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Welcome to GO MACRO!

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Want to explore small worlds? Let us show you what equipment you need and how to use it

By Mason Resnick

May 22, 2008

If you're here, you're ready to make magic. Macro photography--the kind that magnifies subjects to full size or bigger on film or CCD chip--transforms common objects into strange new worlds. But this transformation requires the right gear, solid technique, and a visual style to make the magic work. We've put together this free guide to macro photography to help you make informed buying decisions and to help you get the most out of your gear after you've bought it.

All about the gear

The ability to shoot true 1:1 Macro photos is one of the most compelling reasons to buy an SLR (single-lens reflex) of the film and/or digital variety. See our brand-new Macro Lens Buying Guide, as well as our macro gear guide. Read these first if you've never done macro photography--or if you need a refresher course.

If you're ready to dive into it, we've put together a guide to Macro Photo Essentials which links you right to specific macro photography gear at a price level you're comfortable with.

If you're just getting started, you also probably will need a DSLR. Visit our guide to the starter DSLRs as well as our DSLR overview. And if you're shooting macro, a tripod is another absolute necessity.

Directions and inspiration

We've also put together a list of Macro Shooting Tips to give you a solid foundation in appropriate photographic techniques and help you avoid common pitfalls.

Looking for exciting subjects? Elinor Stecker-Orel shows you how to photograph refracted images found in tiny raindrops, in Drops of Inspiration, while Rick Sammon shows you his indoors technique for gaining control over tiny natural subjects in Practice Makes Perfect in Close-up Photography.

There's a lot more to Macro, and we'll be updating this section and adding new features from time to time. Check in often!

And if you've got the equipment and the knowledge but need a little inspiration, we're collecting macro shots. Got one you're proud of? Send it Take a look at these reader-submitted macro photos!

Just follow the links on this page to enter the big world of small subjects.

--Mason Resnick
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(*Your emailing a picture to us implies permission to use it on the web site with appropriate credit. Please include your name and location (city, state, country) as well as your web site URL if you have one.)

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