Pixiq

It seems to be human nature to go straight for the 'all or nothing' approach -  black or white when 'real world' answers inevitably lie in the real of shades of grey.

In macro photography there are two ‘distinct' approaches – one using tele-macros to isolate a subject from its surroundings and the other employing wide-angle lenses to place a subject in the context of its surroundings

They are complementary approaches and It seems to me essential to develop the ability to use both …and all stops in between. We should never get locked into one style (especially when everyone else is...) and now is as good a time as any to get familiar with an aspect of wide angle lenses that comparatively few exploit: their close-focus capabilities. 

In two earlier posts I covered the Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro lens which is an ideal objective for isolating a subject against a soft, blurred background. A telephoto macro lens essentially ‘condenses’ perspective - which makes it great for portraits, too.

On the other hand, wide-angle close-ups give you maximum peripheral information about a subject by setting a plant or animal in the foreground and allowing you to include the surroundings. Whether using a wide angle zoom or fixed focus lens you'll know a wide angle produces distortion through perspective foreshortening.  Elements of a subject closest to the lens are enlarged relative to those further away. This works amazingly well with flowers – perhaps because a flower is a ‘beacon’ for us (and its insect visitors) so we tend to notice that first. I think this bit of exaggeration mirrors the view we have of a flower.

You usually stop down to get better depth of field but the background does not have to be pin sharp - a slightly blurred set of mountains or trees in the background tells you all you need to know about a habitat because you can still see what they are. In fact, a slight background blur might even accentuate subject sharpness.

Near home I have great sites for fungi of all sorts and these are perfect subjects on which to hone your close-up skills because they are not going anywhere and don't vibrate in the breeze. Why not try it - when you get the 'feel' you can try your skills on subjects that move such as insects...

Extreme wide-angles have to be used carefully with animal subjects – press photographers take photos of politicians with facial features thus exaggerated...and when those ‘servants of the people’ are on the slippery downward path these are the ones that get published. Shame...

In the subsequent posts  I will take a look at fixed focus wide-angles, wide and ultra-wide zooms..rectangular fisheyes and tilt and shift lenses. You may already have something in your camera bag that can open up new vistas for you if you move in close. Surprise yourself.