Macro Photography when there is NOTHING to Photograph

MICAEL's OLYMPUS MACRO KIT
📷 Camera: OM-1 amzn.to/3Mqizvy
🔎 Main macro lens: amzn.to/4caHazG
🔎 Mini macro lens: amzn.to/3wMN75z
💥 Flash: Godox v350o
⚪️ Diffuser: bit.ly/mwakdif...
🔎 Closeup lens: Raynox DCR-250
🎗 This is my camera strap: amzn.to/3LJA2Ny
MICAEL's SONY MACRO KIT
🔎 My favorite macro lens: bit.ly/mwlaowa85 (I always buy Laowa lenses from their website - best price, good service, and fast, free shipping worldwide)
🔭 My favorite wildlife lens: amzn.to/3DM2meZ
💥 Flash: amzn.to/3xhpc9E
🔋 Flash batteries: www.gpbatterie...
📷 Sony A7 IV Camera: amzn.to/3BKQ1Ij
🎗 This is my camera strap: amzn.to/3LJA2Ny
⚪️ I use this diffuser: bit.ly/mwakdif...
HOW I MAKE MY VIDEOS
For my indoor KZbin videos I currently use these tools that I feel give excellent results and a very simple workflow.
📷 Camera: Sony ZV-E1 amzn.to/3oBzYsc and XLR-K3M handle amzn.to/3ONbTJH
🔭 Lens: Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art amzn.to/3owvJyh
🎤 Microphone: Sennheiser MKH-416 amzn.to/45FbQpu
💡 Light: Godox SL60W amzn.to/42gcNBq with a Godox SB-UE 80cm softbox amzn.to/3qmrxBu
📷 B-camera: Sony ZV-1 amzn.to/3MEO449
💻 Editing: Macbook Pro M2 with Final Cut Pro
🎶 Music: Epidemic Sound: bit.ly/mwepidemic
For outdoor filming I prefer a small and simple setup that makes filming myself very easy and fast.
📷 Camera: DJI Pocket 3 creator combo amzn.to/3GxPwm3
🦵 Monopod that I use as a tripod: Benro A38FD amzn.to/42ibbY1
PLEASE TALK TO ME HERE AS WELL:
💌 newsletter: mwroll.com
🌄 instagram: / mwroll
🐦 twitter: / micaelwidell
🎖 patreon: / micaelwidell
💬 discord: bit.ly/widelld...
Many of the links above are affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission if you buy something via the links - at no extra cost to you. I greatly appreciate when people use these links, as it is an important income stream to keep this channel alive. ❤️
Thank you for watching my videos. 🥰

[@MicaelWidell]

Thanks for watching! Please also visit my... 🐞 favorite gear: micaelwidell.com/#gear 🐛 lens guide: lensguide.micaelwidell.com 🪳 newsletter: micaelwidell.com 🐜 instagram: instagram.com/mwroll 🪲 twitter: twitter.com/micaelwidell

[@philipunsworth1983]

I like to photograph pocket or wrist watch mechanisms. Sometimes machine cutting marks can be seen on components and at the correct lighting angles it is possible to capture refracted light colours.

[@zarrir]

In summary: There is always SOMETHING to photograph

[@eltsulolli]

Having a macro lens gives you another world 🤩

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

I do abstract macro photography at home, on my desk, with a couple of lights, making different colours with either the lights or with reflections. Exploring what textures and shapes and colours I find in the close-ups of various objects.

[@TechWithBruno]

Nice video. This new aspect ratio is actually pretty good to watch via picture in picture all at work ahah

[@hjones451]

When it's a flat, grey, boring day - My first tip is to wear orange trousers! (No birds to scare either then?) Excuse my humour - this is a serious vlog, seriously good for certain. Here in the UK we have only had a couple of frosty mornings this winter. I'm currently using my Laowa 65mm Macro lens for new shoots and blossom + a little bit of ICM. The manual lens has been so good that I've even considered selling the Sony 90mm f2.8 Macro. Sweden will soon show signs of Spring, Micael.

[@paulcollingridge8387]

Even in the coldest winters we can find Birch Catkin Bugs hibernating on Holly twigs in Birch woodland here in the UK, we just have to learn to see them

[@MicaelWidell]

Yeah they seem to be active a very big part of the year here in Sweden as well. I see them last and first in the insect season. Not the most beautiful insects though.

[@csc-photo]

Love this 👏🏻 Also love the square format, it's different and looks great. Thanks for your helpful, interesting, and inspiring content!

[@MicaelWidell]

Thank you for the kind words 🥰

[@lynnecliffe3056]

Opening the mind and heart to see leads to observational growth and eyes that see.

[@thebiblioholic]

Infinite number of tabletop macro possibilities...

[@MrVara411]

Man, I absolutely LOVE your channel. I got into macro photography in large part because of you! Thank you.

[@MicaelWidell]

Happy to hear that 😀

[@DavidBrown-if8vn]

I totally feel you on this. I'm in Maine and your environment looks similar. We call it mud season, but I'm chomping at the bit for bug & bud season. It's frustrating with lengthy winters when shooting macro. I'm seeing friends shooting spring.

[@markbarkntrunk102]

Thank you for the inspiration

[@TheCruisinCrew]

Absolutely wonderful and inspiring video! I also loved the music choice, it really enhanced the feeling of peace and calmness! :)

[@MicaelWidell]

Thanks :)

[@genevievelaurin3860]

Hi Micael! Once again, a really instructive video with some great tips. And, once again, I am delighted that we are really similar in what catches our eye! When the scenery is uninteresting, I also like to take photos of water drops and partially melted ice, with all its unique and captivating shapes. Sometimes, I get to shoot some partially frozen water, with ice crystals forming next to open water. Final note, as a biology teacher, I feel it my duty to point out that what you called "moss" (a plant) is in fact lichen (a fungus sheltering microscopic algae). I'm pretty sure you knew this already, as I seem to remember you talking about it in another video, but after a long day of grading papers, the teacher in me is a stickler for detail! Thanks again for this video, I found it so inspirational!

[@MicaelWidell]

Thank you for the kind words. Haha, I suspected this wasn't really called moss, but since English is not my native language, I didn't have the right word for it. But I am thankful whenever someone corrects me, so I can say it correctly the next time :)

[@jacsbill1981]

I bought my first proper camera three months ago and just got a macro lens (laowa 65mm) - thank you for the inspiration as my local area is pretty bleak atm. I’ve been practicing in my garden with dead leaves and peanut M&Ms as insects… 😂

[@siajnesdunk]

Thanks for mentioning which was stacked.

[@B_a_c_k]

У Вас, Micael, вдохновение можно черпать бесконечно! Бесподобные снимки, прекрасные.

[@MicaelWidell]

thank you :)

[@kyleparks4528]

I can generally find springtails, small spiders, planthoppers, winter fireflies, and a few other things through the winter. Warm days there are usually gnats and crane flies on the wing. Granted I'm not quite as far north as Micael (Western MA USA) but you can find quite a lot by rooting around in the leaf litter and turning over logs and rocks (always put them back though). Mud season season also rapidly gives way to one of my favorite times of the year, spring ephemeral season. Also, if there's still snow and ice, ice + moss is usually interesting.

[@noxcaelo7140]

Square format video! Muy bien!

[@sabyasachibanerjee124]

I have been inspired by You to take walks in my backyard and take photos of insects and little flowers that appear in weeds. Love spring-tails when I see them

[@5RustyBin]

great tips Micael

[@d.k.1394]

Love your ice shots

[@d.k.1394]

Creativity is a funny thing. Many people think they are...but have nothing to show!😮

[@dennismwallentin296]

Thanks for an interesting/inspiring video 😊 During this transition time we can either go low or high. Personally I go high by photographing landscape which can be quite challenging 😊

[@fernando0854]

Hi friend. Thank you for your nice and useful videos. When I find nothing to photograph outdoors, what I do is to visit any plant nursery, and after buying some flower pot I like, I then ask for permission to photograph a few more there. Sometimes they agree, other times they reluctantly agree or they just don't agree. In any case I always try to be polite and discreet. By the way, following your advice I ordered the Godox V350N, it arrived today, I tested it for a while and I am very satisfied. Thank you so much! Keep up the good work! Fernando, southeast Spain.

[@MicaelWidell]

The plant nursery idea is great! Thanks for watching!

[@mikefriel6906]

Ice? Oh yes! Try putting a polarizer filter on your lens, and you can get some great rainbow colours - caused by birefrigence - in certain kinds of thin ice.If you wear polarized sunglasses it's easier to find this kind of ice.

[@MicaelWidell]

Interesting. Need to try that!

[@zhuanjifarms5050]

Bull shit! Always ALWAYS somethin' happening. Winter in Colorado here shooting kinikinick, sedum, pixie cups, and yeah, right after rain-sleet. Love, love your work Micael. You are a huge inspiration to my work. Lookin' to get these early small black spiders to slow down now!

[@MicaelWidell]

Thank you for the kind words 😊

[@mojmakroswiat-mymacroworld2959]

Inspirational video. Spring is already coming, bugs and plants will appear, it will be beautiful. Greetings from Cracow , Poland

[@MicaelWidell]

You Poles are lucky enough to get spring a bit earlier :) Should be reaching you soon!

[@d.k.1394]

For me in many ways it is the air trapped inside the ice that looks unique.

[@andersnyberg5909]

Hej jag fotar mest på vår och sommar, annars tycker jag om dina videos från Sandemar för det är min hemma lokal vad det gäller fågelskådning och fotografering . Som idag tex. 1/3 när jag var där och fota fåglar. Det är kul när man känner igen alla platser. Och tex. när du fotade trollsländor på handledaren vid övergången vid bäcken. Det gjorde jag också några dagar tidigare. Med vänlig hälsning, Anders

[@MicaelWidell]

Jag älskar Sandemar, och kommer definitivt tillbaka hit fler gånger. Det är en av de vackraste och mest rofyllda platserna jag vet i Stockholmsområdet. Ser fram emot att fota insekter här i sommar.

[@igor822605]

Nice photo

[@dougsmit1]

My answer to this is what we (in English) call Lichen (a symbiotic combination of algae and cyanobacteria). The Internet translators suggest the Swedish is lav but you said 'moss' which is a bit different in English so I am not sure how you might separate the plants we call moss from the lichens that are said to cover 7% of land surfaces on earth. What I saw in your video looked like lichens from the angle shown. Lately I have shot both mosses and lichens anxiously awaiting spring flowers as I suspect you are as well.

[@MicaelWidell]

Sorry, English is not my native language so I sometimes use the wrong word by mistake. I think that might have happened here :)

[@dougsmit1]

@@MicaelWidell You do English better than many natives I know but there is always a question about how different languages break up concepts. I see Swedish has words (often ending in lav) for several different kinds of lichen. Are some mossa also called lav? I have no idea but I am aware of how impossible it is to translate languages. I understand that the Sami people have several distinct terms for different kinds if snow while English tends to add adjectives like 'new fallen', 'crystallin' or 'powder' when plain 'snow' needs expansion. This makes sense when we think of the amount of time they spend with snow while I may not see any for 2-3 years.

[@DixonLu]

I also try different lights (strobe, flash, macro rings), modifiers, and lighting angles. E.g. I used a pocket flash light placed below a tulip (behind the petals) and found their transmissive colors are very different from their reflective colors.

[@MicaelWidell]

that's a great idea!

[@omnymisa]

Hello Micael! I wonder if it is possible that you make a video review about Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 Full Frame Dragonfly for Sony, just putting out there that would be cool at least for me XD

[@MicaelWidell]

I already did ;) search my name and irix

[@lacorf]

beautiful work

[@MicaelWidell]

thank you!

[@Oleg_Ivanov]

Sorry for offtopic, but please tell me what to choose for a photo hunt: 100-400 f/5,0-6,3, 75-300 f/4,8-6,7 II, 12-200 f/3,5-6,3 + mc-14, 40-150 f/4,0 PRO + mc-20, 40-150 f/2,8 PRO + mc-20?

[@MicaelWidell]

Not sure. I would probably be most tempted by the first and last item in your list

[@Oleg_Ivanov]

@@MicaelWidell Thank you! You are so kind to me. 🙂

[@sampodhorsky178]

Amazing photos! Thank you very much for the beautiful video and inspiration. Just a question, did I see correctly that there is no UV filter on the lens? just to protect the front lens

[@MicaelWidell]

I never use any filter. There really is no need unless you are very clumsy.

[@sampodhorsky178]

@@MicaelWidell True 😅

[@Oleg_Ivanov]

2:12 Where is focus stacking? It's very useful and cool function! 😊

[@dougsmit1]

Once we have tried focus stacking, it is hard to go back. Obviously the closer you get to this subject, the more focus stacking helps.

[@Oleg_Ivanov]

@@dougsmit1 Of course, why not use it?

[@Zorrps]

Hej Micael. Is the Canon 100mm f2.8 USM good for macro photography? Thanks!

[@MicaelWidell]

It's a good lens. But I would personally buy something with higher magnification, such as the Laowa 90mm.

[@Zorrps]

@@MicaelWidell If I remember correctly, the laowa lenses only has manual focus, right? I feel like that is a big minus when taking photos in the wild where bugs can fly away pretty easy and move around. I tested your guide and got the Laowa 60mm, and it looks like a solid lens, but so does the 90mm. I don't really wanna spend more than like 4500kr on a lens

[@MicaelWidell]

The Laowa only has manual focus, yes. But for bugs I personally prefer manual focus, so I don't see it as something negative.

[@dougsmit1]

@@Zorrps There is an unfortunate truth in macro: There is no best for everything. I have my old trusty Canon EF100 macro (not IS and not L) and my manual only Laowa 85mm (once recommended by Micael before he went Olympus). When you want to get too close for even those, you can add a NiSi close up lens to either and get a lot closer which will make you want something like a WeMacro rail for automated focus stacking using those same lenses or even microscope objectives to get you way too close. Macro is addictive. The world is a 'big' place but the macro-world is 'huge'. Manual focus is better for most macro but autofocus lenses do allow using the built in focus bracketing features on recent Canon RF cameras (RP and newer). I believe you need both but only you can decide which comes first.

[@mikearst2940]

Det finns mycket skönhet i små saker.

[@d.k.1394]

That's what my last girl friend said to me 😢

[@mikearst2940]

@@d.k.1394 It was kind of you to show her your collection of miniature ceramic piglets and puppies.