We had a bit of snow today … which means I was outside bundled up, camera in hand, attempting to capture a close-up detailed shot of my most favorite things in the world – SNOWFLAKES!
Every time it snows I do this, and every time I get so many emails asking –
– is that really what a snowflake looks like!? (Yes, it is)
– what lens did you use to do this??? (Always with my Nikon 105mm f/2.8 Macro lens – AKA my most favorite lens of all time)
– and of course … how did you DO this?!?
… Well, the key to macro photography is the opposite of what you’d think – you do NOT shoot wide open. Instead, you will actually step up the aperture! My snowflake photos are typically shot between f/16 and f/22. Yes, for real. The only thing I did in Lightroom was adding a little clarity, adjusted the luminosity and fixed the white balance a little bit. That’s it. This is essentially straight out of the camera!
The above photo was shot at f/16, ISO 2500 at 1/125. I actually prefer to shoot macro around 1/200 – but it was pretty early in the morning before sunrise when I knocked this shot out (hence the high ISO) so I had to take the shutter speed a little slower. But still, amaze-balls.
Want to take your macro photography to the next level? My enormously talented friend Danielle of Danielle McIlroy Photography is actually putting on a Macro Workshop “Beauty in the Details” – and registration opens up January 27th! Want more info? CLICK HERE!
Love your snowflake image Ashley…I can’t wait to photograph snowflakes may have to go rent me a lens 🙂