_edited.png)
The buzzing, the humming, the chirping, we hear it. They're in the trees, underground, in the air and even though we hear, we only see them for mere seconds - if at all. But through macro photography this small world can be revealed in a way you've never seen it before.
As children we might've played, observed or maybe even collected insects. As grown-ups we notice the yearly buzzing of the bees, especially in spring. And of course we also notice the colourful butterflies and the many kinds of dragonflies. Along that, most of us probably have also experienced the ants and their incredible way of knowing, where there's food to get.
But, have we truly had the opportunity to see the insects, flies, butterflies, spiders and many more in the way they truly are?
My introduction, a Macro photographer
Before starting to dive into the magic of macro photography, I thought, it might be time to introduce myself!
I'm Magni Macro, an Austrian amateur macro photographer based in Lithuania. A country with a vast amount of many different kinds of insects. Already as a child, I was always fond of all the little beetles and ants crawling around in the gardens. But it was only since a very short period of time, when I had come to fall truly into the grips of macro.
Starting with a normal DSLR camera and some extension rings, I'd begun shooting flowers and only some shield bugs. But these insights had taken hold of me and I grew obsessed by this small world!
Especially one encounter might've been the reason for my current, unbreakable wish to see and share the small world. And it all started with a jumping spider:
When I'd gotten my new (second-hand) camera, I'd soon struggled to understand how to shoot good macro shots. And to be honest, I began to doubt myself very much. Not daring to make mistakes, I grew less interested in photography altogether. That eagerness of discovery of the animals in it was overshadowed by my disappointment.
On one late afternoon in April, I had taken my camera into the garden to shoot some flower shots for my family. Suddenly, on a wood, something moved. I stared at it in disbelief. It was a massive jumping spider with a prey of a wolf spider. And this predator didn't run away. It allowed me, a complete beginner, to get three shots and videos from it. With every second I watched it, my heart grew more towards it. And than the jumping spider turned to me, looking directly towards my own eyes. Instantly, I saw and understood.
The macro world is more than just capturing photos. It is everything to those living in it. From that moment on I lay aside the strive of making "good photos" but put all my time into finding moments that count. Moments I want to share with the world.
And now, a little insight to the magic of macro photography!
Macro photography, the gate to a different world
With the help of a macro lens, extension rings or simply a compact camera able to zoom very close, everyone can begin this journey.
Wherever you are, wherever you stand - whether in a city or a village, there's live underneath your feet. They hide in the crevasses of walls, under and in small hedges or on tree trunks. Ants climb on grass blades in the parks, whilst bees are wherever there are flowers to be found.
Every living being has unique behaviors, ways of survival and daily routines. Now imagine, that over 1 million insect species have been discovered thus far and each and every one of them have their own and unique way. Some even think, there might even be over 10 million species!
It is there, where macro allows the unique photography genre of capturing exactly those special animals and their lives. It allows to show their day - how they wake up, how they eat, how they breed, built their homes, go to sleep and so on. With the help of macro, you see these images you'd never ever be able to witness. And the beauty about it - you can share it with the world.
Why is the macro world so important?
Insects, spiders and all of these fantastic critters are incredibly important for our world. Fruit trees wouldn't get the needed pollination to make fruit and the very same with the crops on the fields. Pests wouldn't be controlled. Soils wouldn't be maintained and they'd grow fruitless. Nutrients wouldn't be recycled. The forest ants, as example, are terribly important for the forest. In fact, it is them, who are the primary re-distributors of nutrients in the woods!
Spiders are also key predators hunting prey which are often pests bad for livestock and crops. Another fun fact - spiders are actually pretty important prey for birds, lizards and others.
This is, why macro photography allows not only for you to discover a world so strange and beautiful alike, but also to share its crucial importance for the environment.
Of course the world of the small does not only include insects or spiders. In spring and summer flowers bloom and change the world colourful. Sunsets and early mornings change these colours into magical photos. Autumn reveals mushrooms, sponges and spores. And winter can allow the unique capture of snowflakes.
What makes macro so special?
Macro photography is the opposite of the big mammal animals on the land - or the ocean - and the birds on our trees. It brings close that, what we cannot see with our eyes, yet is so vast; we'll never be able to comprehend everything in this one lifetime we have.
This small world is part of the earth's big image and we only see a small piece of it's importance.
Very interesting to read this story about macro photography! 🦋🐞