Macro Photography Tips: Choosing Not to get the Whole Insect in Sharp Focus

[@nigelbramley4188]

The final comment you made about how tiring it is, is so true. Either I'm dim or your a genius, but knee pads? You've changed my macro life. Bloomin' marvellous sir!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Lol. Yeah, I'm starting to feel my age a bit more so... kneepads it is.

[@ianpawson1356]

Great video again, good to see more of these

[@ianjefferson694]

Enjoyed this. It makes me realize that as much as I struggle with macro photography it is all about persistence.

[@tomlee812]

I've not tried this type of alternative focusing, I've always tried to get as much as possible of the insect sharp as possible. To me, the eyes are the most critical aspect of any insect photo that I take, but you've made me think.

[@grahamhopkinson1816]

The light is gorgeous ascwell Paul

[@pdel7007]

I think most of us come to this subject where it is regarded as good to have maximum D.O.F and to make sure the eye at least is in focus. It is a real technical challenge. I use servo autofocus on my R6 and RF100. I often shoot in a burst hoping at least one will be in focus. I've recently come across the idea of manual fixed focus and using a little bit of your own movement to do a burst with the idea of focus stacking afterwards. If I can be certain the subject is still and I am not moving then one shot focus can work. I fully appreciate you wanting to introduce some sort of creative art into your shots. It can be very subjective what works and what doesn't. It's great to see how you deploy your skills and equipment, inspiring us to have a go. 👍

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts - and I appreciate the kind comments.

[@alanwinkley8811]

Loved this video Paul. Please do more and a separate video on macro lenses equipment and getting started would be fabulous. Cheers Paul take care.

[@adude394]

Very cool! Just this morning I was trying like crazy to get a spider in its web in focus, with little success until I switched to my 40mm pancake lens. I'm looking forward to watching your video on extension tubes.

[@abwelbergen9277]

HiPaul, i'am Ab from the Netherlands. Please more of this kind of macro photography. Thanks.

[@shelleystoneman]

Lensbaby is great for that type of macro photography. They make a composer pro ii that bends and tilts, so you can tilt it to the angle of the insect and it is so helpful, you can also choose different optics to go inside it, like 50mm soft focus or sweet optic (for sweet spot of focus. )You can also use a macro filter or their extension tubes that go behind the optics, it works great for wind or awkward situations with insects. I use it in those situations often as a straight lens is harder. Lensbaby also makes velvet soft focus straight lenses and they are great for artistic creativity in camera for a soft focus painterly look. They make them for the Canon RF mount and they are all manual focus. I always enjoy your videos. 😊

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thanks very much for sharing the info. And thanks for your kind comments too!

[@nsbhagwat]

Yes, we need more macro...

[@picapica42]

I love doing macro, but have been struggling this year for the reason you mention. You always end up with the same kind of photo, which after a while isn't very exciting. I quite often already use shallow DOF, but hadn't thought about focusing on different areas. I'll be sure to give it a try!

[@shlomoeshet8525]

I find your Abstract approach quite fascinating. The shallow DOF is often an issue for me when taking macro shots handheld. Many times when I photograph insects outdoors there's the dilemma whether to take a single shot focusing on the eye(s) or try focus stacking. Unfortunately, so far the latter (handheld) is not satisfactory. I still have hopes to get better but now I'll try your approach too. Thanks.

[@nightwolf1592]

Yes please, more of this. I’m brand new to photography, only a few months and I have a Panasonic TZ95 with a fixed lens so limited to what it (and me) are capable of. Macro is something I’ve discovered and love. Thankfully my camera is pretty good at it. I’m doing mini projects such as ‘rewilding’ on a mini scale such as the rotting top of a gate post with all the fungi and mosses. And using a lens ball for fun shots. Love your channel and will get back to you one day about tuition.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you. Great to have a project - it can give you more purpose. Sure, you can email me any time: [e-mail]

[@geofffield7805]

Very interesting, Paul. I have an old 60mm f2.8 macro lens, which is manual focus on my Nikon Z9. My subjects are usually pollinators which don't stay still for very long! Many of your shots are taken wide open, so dof is very shallow and seems to me to make the artistic concept more difficult. Why not try stopping down to get slightly more dof but still giving you some artistic licence? You'd need to bump up the ISO to compensate but lots of area for experimentation.

[@TheodoreSchnell]

I really like the abstract work you did here and understand what you are trying to do -- your explanation was fine. I try to shoot for the realism, more so when the subject is in motion. But I get it -- when your subject is relatively inactive, it provides opportunities that you might not otherwise get. Focusing on the wings' connection to the thorax, for example, was very cool. I really, really like the shot in which the head and right wings were in focus, with the narrow depth of field allowing the body and left wings to fade, I think a lot of folks expect to see the entire insect sharply in focus, and that's OK. But the abstract shots offer outstanding opportunities as well, and I think you're demonstrating that. Keep up the great work!

[@shovelrocker7102]

Good stuff. Definitely would like to see more of this.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you. I'm trying to move to more thoughts based videos. And my journeys in the field

[@kilohotel6750]

I picked up the RF100 2.8 shortly after it was released wanting to try macro photography but have only used the lens once. I just always forget about it and this is a great time of year to get out and try.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Get out and give it a go. Macro is another world and get be very rewarding indeed.

[@toms2145]

I really enjoy your channel and all the information you share. I don’t always leave a comment, but I always watch and like. Keep it up, Paul. Thank you.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

You are a valued viewer. Thank you very much.

[@1946scoop]

Interesting but the arty, abstract shots are usually the ones I get by accident and quickly delete. Each to his own!

[@Richardisonline]

Tiring.. but photography is very therapeutic.. Good for the soul to connect with nature and wildlife and come away with great close up pictures of damselflies and dragonflies. Keep taking pictures for as long as it brings joy into your life 😊

[@peterwilson7532]

I like your realism and the details of the difficulties of achieving a good result. Sub'd.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Man thanks, much appreciated. And welcome to my channel!

[@BoxerTys]

I never go out on a macro trip without my knee paths 😁

[@paulbaldwin2290]

Great video Paul love damselfly really good images 👌How do you always manage to keep insects still for so long ! I like to get the insects dead clear.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

I am usually finding them before they fully warm up.

[@mikekelly9921]

🎉Thanks for another interesting video on photographing insects. Although my photographic interest is primarily about identification, I do try to get creative with species I have photographed many times. It isn’t easy, as you have discovered. Finding the right angle to avoid distractions is often next to impossible but, sometimes, you can be lucky. I have found greater success with telephoto lenses because depth of field becomes less of an issue and background distractions are not such a problem. However, the photography isn’t macro. One thing, though, about identification. I’m pretty sure the emerald damsels in your images are Lestes (L.sponsa, most likely) and not Chalcolestes viridis. C.viridis is a recent arrival to the UK and tend to be relatively rare.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you. I will try and check on that damselfly.

[@CamillaI]

Great work Paul love the Knee pads a nice touch. It is surprising how much time you spend on your knees doing macro. Normally praying the perfect subject does not fly off 😅

[@BkiyhffuRtdfujv]

I can take a macro shoot with my iphone14, but must take my Kase macro lens for my mobilphone

[@SteveCham-o6y]

Please note: your Emerald damselfly is Lestes sponsa and NOT Chalcolestes viridis which is Willow Emerald.

[@eljayr4669]

I prefer a portrait all mainly in focus macro. I only do Insects and I know what image I want and don’t move on until I get it. I am not a fan of the arty shots you were trying to achieve but that is only my opinion.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

No problem. I very much enjoyed doing something different. But I also appreciate the skill in achieving good sharpness throughout the insect - it is very hard.

[@davidglover1436]

Really enjoyed your video. Keep em coming

[@Ericbjohnston5150]

get a 5x macro lens. ups the macro big time.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Blimey that sound like hard work..

[@Ericbjohnston5150]

@PaulMiguelPhotography yes, 5x is hard work.

[@CZOV]

Any reason you using the old macro without IS lately?

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Ive used it a long time, it still works for me. Hopefully I'll upgrade at some point.