What is macro photography? You will come across many different people talking about the real meaning of macro photography and there are very many senseless arguments as to what it means for the reasonable photographer.
Basically, macro photography is just close up photography. It means getting nearer to your subject and effectively making it look bigger in the viewfinder or on the screen.
But to get closer you need to be able to have a lens that will focus close. This can be achieved by buying a specialised macro lens that can be used as a normal lens but which will have close focussing. Alternatively, you can buy inexpensive add-on lenses that attach to the front of your lens or extension tubes which fit in between your lens and the camera body.
Irrespective of which you choose, you will be able to take pictures of bees on flower petals and raindrops on cobwebs and anything you want large and close.
But be aware of the problems of macro (close up) photography. The first is that focussing has to be more critical as the closer you get to an object, the shallower is the depth of field or depth of focus. Make sure you are accurate with the focussing and use a small aperture if you can.
The other problem is that lighting can be a bit tricky. Being so close means that ambient light is often obscured and indoors this makes things difficult. You can use a flashgun but the lighting can be harsh and directional so use little reflectors where possible.
Luckily, your pictures of bees on a sunny day will be easy. Try it.
Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com
