Photography is a creative outlet for me. It helps me unwind, and the process of crafting a photo is just as enjoyable as the outcome.

While I dabble in many different types of photography (my YouTube channel is called Critters to Cosmos, which explains a lot), macro photography has that little extra something. See what I did there?

Seeing the world up close allows us to observe things that we often overlook in our daily lives. The psychedelic colours found in soap bubbles. The transistors and traces on a circuit board. The inner workings of a vintage watch.

All of these things take on a whole new dimension when looked at through a dedicated macro lens, but none compares to the complex anatomy of insects. A macro lens transports you into their little worlds, allowing you to watch them go about their day. They are incredible creatures of habit, focused and efficient, be it a bee collecting pollen, a dragonfly sunning it’s wings or an ambush bug waiting patiently for hours until their its next victim comes along.

I am convinced that they’re observing me as I observe them. The fact that they allow me in their space without any fuss is quite a treat. I find that nature tends to respond favourably when you treat it with respect.

Once you become addicted to macro, and trust me, you will, extreme macro may be right around the corner. On a full frame camera like my EOS R, a typical macro lenses achieves a 1 to 1 ratio, meaning that the true size of a subject is reproduced on the camera’s sensor at life size. For example, a subject that is 5 mm across will take up 5 mm of the camera’s sensor. A specialized lens such as a Canon MP-E 65 can achieve a 5 to 1 ratio. That 5 mm subject will now take up 25 mm of the sensor! A lens like this is very difficult to use and by no means suitable for beginners.

The addition of extension tubes can reduce the minimum focusing distance, getting you even closer to your subject. They are both easy to adapt and cost effective.

There are many great resources online if you’re new to macro. Micael Widell and Stewart Wood have fantastic YouTube channels with great Macro content. If you would like to see a detailed tutorial on some extreme macro, check out my video.

Interested in purchasing prints from Jason? You’ll find his contact information on the right.