Macro Photography: A Garden Safari Guide | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey
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- Опубліковано 14 чер 2024
- If you are looking for a wildlife photo tour that gets you up close with beasts that are colorful, extraordinary looking, and roam completely wild, then stay right where you are because a macro garden photo safari is what you need. Backyards, parks, and even cities could be your perfect photo location because insects are found almost everywhere.
In this photography video tutorial, Gavin Hoey steps outside his studio and into his garden in search of spiders, ants, flies, beetles, or anything that will stay still long enough for him to get up close with a macro lens. The video is packed full of macro photography tips with plenty of gear suggestions and lighting advice for insect photography.
Gavin starts off his macro photography journey by using just natural light. He shares his camera settings for macro photography and demonstrates how he transforms harsh sunlight into soft shade using a 5 in 1 reflector.
Next Gavin switches to macro photography with flash. He takes you through his ever-improving macro flash set-up, talks about the simple camera settings he uses for his macro photos of bugs, and shares some top tips on how to improve your close-up photos of insects.
→ Article:
A Guide to Garden Photography Using a Macro Lens
www.adorama.com/alc/macro-gar...
Timestamps and Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:12 Essential gear for macro photography
2:06 Macro photography with just daylight
3:55 How to get close-up shots of insects
5:41 Flash set-up for macro insect photography
6:55 Camera settings for macro photos with flash
7:32 Pros and cons of flash for macro photos
8:36 Improve your macro insect photo composition
9:27 How to increase your macro depth of field
10:08 Conclusions and Subscribe
Gavin Hoey is a freelance photographer, content creator, OM SYSTEM ambassador, and trainer who specializes in all things photography.
With over 25 years of experience, Gavin’s photography career has grown from a part-time job writing articles for photography magazines into a full-time career creating video tutorials and live streams. More often than not he can be found photographing, filming, and editing in his small home studio.
Gavin is a highly creative and talented photographer who believes that anyone can take amazing photos. Now in his 11th year with Adorama TV, sharing that belief with over 1.2 million subscribers is an honor he never takes for granted.
Whether it’s portrait or macro photography, studio lighting, or post-processing, Gavin is passionate about creating simple, entertaining, and educational content. In fact, the only thing he enjoys more than talking about photography is actually doing photography.
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✘ PRODUCTS USED:
OM SYSTEM OM-1
www.adorama.com/iomom1.html
Olympus M. Zuiko 60mm f2.8 Macro
www.adorama.com/iom6028.html
Flashpoint Zoom Li-on Manual Flash Speedlight
www.adorama.com/fplfsmzl2.html
MagMod MagSphere 2
www.adorama.com/mmsphere02.html
MagMod MagGrip 2
www.adorama.com/mmgripr02.html
Flashpoint Locking PC Sync Cable
www.adorama.com/fpcbpc35.html
Flashpoint Universal Hot Shoe Adapter for PC Connection
www.adorama.com/fapc15.html
Flashpoint 11" Articulating (magic) Arm
www.adorama.com/fpxar07.html
Benro MeVIDEO Livestream Cold Shoe Adapter
www.adorama.com/bemliveshoe.html
Glow 5-in-1 Collapsible Triangle Reflector (18")
www.adorama.com/gltcr1851.html
Lexar Professional 1667x 64GB SDXC UHS-II/U3 Memory Card
www.adorama.com/ilxsd64g1667....
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THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!
Glad to see you out of the studio and getting some sun and fresh air.
I just love opening my youtube app, and seeing a brand new GAVIN!!!!!!!video.
doesn't get better than Gavin
One word brilliant
So surprised to see Gavin hosting this episode. Excellent work as always Gavin!
Hi Peter. I tend to keep my hobby to myself but it's not my first macro video... enjoy 👍ua-cam.com/video/2NFDfYG-GWA/v-deo.html
Agree!
Great, I love photography ❤
So talented at everything you do. Absolutely love your videos!
I love macro photography. I generally photograph flowers, and sometimes I combine flowers and models in a double exposure.
That is a very nice surprise, Gavin. Macro photography. Very nice to see and hear.
Lovely
Just got a flashgun with diffuser and taken my first two insect pics - hooked already - lots of great advice as usual Gavin thanks so much.
Thank you so much for this ,is really helpful, and I wish you all best
Great photos!
I think this is the most useful macro video i have ever seen 👌🏼👌🏼
Thanks Stevie 👍
thank you Gavin, a great and helpful vid as always!
Great video!
Thanks Gavin. I've done indoor macro work for printed circuit boards, small hardware, etc. , but never went outside with it. I think you have convinced me to try it.
great video great ideas
superb shots gavin ! ... more videos like this would definitely be welcomed .
Backyard safaris are a fun way to practice shooting in manual mode!
nice to see you doing something different Gavin. would like to see more of this
No problem, here you go ua-cam.com/video/2NFDfYG-GWA/v-deo.html
Beautiful work Gavin 👍
Beautiful shots of these little creatures and so much detail!
Thanks John, it's the amazing detail that blows my mind!
Good Video Thanks Gavin.
Thanks John 👍
Fabulous Gavin
I still love photography and I appreciate these classes.
Inspiring as always. 👍
Absolutely loved this episode. Nice to see photographers go outside of their realm....
I'd love to see more videos of gav outside the studio
stunning images!
Some great images interesting and precise as usual
As one of the very few photographers on my under the radar, just for me Macro IG page, that's very kind of you to say Mick 👍
The always wonderful Gavin Hoey fantastic photographer and always informative and interesting
I totally get the "hobby" side of photography. I'm a family lifestyle photographer, but my "hobby" is light painting photography with my wife and a few friends at times. I enjoy the challenge of capturing light in different shapes in that way and the results are very satisfying
Everyone needs a hobby and to me (and I think, like you) it doesn't matter if the tools are same 🙂
excellent!!!!!
This is a great video!
What an amazing idea. I love it so much. I want to go outside now and take pictures of bugs 😅
I can't ask for more then that 👍
Great vidéo as usual Gavin 👍👍👍👍
Wow, I really enjoyed this one which is completely different than what you usually serve us. And I already have about everything I needed to do some tests with the setup you used with the flash. It really works with the few bugs I was able to find in my backyard. Tomorrow, I'll go where there are a lot more bugs to capture with my camera. Thanks for this one Gavin!
I didn't know that reflectors grow up in flower fields! Great video as always
This year we had a bumper crop of 5 in 1 reflectors 🤣
Good to see you in your huge home studio ☺️
I love your outdoor shots. I expect more outdoor photo shoots from you.
Great video of what can be very difficult. Nice images. Keep up the good work, thanks
Thanks so much for changing things up. Fascinating video!
Thanks Rory. It's not all portraits and studios but I'll be back to that next week 😉
This is different, but just like all your other videos, this is great and entertaining. 🎉
This was a big surprise. I've watched Gavin's videos for years and never knew he was a insect macro guy.
I'm full of surprises Adrian 😉Here's a surprise I think you might have missed ua-cam.com/video/2NFDfYG-GWA/v-deo.html
Beautiful images, Gavin, especially the "eye-contact" ones. Thank you
Thanks Alan 👍
Well done, Gavin! One of my favorite explorations with you yet! Last shoot was diversity, this shoot macro! Thank you!!
Thanks Jay, keeping me on my toes is one of the many things I absolutely love about the Adorama TV team. Normal (whatever that means) videos return next week 👍
I really enjoy that you share this passion.. ive got the gear to do macro i just dont do it enough. Tamrons 28-70 mm gets me in really close and i do have the magic arm and a great place to shoot dragon flies so this gets me excited to get out and do it again. thanks 👍
Hi David. The lovely thing about macro / close-up photography (I find) is being able to drop in and out of it with minimal effort. No studio hire, models to arrange or expensive gear to set-up. If you have droneflies near you, you're super lucky!
Good to see you out in the Wild ! Yes i love my Macro as well as other genres of our hobby, i also make many and varied diffusers and post the designs on many Macro sites as well as the homemade diffuser site. Whenever im out shooting Macro the time seems to fly by ! Cheers from New Zealand
Hi Royce. I love that there's a thriving DIY community in Macro Photography. Keep doing what you do 👍
Great video Gavin
Thanks Kirsty 🙂
@@GavinHoey your welcome
Great video. I've never used an off camera flash for macro photography. I might have to give it a go some day.
GOOD ❤
What a bunch of good tips. I have dabbled in macro-like photography since the mid 1970's using a borrowed SLR and reversing the lens for the shot. The Sony 90mm macro f2.8 on my A7R4 is far more convenient. Now all I need is your multi jointed arm for the flash. Thanks for the great video.
Hi John. The "magic arm" has been one of my best buys if the past year, partly because they're super useful but mostly because they're amazing value!
OK Gavin!!!!
Recently I did a macro shoot and I decided to try my now discontinued Orlit Rover RT and the bracket made for it. A bit unwieldy but it worked very well with tons of power.
Great video Gavin very different from your norm, it would be interesting to see a more in depth video about the kit.
Thanks Paul. In many respects just watch my portrait videos. Same speedlight, same camera and in my mind, still portraits... different subjects, obvs 😉
Hi Gavin, thank you for another inspirational video. May I have one question, you mention stitching images together for better depth of field, how do you expose those pictures do cover larger depth?
Amazing video! Is this lens compatible with all Olympus cameras? Does it work on any other make of camera?
Thank you for inspiring again. One question: Why using pc cord and no the usual trigger?
Absolutely stunning images! I never thought that it would be that "easy" to get such good macro shots. Now to go get that 105mm macro lens... 😅
Hi Kyle. The hard part is going out with your camera... OK it's not but like any photography a little practice makes a big difference.
Have always loved macro photography, but I don't practice it that much (I shot social events, weddings, etc):
Just recently i got a second hand Canon M6 and I'm taking it with me every morning when I walk my dogs at the park.
I'm having such a great time shooting flowers and the whole park itself. I go there everyday with a mission, to look for different things at the place I've known for 3 years now.
The strange thing, or, the sad thing, is, there are not that many insects there. I don't know if it's too early in the morning or what, but other than mosquitoes, it's so hard to find insects.
I'm planning to get the Canon 28mm (I think) which is a macro lens with light in the front. Would you recommend it?
Thank you Gavin!
Oh Gavin, you finally hit onto MY favorite type of shooting; Macro. Thanks for this (IMO overdue!) video. Your work here does bring up some observations and questions. Question first: As I have just recently changed eco-systems from Canon to Olympus, I am using the OM5 mkiii and it has the (in camera) image stacking option. Is this something you use or do you still prefer to manually stack your insect images?
Observation next: I was delighted to see that we share the same 'methodology' in regards to capturing your insects. I too use the 'shoot from a slight distance' and then progressively move closer as the insect will allow. If worse comes to worst, I can crop the last shot I took to get in closer. I also do this method with all of my birding and wildlife shooting and I have had pretty darned good luck with it. So thanks for confirming my personal GoTo process!
I have the OM5 and the Oly 60mm macro but I do not have lighting yet. (still working out what might work best for me) Currently waiting on the new Adaptalux Mini Pod and I believe that night work for me (and my budget). If not, I'll have to break down and get a flash unit that is appropriate for the Oly.
And as usual...excellent video!
Hi Randy. In camera stacking is great but doesn't kit my personal way of working but I know some OM macro photographers who use nothing else. Each to their own. Try it and see it it's for you. For flash I love the manual flash (link in the video description) as the distance between flash and subject rarely changes but if you need TTL for your OM-5 then Flashpoint have you covered www.adorama.com/fplfsmzloiii.html
Great vid, thanks - but, Smokemachine's missing 😉😀
Hi Gavin. I have the OM1 and love doing macro, but have never used a flash. I was considering the Olympus flash, not their smallest but the next one up. I would appreciate pro and cons against the one you were using, thanks if you can advise
I love macro photography but I don’t have budget to buy macro lens but i did really amazing shots with my reversal ring with 18-55mm lens using canon 77D
Reversing rings, extension tubes or even close-up filters, whatever works is a good choice. BTW macro lenses don't have to be expensive. The 30mm version of my lens is under $200 www.adorama.com/iom3035b.html
Please suggest any good macro lens under $200 for canon
@@prathamgupta6805 should be able to find a used Sigma or Tamron macro in that range. A 90mm would be ideal for insects.
Listen to @AlunB he speaks wisely 😁
Incredible images! I wish I were steady enough to get such sharpness, but I find the camera and 90mm macro heavy and awkward enough on their own. Then to add the weight of the flash....
This does make me want to go out and try it though. Thanks, Gavin!
Hi Linda. If you keep to the shadows the short duration of flash will help freeze camera shake but watching people struggle with full frame cameras does make me sad. If the day comes that you are looking to change camera remember bigger isn't always better 😉
Thanks, Gavin. :-) Mine is a Canon 80D which is big enough and I've no intention yet to upgrade. I don't think a full frame would be what I'd turn to even when the time comes. If it ever stops raining here in Nova Scotia I just might set the flash up and try it.
Do you focus stack the images? Your photographs are incredible!
Hi Rick and good question. I covered focus stacking at 9:50 although most of the images are single shots but a few are focus stacks of three / four images.
A great video about this subject, Gavin. I knew we count on you to cover the practicalities. BTW, I love your garden (lucky you!) . Did you get your finger slammed in a car door? Or did you get it caught in a light stand? ;-) Thanks for being such an enthusiastict teacher.
Thanks for the kind words and yes we are lucky to have such an amazing garden. My finger is fine, just the result of a DIY misshap 🪓
Can you use the magic arm from your camera to your flash the get yhe flash off axis with the lens when shooting portraits in run and gun situations? Would just moving the flash those few/several inches off axis be enough to make a difference?
Love the idea of a macro garden safari. I'm going to have to try that!
Great images!
How much are you cropping in to get them so large in the frame?
Hi Boruch. That's the beauty of macro, other then cropping for composition (it can be surprisingly tricky to keep the subject centred in the frame) there's images are not cropped to increase the appearance of magnification. That said, if you have a full frame camera 1:1 macro isn't quite as magnified as 1:1 on my OM System M4/3 camera.
@Gavin Hoey thank you so much for your reply.
I have a Canon eos r6, and a 100mm 2.8 Canon macro lens. I also use extenders where necessary.
I'm definitely going to have to try a garden safari 😊👍.
@@boruchlen Giving it a go, I can't ask for a better reaction to the video then that Boruch 👍
I wonder if Adorama sells "Photogopher's Best Friend', the must have 3rd arm attached to your back to utilize all that gear for great Macro? I think I bought my first non-film camera at Adorama, a Nikon D90.
Nicely done! BTW, your gander seems to provide a lot of opportunities to support your hobby. it looks like you are in the middle of Africa. 🦓
Thank you. We let part of our garden go wild each year and the results for wildlife have been amazing 🦋
Hello Gavin, what magic arm do you use?
How do you get sharp images with handheld? I have a good macro lens Sigma 105mm with auto and manual focus. When I focus on the subject, just a very small portion of the insect is in focus and I'm talking about maybe one eye or a leg or two.
Perhaps I missed it but the distance you are from the camera would suggest you are using live view rather than the viewfinder to focus on the insect. It would be interesting to hear your explanation as to how you are focusing on the insect. great video. Thank you.
Hi William. Yep, you missed it 4:25 if it helps. Bonus info (just for you) I use the smallest, single focus point and try my best to put it over the insects eye. Not easy at arms length or with a breeze, so C-AF and sequential shooting are often my go to settings.
Gavin, Are your shots single shots or stacked shots?
I’ve question, for wedding details (ring) photography with new mirror less cameras autofocus capabilities do you need macro lens also considering the fact these cameras comes with huge resolution images so you can always crop ? Do you need macro lens for exclusive wedding details photography?
Good question. It's been a long time since I photographed a wedding but I never felt the need for a macro lens. 1:1 macro is probably a little to close for wedding ring shots but that said a macro lens is just a prime lens that has the ability to focus very close, so you could use it for "normal" photos too.
Bro tell me the model of the camera and the model of the lens, I want to buy it, please, thank you I'm Waseem from Pakistan
Hi Gavin, great videos and info, I alway learn something. I’m having problems with the Godox XPro (O)mark 1 trigger when using it in sequential shooting mechanical shutter mode on the OM1. Only able to get 2, sometimes 3 shots per second. Paired with ad200pro flashes at not even half energy and fully charged battery.
I wondered if it was because I was using blue tooth to fire the camera but it’s the same when I actually press the shutter. Tested the camera with cheaper flash guns and cheap trigger and it fires away no problem getting 5 or 6 shots, have you any idea why this is? All in manual flash mode, I’m shooting insects in flight. TVM.
Hi Stephen. Sadly it's not an OM-1 issue as the same thing happened with all the E-M1 series bodies I've used. It's got something to do with multi pin vs single pin on the transmitters hotshoe, so like you I have a single pin (Flashpoint) transmitter which I use for fast flashes. That basic transmitter will rattle out as many flashes as the mechanical shutter can manage but with no HSS or TTL. It's one of several "quirks" I've fed back to Olympus and now OM System but more voices can mean more weight, so feel free to mention it to your friendly local OM rep 😉
Thanks Gavin, I will give some feed back to OM systems and Godox, I thought I was upgrading my flash system but it seems not in this particular use😂😂. Might try gaffer tape over the pins. Thanks again for taking the time to reply. 👍👍
One thing that’s quite apparent in this video but didn’t seem to get addressed is the wind. Any time I’ve tried to do macro photography outdoors, even the slightest breeze makes it nearly impossible because the flowers I’m focusing on, or the bugs that are on them, are moving all over the place with even a very light breeze.
Wind can make it impossible to do macro, a light breeze just makes it very tricky 😉
My approach is to wait for the breeze to drop or look in sheltered spots. Sometimes a diffuser can be used as a wind breaker and very often I'll hold a leaf by the tip, just out of frame.
Gavin I sent an e mail to you and have not gotten a reply. I was wondering was there any up grade from the Olympus line up like the Olympus OM-D E-M1X Mirrorless Camera to the OM 1 as far as Macro goes ? Mainly in Photo stacking Looking to do this as a main Macro camera.
Hi Richard. The new processor on the OM-1 makes processing the stacking process so much faster.
Any advantage to go with a sync cord over WiFi?
Hi Curt. The super short distance can be problematic for some wireless transmitters and as I'm not using HSS or TTL flash, the reliability of a cable made it the better option for my set-up.
Which Len's do you use
Gear details and links are in the video description but if it's not visible then it's a Olympus M. Zuiko 60mm f2.8 Macro www.adorama.com/iom6028.html and if that link doesn't work details of gear and settings are embedded in every image such as 1:08 Hopefully one of those will help 👍
@@GavinHoey thanks 👍
15 minute challenges !!!???? start again !!?? what you say ????!!!!!
Are you using the same camera for the video close ups? If so how?... as I have to change settings all around on my OM-1 to go from photo to video and back...