Close-up and macro 30 common mistakes and how to avoid them

MISTAKE Not looking for, or communicating, a story

Humans have used storytelling as a form of communication for millennia, so it’s little surprise that pictures telling a story appeal to us more than those simply recording an object. If you look closely enough there are mini dramas unfolding everywhere – plants fighting for supremacy, animals going to extreme lengths to protect their young, water carving paths into rocks. Keep your eyes open for moments of change, conflict or symbiosis and use your skills to draw them out.

MISTAKE Thinking macro and close-up are the same thing

Although the terms close-up and macro photography are often used interchangeably, in reality only a reproduction ratio of 1:1, or a magnification of 1x (life-size), can be classed as macro; anything less than that is close-up. For the most part, this distinction is inconsequential, but when it comes to buying a lens it’s important to note that some manufacturers describe their lenses as ‘macro’ when, in fact, they are incapable of achieving 1:1 magnification and should really be described as ‘close-up’.

MISTAKE Failing to find order in the chaos

Some of the best macro and close-up images are a result of the photographer reducing a scene down to its core elements. When faced with a complex environment it helps to look for recurring patterns, shapes and lines. It can take time to find order in chaos, but if you slow down and tune into what’s in