preview

40 Remarkable Examples of Macro Photography

Today’s roundup focuses upon a collection of bizarre, shocking and mind-blowing macro photos. It provides great inspiration for amateurs and professionals who are interested in the world of macro photography, and will have you reaching for your macro lens and heading off to shoot…

What is Macro Photography?

Put simply, macro is close-up photography. Although technically speaking the term should only be applied to photos which have a 1:1 or closer magnification. In other words, it is the photography of subjects that are captured life-size or larger.

How to Shoot Macro Photography

You can shot macro with almost any camera – most devices tend to have a pre-set macro mode. You can find this on most cameras by searching for the small flower icon. That said, you may often find that the pre-set macro mode is restricting and will not give you professional looking results. This is often seen as "close up" photography rather than macro, as you are not capturing "true macro".

The next best thing is for you to buy extension tubes for your kit lens and take pictures which will fill the frame and achieve very similar results to purchasing a macro lens. The price of extension tubes ranges dramatically from around $10 to $300.

For the best results, you need a specialist macro lens for your SLR and often a proper lighting kit (macro flashgun) to go with it. Macro lenses are purposely designed for sharp images at a short range. They also do double up for portraits quite well.

For more details about shooting macro photography, these tutorials may be useful:

Almost all of the images below have been captured using a macro lens – click on the photo to find out more!

macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration
macro photography examples inspiration

Thanks For Reading!

If you would like to share an example of your macro photography, please leave a link in the comments – I’d love to take a look! As ever, if you have any suggestions or ideas for future roundups, please feel free to post them below.

  • http://www.ondejka.com Dany

    esto son muy bien foto.

  • Andreas Nordbo

    Awesome macro Photos! :D

  • Elie

    amazing shots!!!

  • SuziQ

    I’m a newbie at photography but Macro just gets me fired up! I think it’s very interesting. Thank u so much for sharing ! Beautiful shots by the way :)

  • http://my-dark-desire.deviantart.com/ carolina hernández

    amazing article and collection ^^
    thanks for featuring :3

  • http://www.liberatocreative.com Maurizio Liberato

    Wow awesome collection! Thanks! :)

  • http://ivapelcova.com/ Ivy

    Here’s example of mine: http://ivy046.deviantart.com/art/Face-To-Face-93264845 ;)
    I have more macro photos on my dA account or on my website ;)

  • http://www.solemone.de/ solemone

    Awesome collection!

  • setu

    These are some of the best macros i’ve ever seen!! hats off to you!
    here’s a link of some of my macro shots…although mine are nothing compared to the shots above,please take a look. :)
    cheers!

  • setu

    These are some of the best macros i’ve ever seen!! hats off to you!
    here’s a link of some of my macro shots…although mine are nothing compared to the shots above,please take a look. :)
    cheers!
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/setubylens/sets/72157615969384130/

  • http://www.fuseboxgroup.com Bleyder

    I love it! Hope to make this photos some day

  • Kris

    Wow.. truly amazing. Evolution or Creation? I’m sorry but if the process of it all is never figured out, I will none-the-less always be amazed at the pure beauty and majesty that is captured with macro photography. The intense detail of worlds unseen.. and it’s all around us. Great thread! I’d love to see more on this.

    • Eleanor

      Kris, I can’t believe these wonders just ‘happened’. There has to be a Creator, Who is so loving that he lavishes attention on detail almost invisible to a casual glance

  • http://www.sigaspot.com/ SiGa

    Wow, this is stunning!! Nature is just amazing…

  • jumana

    very inspiring!
    thanks for the post =)

  • http://www.greenpictures.nl Maarten

    Very inspiring examples!

    Here is an example of my own macrowork:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/maartendive/4106867360/

  • Nancy Fogel

    Exquisite images.

  • http://www.marcelbianchi.com Marcel Bianchi
  • http://photoblog.flanisoft.at/ Daniel

    Really stunning Macros!
    Here is one of example of my macrowork: http://photoblog.flanisoft.at/index.php?showimage=55

    One my favorite macro photographers is Igor Siwanowicz

  • Zak

    I’m not trying to advertise, but what do you think of my macro, http://www.flickr.com/photos/zakmilofsky/3989592467/
    All critique is accepted

    • http://www.peewee1002.co.uk Peter Sawyer
      Author

      Badass.

      The black and white treatment works really well. Keep it up.

      Only the right hand side of the image lets it down, as its fairly unintresting.

  • Phil

    Peter, thank you for sharing these awesome macros. Your work is truly inspirational.

    • http://www.peewee1002.co.uk Peter Sawyer
      Author

      Don’t credit me for the photography!

      I just spend the time collecting them together – which takes ages to be honest but I do enjoy it.

      Thanks.

  • http://jplale.free.fr/photo jplale

    thanks Peter

    I am pleased to be among this 40 photos of macro

    Here other photo of my collection : http://jplale.free.fr/photo/index.php?/category/7

  • http://www.shariblog.com Amit

    beautiful macro images..taking a picture wit shallow depth in the 2nd image is an excellent thinking as the subject is interesting with beautiful contrast & amazing foreground..the 5th image too is interesting wit good clarity & beautiful reflection..

  • Edgar

    Here’s an example of macro photography http://khaostheory455.deviantart.com/#/d5apwlw