Day 27 - Macro / Micro - What's The Deal?

I'd like to share an interesting article that describes why photographs of tiny things are called macro photographs when all logic tells me they would be called micro photographs. The following is an excerpt.

The Difference Between Macro Micro and Close Up Photography by Tanya Puntti

The word macro means big, whereas the word micro mean small. So how is it that these two terms related? If the subject you are photographing is small and you want to make it look big, you end up with a “macro” view of a “micro” subject.

Macro photography is that which is taken with a dedicated macro lens. A real macro lens has the capability of achieving in the least a 1:1 magnification. Just because a camera has the word macro written on it, doesn’t make it a true macro lens.

Close up photography, is the act of photographing objects such as flowers or insects in close range so the subject you are photographing fills the frame. In other words, it’s the act of photographing subjects close up. This is easily achievable with any lens, even a 300mm telephoto lens.

Macro photography is in essence close up photography as well. However, close up photography is not always considered as true macro photography. For example, if you have a lens that is NOT considered a real macro lens, yet offers a macro setting (as many do nowadays), this is usually referred to as being close up photography, and not true macro.

Capturing the finest detail, is one of the main differences between macro / micro photography and close up photography. Macro lenses are expensive for a reason. That being, a true macro lens allows the photographer to capture finer detail than would otherwise have been seen. For example, the hairs on an insects face, or the pattern in its eye.

Take the two photographs below for example. The first image is a very good example of a close up photograph, taken with a Nikon telephoto lens. While the second photograph is a macro shot, allowing for bigger magnification and showing the finest detail.

This beautiful photo is part of the article. (Not my photo)

Also part of the article. (Not my photo either)

If you'd like to read the article in its entirety, you can find it here: http://www.slrphotographyguide.com/blog/macro/macro-micro-closeup-difference.html

I'll be adding some of my photos later today. See you back here!