55 Beautiful Macro Flower Pictures

Macro photography is about shooting objects up close. Flowers are popular subjects that provide lots of detail, have a variety of shapes and colors, work well with lighting, and they generally are very beautiful and pleasing to look at which provides a photographer with a lot to work with when making great images.

Roy Niswanger – Common Lily Pad Bloom, Macro

Basic Equipment You Need For Macro Photography

If you’re just starting to learn or have an interest in macro photography, then there are a few important pieces of equipment that will help you take your macro photos to the next level.

DSLR

Although many of the point and shoot cameras today have macro mode, purchasing a DSLR and getting to know how to use it properly is still the most advantageous if you’re looking to make great images. If you’re just starting out, a lot of professionals will recommend getting a cheaper DSLR first and only upgrading your equipment when you feel your photography is being limited by the camera. The Nikon D5100 is a good DSLR to start with at a reasonable price.

Lens

The main limiting factor when doing macro photography will be your focus. If you can get a lens that allows you to focus within a few inches of the subject, then you have what you need. If you want to get more serious about your photos, a macro or telephoto lens will give you a lot more options. The Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens would be a nice pairing with the D5100. A macro lens is designed to focus sharply up close which will make it easier getting the image you are trying for. The lenses can be expensive, but worth it if you decided to shoot a lot of macro pictures.

Tripod

A sturdy tripod and mount will make a world of a difference in your photography. Chip Phillips, a popular landscape photographer, commented on how many people come to his workshops with an expensive camera setup and a cheap tripod. If you’re going to spend thousands of dollars on camera equipment, you want to set the camera and lens on a quality tripod. You really do pay for what you get when it comes to tripods. Carbon fiber ones like the Manfrotto 055 are great because they are lighter, perfect for the outdoor photographer who hikes a lot, and they are sturdy, giving the photographer a lot of years of quality use. As one reviewer of the Manfrotto 055 tripod said, “Quality you won’t regret buying.”

Lighting

In macro photography, the more magnified an image is, the more difficult it is to get enough light. It may depend on what type of macro pictures you are looking to take, but thinking about your lighting setup is very important. As you will see by the flower pictures included in this blog post, photographers use a variety of techniques to get the macro shot they are looking for. It could be using natural light during perfect times of the day (golden hour) for photography, setting up a light box, or using inexpensive light diffusers to get as much detail as possible in the macro shot. Whatever your goal might be, thinking about lighting is one of the most important considerations when it comes to macro photography, or any photography really. And it’s probably the least expensive thing you’ll need.

Macro Flower Photography Inspiration

This post features 55 beautiful macro flower pictures taken with a variety of equipment, lighting, and many different types of compositions. Each photo is linked to the source where you’ll find more information about the photographer and the setup they used for the picture.

Sander van der Wel – Deep!!