Macro photography during lockdown (with the Sigma 105mm f2.8 Macro Lens)

Macro photography in the garden during the coronavirus lockdown - Many of us are turning to macro photography during the current lockdown, and as macro photography is a subject we have been aiming to do a lot more of on our youtube channel lately, I decided this was the perfect excuse to get out into the garden and try my hand at photographing insects and flowers using our new Sigma 105mm f2.8 lens.
In this video I use the following:
Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro lens:
amzn.to/3dMvAM9
Neewer TT560 Speedlight Flash (A brilliant inexpensive flash that does the job for just £29.99)
amzn.to/2T1EFIN
Canon 5D Mark III
amzn.to/2T0nqro
This excellent video by Another Perspective shows how you can make a diffuser like the one I used in this video:
• DIY - Create Awesome F...
Disclaimer:
This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission. This help support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

[@shanewillliams8839]

Thank you for sharing. The images you shared are fantastic. You should do more. Congratulations on the new home. Your garden looks like a wonderful place to stay home, stay safe. Stay well.

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you very much Shane! I really appreciate the feedback, and will definitely be doing more of this. I hope that you're keeping well and safe as well, thanks for watching! Sam.

[@touchedbynature5445]

Beautiful Photographs. Many thanks for sharing.

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you very much!

[@colinshomepage1214]

I just purchased this lens and have found your video and channel very helpful , thank you

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you very much, I'm glad you found the video useful. It really is a great lens, I hope you enjoy using it! S.

[@wilkbor]

Thanks for the video. Macro is the thing to do when you're on lockdown. I respect your resourcefulness.

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you very much Keefe! S.

[@ashstubbings2603]

My friend, you have just gained yourself another subscriber! I was 3 minutes into the video, saw the images of the Forget-Me-Not's and thought "Wow!!"

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you very much Ash, I really appreciate that! I'm hoping to do a lot more macro work on this channel, I've really been enjoying it during this lockdown. S.

[@carltanner9065]

Love macro photography. You get a sense of accomplishment being able to track down and take pics of what can be very elusive critters. I have extension tubes, macro "filters" and lenses for various cameras. But, I mainly use my Olly EM-1 and either a 60 or 30mm macro lens. When it rains here, the grass grows really long, so before I cut it, I go out with my lens and camera and go chasing down the bugs and such that get in the grass.. I also get finches coming in for the grass seeds, so I get out the telephoto and get shots of them in the grass. The last few years, there's been a lot of butterflies and native bees hanging about, as well. So, I've been getting shots of those, too. For dragon and mayflies, I go down the creek at the local park. Also get really good shots of the lillies and other plants in the creek. Sometimes, some of the native fish turn up so I try and get pics of those as well.

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you Carl, yes definitely, there’s something about the process of Macro photography that really makes you slow down and appreciate these little worlds, I find it hugely therapeutic! I should definitely do a lot more of it, we’re just moving to a new house this week that has quite a big garden and is surrounded by woodlands, so I’m really looking forward to exploring it all with the macro lens! S

[@trevorwright6165]

hello sam and Hannah that was wonderful great photos and told in a nice relaxing voice it was so relaxing all the best from trev indoors on lockdown in Sussex

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you very much Trevor, really appreciate that! I've certainly been appreciating having this garden during the lockdown. I hope you are keeping well and safe, and that things get a lot better soon! Sam.

[@thelaird1]

Thank you

[@marktaylor9579]

Beautiful images Sam, and thanks for the flash diffuser 'hack', I'll see if I can repicate it in the next couple of days. Stay safe.

[@BosePhotography]

Thanks Mark! I'd definitely recommend the diffuser. I'd planned to buy something that looked a bit smarter but couldn't find any that could be delivered quickly at the moment. The DIY version did the trick perfectly! S.

[@juliangreaves4727]

Nice to see you back on the Tube Sam. What a gorgeous garden you have! Loved the shield bug photo. Best wishes, J

[@BosePhotography]

Thanks Julian! We only moved in a few weeks ago so I'm hoping we can keep it looking nice! It is a lovely place though, we're very lucky to have it at the moment. It was great to see your macro shots on instagram, it's definitely something I hope to do a lot more of! S.

[@adrianvalentin]

Some really nice shots there! I've found myself turning to Macro during the first lockdown as well... Video in my case, all about ladybirds, and learned a lot in the process.

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you Adrian, it's a fascinating world once you get into it! I must try shooting more video myself. S.

[@davidknowles5519]

Lovely shots Sam you have a lovely garden we don’t have so many plants so resorting to some abstract art photos which is fun. Take care you two.

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you David! Yes, we're extremely lucky to have it. I must try doing some more abstract macro images as well though, sounds like a lot of fun! S.

[@UKRichardHK]

I bought this lens partly after watching this video and having to do quarantine in an old flat where there were plenty of insects to photograph! I generally like the lens and have achieved my best macro results so far from it. Though I'm not yet used to such a shallow depth of field. Even when the subject is a few feet away and i get a good focus on the head the wings will still be blurred and changing the f stop only makes a slight difference.

[@BosePhotography]

Hi Richard, I'm glad to hear you have been having some success with the lens, and that this video helped you to make your decision! Narrow depth of field can be an issue with macro, whichever lens you use, and even at higher f stops (I don't go over f/18 as you start to see diffraction). Focus stacking usually seems to be the only way to ensure eyes and wings are both in focus but this is often impossible if the insects are moving. If your insects are relatively stationary though it might be worth thinking about buying an inexpensive macro slider (Neewer have one on amazon that I use and it's great!), you then slide the lens and camera forward/back to focus on different planes and stack the images in photoshop. Personally, I quite like the effect of narrow depth of field in many images though! S.

[@glamfate]

What is an affordable flash for my Canon 600D for good macro shots? I already own this lens! Amazing shots!!

[@BosePhotography]

Thanks Steffie! The flash I used in this video was a Neewer TT560 (amzn.to/2T1EFIN). They used to be a bit cheaper, but you can still pick them up on Amazon for about £50. You could also try the Yongnuo 560 flashes, which are a bit more, but are slightly better quality I believe. Both the Neewer and Yongnuo are manual flashes. They do TTL versions if you prefer, but they cost a bit more and the manual flashes are perfectly adequate once you get the hang of them. Another option if you wanted a bit more functionality is to buy second hand. I have a Canon 580 EXII TTL flash that I bought second hand as I wanted to try using rear curtain sync, but to be honest, I normally prefer using the Neewer! Sam.

[@KerstenPhoto]

Very nice and informative macro photography video. Thank you for sharing this.

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you very much for watching Kersten! S.

[@clivejepsen4078]

Its really a lovely garden. Thank you und take care of yourselves. Greetings from Germany.

[@BosePhotography]

Thanks Clive, yes we are very lucky to have it, especially at the moment! We hope you are keeping well. Sam.

[@arniet1]

Nice shots. Slightly off topic but where did you get that music from? It's great. Slightly reminds one of Inception

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you Arnie! The music is actually my own, my main hobby before photography was music so I try to use my own in most of our videos. I don't think compliments can get much better than a comparison to Hans Zimmer, so thank you very much! :) Sam.

[@JoeMaranophotography]

Haha that is an odd looking but effective combination! I do want a macro lens but I have an endless shopping list so I think it needs to be at the back somewhere haha. Nice shots, lovely colours :)

[@BosePhotography]

Thanks Joe! Ah, the old shopping list conundrum! I'd definitely recommend it, but it's taken us a while to get around to buying a specific macro lens. We were using an extension tube for quite a while, they're a good budget option and we'd recoomend getting hold of some ;)

[@JoeMaranophotography]

I might have to eventually although I think photography in 2020 has been cancelled for me so won't be needing anything anyway 😂

[@ianspicer1529]

Really enjoyable and relevant video Sam, lots of good shots and tips too - thank you. There can be no doubt, flower/macro photography has certainly saved my bacon through this lockdown time so far - I've also learned a lot and - above all I think - learned to really appreciate all the detail in my local area....and by 'local' I do mean the area around me that I can reach on foot. In that regard, although not one I would have chosen for any of us, this has been an interesting learning experience. Keep safe both.

[@BosePhotography]

Thanks Ian, yes, I know what you mean. Despite all the difficulties I've really appreciated being able to take a few short walks locally in the mornings before starting work and getting to know this area a bit better. I'd never normally have time to do that with the commute into Oxford. We're really lucky to have some stunning wildlife and landscapes right here on our doorstep and I'm hoping we'll be able to explore a bit more and make the most of it once things get a bit better. S.

[@Brenda-xc7sq]

Those were lovely shots, all of them. I love macro too so I would enjoy more from you and Hannah on this genre. It looks a lot easier than searching out hares but I also love the hare shots you both make.

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you Brenda! Yes, definitely a bit easier than trying to photograph hares! We do love it though, we'll definitely try and make a few more macro videos. We do actually have some pet rabbits as well and I know Hannah is hoping to do some macro images of them so perhaps that would be a good way of combining the two! We hope you are keeping well. S.

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

Nice work Sam. Great macro work

[@BosePhotography]

Thanks Paul! Hope you guys are keeping well! S.

[@JamieOverland]

Lovely images Sam. I have that lens but it got water damaged so I don't use it now which is a shame. Hoping now to get into the trees this weekend though as things have been relaxed!

[@BosePhotography]

Hi Jamie, that's such a shame. I've been really impressed by the quality of the images so far, although i'm not sure I'll be able to put it through the hard weather that my other lenses normally have to put up with (it's Hannah's lens, so I definitely need to look after it!). Would it be worth fixing your one? Yes, I'm really looking forward to having a bit of a longer walk this weekend hopefully! S.

[@JamieOverland]

Sam and Hannah Bose Photography I did send it off for fixing but came back with a weird halo around the images. If I’m honest I gave up with it at that point. Hope you’ve both settled in well now....looks a lovely garden 😊

[@ehmaho]

Wonderful

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed it! S.

[@mcvideoeditingandphotograp4560]

Hi can I use this lens on my canon M50?? Thank you so much 😊 Stay safe 👍

[@BosePhotography]

Hi, yes you can! You will need an EF-EOS M mount adapter though. I have used it on my M50 for video work, and I use an adapter made by Viltrox (£38.90 on amazon: amzn.to/3d9Lgvr (affiliate link). Sam.

[@mcvideoeditingandphotograp4560]

@@BosePhotography thank you so much Sam 👍👍👍 Regarding Martin

[@BosePhotography]

@@mcvideoeditingandphotograp4560 no problem Martin, good luck! 👍

[@paulinap-k8409]

That diffuser reminded me of The Handmade Tales :) Btw I have maybe stupid question but I am new to macro photography, why to use a flash outside? I hate use the build in flash because always photos looks super overexposed and I hate trying for half an hour different settings, upper the shutter or lower iso :/

[@BosePhotography]

Haha, yes it is just like a set of angel wings! Not a stupid question at all. Indeed I often don't bother with a flash, you certainly don't need to use a flash to get some great pictures. However it can really help to provide a nice flat lighting of your subject as long as it is being diffused correctly, and it is especially useful if you want to use a low ISO and small aperture to obtain the best quality images. Built in flashes are never normally very effective, and I'm not a fan of ring lights either. This is a really useful video by Another Perspective that shows the difference between using different flashes with or without diffusers that you may find really helpful (it is also where I found the details of how to make my diffuser): kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJ-0fJlnf7N8mrs Blessed be the fruit ;) Sam.

[@paulinap-k8409]

@@BosePhotography thank you! I actually watched that yesterday 😊 I binged watch many videos to better understand lighting for macro. Now I know that for my type of photography I would need few spotlights so I can take a picture in the dark room pointing only at subject :) May the Lord open 😅

[@orbmiser8333]

Nice share as considering this lens for my Nikon D500 over the Tamron 90mm due mostly price point of being much cheaper. And also you got me thinking about flash. So wouldn't a ring flash better suited for out about? As will be pulling in out of a messenger bag with big pocket camera insert. Thanks for sharing images. As that is the question in my mind. Is the Tamron 90mm that much sharper at 2x the price? I'm thinking that is not the case. Also what music was that? Royalty free? As looking for music tracks for making slideshows of my images.

[@BosePhotography]

Thanks for watching! I haven't tried the Tamron, so can't really provide much info on how it compares I'm afraid, but I have hired the much more expensive Canon 100mm L series in the past, and whilst the Canon was brilliant (as you'd expect from £900+ lens), I have to say that I have been blown away by the quality of the images from the Sigma and don't regret going for the cheaper option at all. For the price I think it's a bargain. With regards the ring flash, Another Perspective (who did the YT tutorial on how to make this diffuser) also made a video comparing ring flash with the diffuser which I found really helpful (this is the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJ-0fJlnf7N8mrs). When I made this diffuser, I used a knotted bit of elastic that can be easily detached so it can go flat in the camera bag, and I really think the quality of diffuse light you get from using it is much better than the light you get from a ring flash. It can be a pain I guess to fit it when pulling the camera out of the bag, but I think the improvement in image quality justfies the hassle! The music is my own by the way, but if you're looking for some good royalty free tracks I'd recommend a website called bensound. I haven't published my tracks for use yet I'm afraid, but perhaps I should! ;) Thanks, Sam.

[@orbmiser8333]

@@BosePhotography Yep just ordered few days ago. One a Godox TT350n flash which I have received. And a fabric slip on lens diffuser coming from China. My Sigma 105 is setting in the Fedex sort facility here in Portland,Or. Should get tomorrow or Tues. So thanks for your insights. And will be in learning curve. As only other macro I have is the Nikon 28-105 f3.5-f4.5 1:2 macro that I bought for $130 couple of years back.

[@Aurora07]

I do like my sigma 105mm but the auto focus is so painfully slow and clunky I'm almost always using in manual mode anyway. Great looking photos btw!

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you! Yes I agree, the autofocus is a bit painful sometimes! I find manual focus seems to work better most of the time though with macro so it hasn't bothered me too much yet, but it might if I start using the lens for other things! S.

[@andredo4880]

Do you use aby filter on it?

[@BosePhotography]

Not for these images, no.

[@Alan-tz7lj]

Great video. I really enjoyed it. The background music is really beautiful. Can you tell me who it is?

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you very much Alan! The music is actually my own, another hobby of mine in addition to photography so it's always nice to receive a compliment for it! I just record the odd short bit for the KZbin channel to avoid having to pay any royalties, I'm afraid I haven't released it anywhere yet! Sam.

[@Alan-tz7lj]

@@BosePhotography Wow, I'm impressed! You are very talented, both in your music and photographic skills!

[@richardjones4080]

stunning shots I have and I have to say love this lens although i have shot more canine portrait than macro so far

[@BosePhotography]

Thanks Richard, I have been amazingly impressed with it. We were toying with buying the Canon 100mm L series equivalent but so glad we didn't now. It must be great for canine portraits, Hannah was using it on our pet rabbits recently! S.

[@richardjones4080]

@@BosePhotography absolutely stunning piece of kit

[@oneeyedphotographer]

That diffuser would not work with my MP-E 65. I have used an A4 piece of paper wrapped around my speedlight and pointed the speedlight up. That does work, but needs some refinement. A flash on a stand works pretty well, and you get the same illumination shot after shot. There's a new channel might interest you, Look Closer. Mathew is making videos about how to find small animals. You won't find any peacock spiders, those are all ours, but there are others.

[@BosePhotography]

Hi John, thanks for watching, we hope you're keeping well. We hired the MP-E 65 recently and were considering buying one, it is an amazing lens! Hannah was using it to photograph minerals in a lightbox which worked really well, but I also experimented with some off camera flash which seemed like a good way to go with it as you say. I have just subscribed to Matthew's channel, thanks for letting us know! It looks fantastic. I wish we did have Peacock spiders over here, but having said that I'm glad we don't have all of the spiders that are in Autralia here in the UK! Not sure about those funnel webs! Sam.

[@oneeyedphotographer]

@@BosePhotography Those are on the other side of the country. I think. I've never seen one or heard of anyone being bitten by one. Redbacks are plentiful. Paul Irvine lives near me, he regularly shoots peacock spiders. One bears his name. Laowa has some interesting lenses, including one that goes to 5x. Might be worth asking whether you can have on for review.

[@Justsum1Else]

Looks like wild garlic, aka Alliaria petiolata.

[@BosePhotography]

Ah, so it is, than you very much! We don't seem to have so much coming up this year! S.

[@nftworld54]

Hi, will that lens would work with M50 mirrorless camera?

[@BosePhotography]

Hi Auhyn, yes I think you can if you use an adapter (I believe it is the EF-EOS M adapter that's needed). I haven't tried though, I use an M50 for my video but don't have the adapter so haven't tried any of my EF lenses with it. The Canon fit version of the lens has a standard EF mount though, so I am sure it would work with the adapter. Sam.

[@WayneIrish]

Nice video . Subbed.

[@BosePhotography]

Thank you very much Wayne! Glad you liked the video, we should have some macro content coming up soon. S.

[@-WhizzBang-]

What is that music you used?

[@BosePhotography]

Hi, it's actually my own music, I record my own bits of music for the channel. Many thanks! Sam.

[@-WhizzBang-]

@@BosePhotography good vid. And I liked that music.