial I share some of my tips, tricks and ideas for finding and taking better macro images, from using lighting to help my close up subjects stand out, to using easy hand-held manual focus stacking to get a sharp image. I show how I changed my usual tactics, studying one small area to help me find more images and how being patient let me get more from my photography.
My focus stacking techniques here involved setting my lens to manual focus, switching my Canon R5 to burst mode and firing away while either moving the camera forwards slightly or turning the focus wheel on my 100mm macro lens. Then, I simply pieced them together in Helicon Focus to get the shot I wanted.
I used the Zhiyun Fiveray V60 light stick for some of my images, although I lost some of my footage of it in use so I expect I'll talk more about this macro lighting solution in a later video.
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00:01 - Intro
00:41 - Finding macro photos
00:57 - Woodland macro photography
01:10 - Slow down to find images
01:44 - Red insects getting sexy
02:02 - Zhiyun Fiveray V60 LED light
02:48 - Watching insects, bees and butterflies
03:08 - Relaxing in nature
03:38 - Shallow depth of field macro
04:03 - Manual focus stacking for macro
05:02 - Too windy for macro
05:54 - Wide aperture bokeh
06:43 - Burst mode for focus stacking
07:15 - How to find macro photos
#macro #photography #tutorial

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

I loved finding those orange bugs. What's your favourite macro subject?

[@tamarawilliams3699]

Bugs for sure are my favorite. Since I’ve been practicing macro shooting I have found there are a lot of varieties of bees. Some are as tiny as large ants. I do enjoy tiny flowers as well. I think for me I am at that place where I just like taking photos of little things that I find interesting. My friends enjoy the stories of what the tiny bugs were doing before the shot. I have become a huge fan of nature while also becoming very passionate about photography. Thanks for another lovely video. Have a great week.

[@850Tech]

Burst while twisting the focus barrel that's quite cool. Thanks

[@laurelb8372]

It’s nice to slow down and enjoy the small intimate details in nature 👌

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

It certainly is! Thanks for watching!

[@kimyunan]

I like your macro photography. Please upload a lot of videos related to macro phoyography :)

[@klaustomasini]

orange bug, possible: Rhagonycha fulva, common red soldier beetle, populary known as hogweed bonking beetle or misleading known as bloodsucker beetle.

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Good knowledge! "Bonking" definitely sounds about right!!

[@skydragox]

Really good to know! Thanks!

[@galesaunders4120]

Great video, sometimes we get so hung up in life about the bigger picture we forget about the little things, it was a brilliantly chilled out presentation, thank you

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Thanks so much,Gale, I really appreciate that!

[@pdel7007]

I'll have a go at the manual focus stacking. Nothing to lose. I often do a burst just to try and get one in focus as the breeze pushes the subject about. I've been shooting with my lens hood on and now might remove it as at times the subject is almost in it ! I too prefer a little LED close to the subject .

[@rogersteele9890]

Great video with awesome macro results, I would certainly be interested in a start to finish tutorial on the handheld burst mode you use including the editing process.

[@dontgetmadgetwise4271]

There are many focus stacking tutorials on the Tube. Common software can readily handle stacks of a few steady images, but deep stacks of many images can demand mastery of tools like Zerene Stacker. Much time to learn and much time to execute. Worth it? Your call.

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Thanks so much! I've done various ones on exactly this before but I'll certainly keep it in mind to do a more thorough start to finish process.

[@colinbrewer6507]

Fascinating listening to you Andrew yet some more great insights in to Macro

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Thanks Colin, much appreciated! Any shots you particularly like from this one?

[@colinbrewer6507]

I must admit its the use of light and the softness you create in the shot I love

[@AndrewHoyle]

@@colinbrewer6507 thank you!

[@jeanscotland7749]

Always look forward to your videos

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Thank you, I hope you enjoyed this one!

[@jeanscotland7749]

@@AndrewLanxonPhotography I enjoy them all, always look forward to your Sunday videos

[@newtuber4freedom43]

Awesome as always!!

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Thank you!!

[@cheungching9430]

❤ Any tips on setting of the R5 auto bracketing?🎉🎉

[@cifuentesphotos]

Hi Andrew. So you don't use that big diffusers that we normally see in macro photography? If not, why? Thank you for another great video.

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

I sometimes use diffusers, particularly when working with flash although I don't use those on camera hoods many seem to use. But I don't like my flash being on camera as it gives a really flat light. All of the shots in this video were taken either with an led light stick or natural light so no diffusers required. Thanks for watching!

[@TobiasKochs-r6ii]

@@AndrewLanxonPhotography can you link the light stick you use ? i have been looking for something like that for a while but i dont know which one offers the light im looking for but i feel like yours would be a good pick for me

[@judilecompte9377]

Interesting focus technique by moving toward your subject while shooting. Did you do that with at-c and sitting on the shutter button?

[@KatieCollins1]

That was very relaxing to watch! Those little purple flowers are especially sweet. Do you know what they are?

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

Thank you! It was quite relaxing to film, to be honest! And I've no idea on the flower names in afraid. Maybe I need to carry an identification book with me as well as a flash!

[@newtuber4freedom43]

@@AndrewLanxonPhotography it's easier to drop a crop in google or bing and find out the plants, fungi & lil live things! I will admit, I too like to know what I am snapping even if it's after the fact! What camera do you use? I have been trying to take stackable images like you, but my camera has a similar but clunky function and I am hoping to upgrade at some point. Thank you for all you do! Always inspirational!

[@h.j.schingenga1189]

Probably Herb Robert, great little flower for macro!

[@scarcesense6449]

#bugporn I managed to capture a couple of tiny bumble bee coloured flies mating in mid air one time.

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

I bet that hashtag has too many things attached to it! That sounds like a very tricky shot to capture!

[@scarcesense6449]

@@AndrewLanxonPhotography Not as tricky as you might think. They're called hover flies cos they hover in place like a drone. They're more steady than a bug on a leaf as it blows in the wind.

[@SmolStufff]

Nice video! You don't like the look you get when you use flash? Personally I use flash for almost all of my pictures of insects.

[@AndrewLanxonPhotography]

I love the look and I use flash most of the time, but sometimes I like to keep things more simple, especially when I'm hand holding the camera and don't want to have to juggle off camera flash. Other times I'll really lean into my flash and try and carve out those nice shadows! Thanks for watching!

[@SmolStufff]

@@AndrewLanxonPhotography I see. Sometimes I would like another person to hold my flash for me when I'm taking a picture. If they could lug the rest of the gear too that would be ideal. :)

[@AndrewHoyle]

@@SmolStufff you and me both. One of these days I'll hire an assistant so I can become even more lazy

[@benjamenwitaker5437]

"promosm"