How To Use Nikon D300

How to practise macro photography with Nikon D300 – a how to macro guide.

This is a how to instructions guide for taking macro photography and extreme close-ups with Nikon D300. Hence the title, how to do macro photography with Nikon D300. 😉

"The existent voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new optics."

– Marcel Proust

This commodity will cover:

What is macrophotography?
What equipment do I demand to do macrophotography
What settings do I use for macrophotography?
Which Macro Lens should I buy for my Nikon camera?
How to do macro photography with Nikon D300. 😀

Macro photography allows us to run across the world from a unlike perspective. Extreme close-up photos tin be mesmerizing, and will add a unlike dimension to your photography toolbox – which consequently ways that your reputation as a photographer will meliorate drastically. If you would like to learn more than, please read on – it is very easy to do in one case you know how to, and very impressive to your followers. – Nicole Lisa Photography

What is macrophotography?

Macrophotography is the terminology used by photographers for taking "Close-up" or "magnified" photos of whatever chosen object or fauna. The photographs producing are extremely detailed, showing detail beyond that which is visible to the naked human eye.

However, macrophotography is slightly more than technical than simply taking shut up photos, and if the term "macro" is to exist applied to the prototype being taken, one has to achieve a magnification level greater than ane:i. In other words, the prototype being captured on film, or on the imaging sensor of your DSLR camera), must exist larger than that of what is being photographed. This does not use to an prototype which has only been fabricated larger in post processing, and we shall therefore explain what kind of equipment you will need in social club to empathize how to do macro photography with Nikon D300.

What equipment exercise I need to exercise macrophotography?

The question should really be, "what equipment do I need to accept professional looking macro photos?"

ane. DSLR CAMERA

The fact that y'all are reading up on this, shows that you lot have an interest in photography. Evidently the best photographic camera you could accept, is a DSLR, which these days are not too expensive. Seeing that you lot've establish this article 'How to do macro photography with Nikon D300', implies that y'all already have a Nikon D300(or desire i). Anywho, this is a perfect camera to start with – your mode to learn how to exercise macro photography with Nikon D300.

– Upgrading? Read more near ane of the Nikon Flagships: The Nikon D3S.

"Yous cannot depend on your optics when your imagination is out of focus. "

– Mark Twain

2. MACRO LENS

The second most important piece of equipment is a Macro Lens. This is specifically designed lens for this blazon of photography, and it will non fail yous. You could endeavor to make a cheaper version, purchase a cheaper lens or even use a magnifying lens, all of which will impart a degree of the magnification possible – but besides create a degree of mistiness. The optically superb macro lens can be plant in the link provided, and will final yous a lifetime.

Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens

– Read more: Nikon 105mm

Hands down, the all-time macro lens for Nikon DSLR cameras. The sole favorite among Amazon customers, currently having collected an impressive four.5/5 star rating with 184 client reviews. Includes an internal focus, which provides fast and tranquility machine-focusing without changing the length of the lens. Invest in this and you'll take your photography to some other level. Here are a couple of photo examples, shot using this macro lens:

Buzzing Bee - Photo credit Robert. — Buzzing Bee – Photograph credit Robert. Gear: "Nikon 105mm, Nikon D90, 1/1600sec, f5.6". 'How to do macro photography with Nikon D300'.

Discover the fascinating details seen due to the astonishing capabilities of the macro lens. This is not something you would encounter with cheaper alternatives.

– CLICK Hither TO Larn MORE ABOUT THE NIKON 105mm MACRO LENS:

Here's another photo example, this time capturing a so-called water umbrella with unique precision:

Water Umbrella - Photo credit RR. — Water Umbrella – Photo credit RR. 'How to exercise macro photography with Nikon D300'.

– Feeling inspired? CLICK Hither to learn more about the Nikon 105mm macro lens – or the other available lenses.

3. TRIPOD

The third nearly important piece of equipment is a tripod. This is obviously dependent on what yous intend to photo. Nevertheless, since you're into macro photography, it is very likely you would want to take shots of flowers, spiders, water formations, snowfall crystals and/or a range of insects or objects. Depending on the object, and how probable it is to run away if y'all get too close, a tripod tin can provide the stability, and close proximity needed to capture that unique shot of a rare insect or object.

Showtime there is the the professional tripod. In this case a Ravelli lxx″ Tripod with Adaptable Pistol Grip Head and Heavy Duty Comport Bag.

– Read more: Ravelli 70″ Tripod

Already have a tripod you lot say? Well, I bet you don't accept a Gorillapod – this tripod can be attached to all sorts of things where traditional tripods couldn't. Bank check information technology out, it is pretty cool.. is information technology essential in how to do macro photography with Nikon D300? Maybe not, merely information technology may give y'all an unique angle and provide you with a breath-taking photograph.

– Read more than: Gorillapod – Flexible tripod

4. REMOTE CONTROL SHUTTER TIMER

This is the piece of equipment that allows you to shoot time lapses, long exposure photos with more than 30 seconds shutter fourth dimension and likewise traffic trails, star lapse ++ but it is as well very handy for macro photography. Why? Because information technology allows y'all to stand at a safe distance, for case when setting up your camera next to a bee hive or other creative arenas, which in turn allows y'all to trigger the photos with the remote or just fix it to timer shooting photos every 30 seconds or and so. This mode you tin can too create a bit of a fusion betwixt two photo techniques; "macro photography time lapse". Wonderful stuff! Cheque out the macro time lapse beneath for inspiration:

In this video by Waldemar Szymanski – he has combined 3 elements. Video not loading or displaying correctly? Delight press reload on your browser.

Macro photography, time lapse and the use of a slider (which gives that cool gliding effect).

We more often than not recommend wireless timers. Yeah, they are a bit more than pricey, but the investment is well worth information technology. The Vello Wireless Shutterboss is a cracking choice.

How to practice macro photography with Nikon D300 – What settings to use?

Once you are all set up with your equipment, the obvious question comes into effect; "what settings do I employ…?!"

This is dependent on where you are, and what time of day it is – equally the amount of light bachelor will play a vital function.

Depth of field is very important, the main reason existence that when you lot are so close up to an object, y'all need to make sure that a suitable large area of the subject is in focus. You wont be also impressed when yous finally get to see your images on the big screen, and detect out that the antler is the merely affair you managed to get in focus of your rare burn down ant.

On the other hand you can of grade arrange the settings to artistically choice out areas of interest that you want to focus on, but understanding the settings you need is the first will assist shape your abilities as a photographer.

The depth of field is dependent upon the discontinuity (F-stop), which is explained in more than item below.

The aperture (f-end)

The discontinuity, or f-stop (same as focal ratio, f-number and relative aperture) controls how wide the lens is during a shot. A wide aperture (low f-number) ways that your lens is open quite broad, allowing a lot of lite in during the shot. A loftier f-number means that your lens is not open as wide, therefore limiting the amount of low-cal in any given shot.

In macro photography – is is best to shoot with a narrow aperture, and therefore high f-number/f-stop – as more of the paradigm volition be in focus. An example of what is beingness described hither tin be seen in the photograph below.

F-stop illustration. — F-stop analogy. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons. 'How to practise macro photography with Nikon D300'.

Every bit you tin run across, an f-cease of f/1.four is larger than that of f/2.0, and much larger than that of f/8.0.

Back to the depth of field

If y'all want all the areas of the subject in focus, a large F-number (for example f/32), volition help y'all achieve this. More of both the background and foreground objects/details will be in focus.

A smaller f-number (and therefore larger aperture) such as f/i.2 will isolate more of the foreground from details in the picture that lay more in the background, meaning the foreground will appear sharp and the background will announced blurry.

An example of this tin be seen in the moving picture below. The picture on the left has a large depth of Field (meaning both the foreground and background elements are in focus), and therefore has a high f-finish and a narrow aperture.

Depth of field - Example photo. — Depth of field – Case photograph. 'How to practice macro photography with Nikon D300'.

Explanation: The picture on the right has a low depth of field, therefore a broad aperture, and low f-stop. The focus is therefore on the leaves, but as you can see the background is non in focus. This tin be a cool effect if you utilize information technology correctly.

Should I use manual focus or automatic focus?

Focussing sharply on a subject area in macro photography is mayhap the hardest element to perfect in macrophotography. The lens depicted before is a expert manner of avoiding this obstruction though, but in full general information technology is all-time to use manual focus, after y'all take already focussed on the subject field using auto-focus. A combination of the two.

You tin do this by focusing automatically on the subject first, and once y'all are sure it is in focus, switch to manual focus. Simples, right?

This will ensure that when you are ready to take the picture, and press the shutter button, the lens won't endeavor to automatically re-focus, thereby causing you to have to ready your shot again.

Which size macro lens should I buy?

The most popular choice of macro lenses is effectually 100mm, similar the Nikon 105mm lens.

Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens

In that location are so many macro lenses out in that location, that information technology can be difficult to decide which to purchase. You may have seen the different types, with differing focal lengths; 50mm, 60mm, 100mm and 105mm. But what does the focal length mean for photographic camera performance?

The lower the focal length of the lens, the closer you will need to be to the subject, and it will exist therefore harder to take good macro photos of injects, or objects that movement. This is an extremely of import consideration to have into account.

For example, using 60mm macro lens, will mean y'all really need to exist physically close, even direct next to the object. It is likely you will likewise cast shadows over the subject, and lite is an of import cistron.

Using a 100mm lens will requite y'all that extra length. You can stand nearly 1 meter away from the Object, and notwithstanding get extremely good macro photos, without casting shadows and without potentially scaring your subject away. With the 60mm lens, y'all have to stand up at least 15cm, and as explained, this can be problematic.

Commodity: How to do macro photography with Nikon D300

By: Nicole Lisa Photography for Super Stoked Magazine – talk with her directly in our FORUM (NicoleLisaPhoto), visit her facebook page or website.

Flower - Nikon 105mm - Photo credit Andres Rojas. — Flower – Nikon 105mm – Photo credit Andres Rojas.

"Where beams of imagination play,
The memory's soft figures melt abroad. "

– Alexander Pope

Photograph credits: R.R., Andres Rojes, Robert and Wikimedia Commons.

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