DC1_9191 by Spodie Odie

When I first became interested in photography I was obsessed with doing macro work.  A friend of mine who is a Nikon guy (the horror!) showed me the results he was getting with his macro lens and I was sold right away.  Not long after I purchased what is still one of my favorite lenses, my 180mm macro lens, and to the flower gardens I went.  I got some strange looks as I walked around my neighborhood with a tripod, a giant lens, and a shutter release cable, however when I made journeys to the National Arboretum or to Kennilworth Aquatic Gardens, I found photographers decked out in camouflage with gear that put mine to shame.

If you find yourself getting hooked on macro photography, be prepared to buy some serious gear.  This great shot by Spodie Odie was taken with a Nikon D300 and what I’m guessing is their 60mm micro lens.  A tripod is a definite must for macro work too because the closer you get to your subject, the more every tiny move is amplified.  Using a shutter release cable and mirror lockup (if your camera supports it) allows you to minimize the amount of camera movement generated by the shutter opening and closing as well as the shake in your hands.  If you really want to go off the deep end you can buy extension tubes and special macro flashes which can achieve some amazing results.  Soon you’ll be seeing detail in nature that you never knew existed before.