10 Macro Photography Composition Rules (Macro Photography with Raynox DCR 250)

Today we will try to analyse how we can improve our composition tips wrt macro photography. I mostly click my macro shots with my Raynox DCR 250. I use both my kit lenses 18-55mm and 70-300mm with my Raynox. So I will show you my images and we will try to understand the composition part of them.

1. Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is the easiest way to get your photos right. In the rule of thirds, we divide our frame in a 3×3 grid and place the subject along these lines or at the intersecting points of these lines. For instance, you can place flower stems along one of the vertical gridlines. And you can place the insect at the intersection of two gridlines (called ‘power points’).

2. Fill the Frame

When I photograph flowers, I like to focus on the lines and curves of the petals. This adds interest but doesn’t require that I show anything more than my subject.

3. Patterns

Nature is full of patterns. You can fill your frame with a pattern and make it your subject. Leaves, tree trunks, flowers, are full of interesting and colourful patterns.

4. Diagonal Lines

To keep your photo more interesting, experts recommend creating diagonal lines. Parallel lines can be boring and unappealing. But if you give it some diagonals, you create a great effect such as that of action.

5. Subject Isolation

Try and isolate your subject within the frame in an interesting and appealing composition. This can easily be done by having a nice clean backdrop. If I lower my flash and place it to the side of the subject, I may get a black background and if I increase my flash exposure I may get some colour in my background.

6. Negative Space

Using negative space leaves the viewer with nothing else other than your chosen subject to concentrate on. You can see that I’ve added in some more space on the left and moved the subject to the right side of the frame.

7. Leading Lines

Using leading lines in your image provides the viewer with a natural path for the eye to follow, guiding them through your image. The best part is that they can be found pretty much anywhere.

8. Balance

Placing your main subject off-center, as with the rule of thirds, creates a more interesting photo, but it can leave a void in the scene which can make it feel empty. You can achieve a balanced composition and even out the main subject’s “visual weight” by including another object of lesser importance to fill the space.

9. Viewpoint

Our viewpoint has a massive impact on the composition of our photo, and as a result it can greatly affect the message that the shot conveys. Rather than just shooting from eye level, consider photographing from high above, down at ground level, from the side, from the back, from a long way away, from very close up, and so on.

10. Cropping

Often a photo will lack impact because the main subject is so small it becomes lost among the clutter of its surroundings. By cropping tight around the subject you eliminate the background “noise”, ensuring the subject gets the viewer’s undivided attention.

Composing your macro photos can be tough as your subject is so tiny and your camera is very sensitive to your hand shaking and you have a very shallow depth of field. Keep clicking! 🙂

Also Read – Creative Ways to Photograph the Moon