Photography tips: How to take a close-up/macro shot

This might be the easiest and most fun photography technique you can try, so I’m excited to be sharing a little experiment I did earlier today. Hopefully you’ll pick up some photography tips, particularly on how you might like to achieve a macro shot.

The prompt for Photo A Day today was close-up, so loads of people were experimenting with the technique. I had a red hot go with it, on my phone and with my camera. Here’s the different results I achieved. I’ve purposely not edited any of the photos, so you can see exactly what they look like straight out of the camera.

Photography tips: How to take a close-up/macro shot

Straight out of camera / iPhone 6 Plus

This is taken with my phone. I got as close to the flower as possible, clicking on the screen for it to focus. It’s not as sharp as I would have liked, but you can still see the outline of the petals, and the bright colour.

Photography tips: How to take a close-up/macro shot

Straight out of camera / f2.8 / 21mm / Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II

The lens I use everyday for my camera is the 12-40mm/2.8 and I’m loving. It’s really versatile and suits my photography style. For this shot I got in as close as I could {it’s not a macro lens}, and focused on a petal and snapped the photo. I didn’t need a super steady hand, and it seemed to work well. I quite love this photo.

FYI: If you wanted to see what an actual macro lens for the camera can do, I shared in this post.

Photography tips: How to take a close-up/macro shot

Straight out of camera / f2.2 / 45mm / Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II

This is using my second favourite lens {yes, I play favourites} the 1.8/45mm. This was as close as the lens would let me go. I still think it captured the flower beautifully at that distance.

Photography tips: How to take a close-up/macro shot

Straight out of camera / iPhone 6 Plus / Olloclip Macro / 21x

Olloclip makes lenses that you can put onto your phone. They do various types but for this one I  used their macro lens. The macro clip comes with 3 lenses in the one clip. This is using the 21x lens. This one is particularly sensitive to movement, so I recommend using a tripod. I used one for this shot, but would love to experiment more to get a sharper photo.

Photography tips: How to take a close-up/macro shot

Straight out of camera / iPhone 6 Plus / Olloclip Macro / 14x

The 14x lens didn’t require as much of a steady hand, although it helps. You can see the beautiful crisp details, and the veins in the petals.

Photography tips: How to take a close-up/macro shot

Straight out of camera / iPhone 6 Plus / Olloclip Macro / 7x

The 7x lens gives less macro details and more of the whole flower, but still beautiful, don’t you think?


So there you go. There are a few different techniques for shooting macro or close-up. You can get the Olloclip from here. You can also read more about the Olympus camera here.

Have you played around with the macro technique?

 

I was sent the Olloclip macro lens for my editorial consideration.

 

8 thoughts on “Photography tips: How to take a close-up/macro shot”

  1. they look great. I love the one taken with your Olympus camera but the 14x macro with your olloclip is amazing! oh it’s so much fun playing around with cameras & lens, isn’t it? I played around with my olloclip macro lens today too. I love how the macro lens makes even the mundane & ugly, beautiful & interesting. I got a great pic of a coffee bean (those little guys are a BIG part of my life!) and also quite a good one of a prickle.

  2. I think macro might well be my favourite photography technique – love it so so much! I’m still on the iPhone 5, so just have the one Olloclip macro lens, but it’s so much fun to play with.

  3. That’s it, can’t wait any longer I need these phone lense clips.. I’m really wanting to try the fish eye as my favourite subject is classic cars.
    I get a lot of flack from photographers about people using there phones thinking we’re photographer which is can put a downer on ya mood, till I get home and find the car shows I’ve been to using my “phone photos” on their media sites ? And other photographers liking and also sharing my pics.. So just goes to show, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and not always the equipment of the beholder ?? Rant over..

  4. I am longing for a proper macro lens for my DSLR…. hold on, it’s my birthday on Sunday. I tried the Olloclip for my previous phone but found it a pest to have to take the protective cover off when I wanted to use it. Amazing effects though, I loved the fisheye.

    I have last years iPhone6 Plus now and have a tough Pelican case for it… which I need cos it seems to slip out of my (and the twins’ hands) all the time!

  5. These are fab. Doed the olloclip suit Samsung? I use the macro on my Canon but have trouble getting a good focus closely with the lenses I’m using. Might need to get another once I save up!

    • Have you tried manual focus? I had a problem focusing using auto focus, but once I used manual focus, it was easier to focus at the point I wanted.

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