This post is sponsored by Canon.

If you ever wondered what it would be like to stare deeply into the

eyes of a bumblebee, or to investigate the tiny microfiber hairs on a

flower, macro photography is just right for you!

Even people with an intense attention to detail might easily pass by

many of the amazing intricacies of the small world happening around us

every day. Macro photography brings this world to life by revealing a

tiny universe not generally visible with the naked eye. The final

products involve beautiful and intricate patterns and textures, intimate

insect portraits, reflective water droplets, and much, much more.

Simply, macro photography is taking pictures super close-up. A macro

lens is usually a fixed, non-zoom lens that achieves extreme

magnification. Lenses with 1:1 or 1:2 ratios can produce subjects that

appear equal to or much larger than life size, which is how

photographers capture things like the eyes of a fly or the tiny droplets

of rain on a leaf. Focusing can be a challenge in macro photography so,

oftentimes, photographers will set the manual focus to the highest

magnification and then slowly move the camera towards the subject until

it is in the desired focus. Once the appropriate focus and framing is

achieved, it helps to use a tripod in order to keep the camera perfectly

still and to capture meticulous detail. A timer or a cable release can

also help prevent camera shake that may occur due to pressing the

shutter button.

Here is a collection of photographers who have mastered the technique

of macro photography and help us to have fresh eyes and to see the

world in new ways.

Thomas Shahan

This Oklahoma-based photographer really narrows in on a bug’s life.

From jumping spiders to the compound eyes of the robber fly, Thomas Shahan searches out creatures in their natural environments to capture every

day activities. He creates life-size portraits of insect’s faces, faces

that you can’t see without the combination of a macro lens and Shahan’s

intense patience.

Brian Valentine

In his retired free time, former PhD Microbiologist Brian Valentine turned his attention and incredible talents to a love of macro

photography. As a keen gardener, his backyard is filled with a plethora

of photo subjects including insects and plants. In his very own

backyard, Valentine uses Canon equipment to create these surreal scenes

of images within images, reflections in water droplets that are all

captured in camera. Valetine says macro photography, “allows [him] to

explore a relatively unknown world full of fascination.”

Nadav Bagim

Israel-based photographer Nadav Bagim draws on inspiration from sci-fi, fantasy, and cartoons to conjure up

these impressive and magical narratives of a miniature land. Each

photograph tells the story of an insect’s life and it’s hard to believe

these scenes are real! Bagim says, “This is not a photomontage, no

pasting in or cutting out objects, no selective coloring or saturation

boosting or anything similar. The colors are real, the "snow" is real,

and so are the insects, landscapes and the rest.” Check out a detailed

interview with Bagim here.

Jane Thomas

Scotland-based photographer Jane Thomas experiments with soapy water and a macro lens to capture light and

reflections through thin films of liquid. Her macro technique involves

photographing a space no larger than 18mm wide on a small bubble wand.

She loves creating colorful effects with her 100mm macro lens, and if

you like her work, you can see even more of it here.

Heinz Maier

German photographer Heinz Maier,

aka Cymaii, has mastered the technique of capturing the minute details

of flowing and splashing liquids, a combination of macro and high speed

photography. His technical capabilities and lighting techniques, along

with a touch of post-processing and added saturation, result in these

fantastic shapes and forms that otherwise disappear in the blink of an

eye.

Which one is your favorite？

Information resource:http://article.yeeyan.org/view/308020/271211