I'm really beginning to have a hard time coming up with new subjects. I feel like all I do is copy people's work that I admire from this site. Can anyone give me some ideas for good macro subjects? I need to practice it very much. Keep in mind I live in land-locked Tennessee and have to take a 3 1/2 year old with me most places. Thanks for any help in advance!
I do a lot of Macro because with 4 Little Ones and such a busy life I dont get much time to experiment with ideas, Ive done Flowers, Sweets, Bubbles etc
Absolutely anything you like. I just look about and take shots. Normally I don't find it very interesting until I look at the camera and think wow, that looks good. Anything with a pattern of some sort on it is cool. Haven't done a macro shot of normal every day objects in ages, my last few have been plants. Will need to do one soon.
I think macro shots can be of anything...it's all in the perspective. I once took a macro shot of my toothbrush, and you should've heard my husband raving about how good it was!
I'm in the same place. I don't get home until close to dark and then I'm home with my kids, dinner, homework...you know the drill. So, most of the time I'm looking around the house for things to photograph at the last minute. Plants, fruit, fabrics, toys, household items...anything with great color and texture makes for a great subject.
It's often whatever comes to hand first that ends up as a macro shot for me. I thrive on late night KTM (Kitchen Table Macro) to get me through! My most recent is this one:
It's amazing how everyday objects can be transformed by the minute depth of field that macro can provide!
I just took a photo of the knitted flower on my winter hat. I decided to go with a theme this month, but to push it to the limits of interpretation. This month is flower, which can include flo(ur)wer. I thought about the timing of the year and thought that since we have a flower show next week, the grocery store lets me photo the flowers in the store (for free) while I am doing my shopping and we are going to start getting some early blooms.
Tennessee should start getting some warmer weather and some blooms. You could always pick a color, and bring your camera with you when you are out and aim to have something in that color.
BTW, my first rule of themes is to know when to let it go if there is a better photo that can happen.
Bugs, flowers, odds and ends around your house, pets, candy, grocery store items (though be prepared for weird looks if you do that). If you have a chance to go to a museum, there are TONS of things there. Are you close to the Tennessee Aquarium?
I've seen some really good macros of kid's toys too.
i don't have a macro lens (yet!) but I really like looking at macro shots of insects and everyday objects eg. the classic shot of a letter on a computer keyboard, water drops, interesting kitchen utensils, stationary. Anything really!
I thank all of you for your input. I will try some of the subject y'all (yes, I said y'all because I'm originally from Georgia) have suggested. I truly appreciate any advice I get for future photos as well as any critique you'd like to offer on past photos. I am extremely new to photography. :-) @lisahutchinson@lolanae@kirsty1975@aj1268@amonroy76@sburbidge@brumbe@clarissajohal@kaost
I actually was inspired and I photographed all the details of my homemade pretzel making process. I started with a clean kitchen, and then ended up having my favorite be a shot of yeast spilled next to the bottle and measuring spoon when Photography got in the way of Cooking. I will probably save it as a filler, but I had a lot of fun taking all the photos.
Like Annie - everything. Up until last week, my zoom lens was off for repair, but since it returned, I haven't used it. I love my macro for short DOF portraits, random household objects and garden wanderings. Today's shot was a butterfly hanging out in the garden. The last few shots I've been using my lens extender and shooting jewellery, glitter powder. Really small stuff, or small stuff really close up.
Like Steven, I am a great proponent of late night KTM shots, with a crawling baby and a three year old chaos engine I have neither time or space to set up during the day, nor the inclination to see my camera end up in the kitchen sink. A remote has been great for this, allowing me to shoot in much lower light conditions.
My favourite macro subjects are bugs of any kind - it's pretty much all I shoot at the moment. I've got two little boys and the eldest (4) loves coming bug hunting with me. We take his little bug catcher with him and if we find a caterpillar or something he's happy as larry. Last time all he did was collect about a dozen empty cicada shells though.
Once you get into macro you'll never escape it!! Soooooo addictive!!
@microart@dcr Thanks for the ideas. Drew, I have taken so many bug shots because my son was a bug fanatic last year. We've moved on to dinosaurs, so it's rather hard to photograph them (and they don't exactly need macro) :-)
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It's amazing how everyday objects can be transformed by the minute depth of field that macro can provide!
Tennessee should start getting some warmer weather and some blooms. You could always pick a color, and bring your camera with you when you are out and aim to have something in that color.
BTW, my first rule of themes is to know when to let it go if there is a better photo that can happen.
I've seen some really good macros of kid's toys too.
Like Steven, I am a great proponent of late night KTM shots, with a crawling baby and a three year old chaos engine I have neither time or space to set up during the day, nor the inclination to see my camera end up in the kitchen sink. A remote has been great for this, allowing me to shoot in much lower light conditions.
Once you get into macro you'll never escape it!! Soooooo addictive!!