SHOOT LIKE A PRO

Ready to get close and personal? Editor Lauren Scott joins pro photographer Geraint Radford for a macro masterclass

Macro photography is, at first glance, a niche genre. After all, if bugs and beasties aren’t your thing, why would you want to learn to shoot them? However, the skills you can glean from capturing subjects up close and in sharp focus can be applied to many different genres, from commercial photography to still life.

For this masterclass, I’ll be spending the day with Geraint Radford, a self-certified bug lover with a passion for sharing images of the natural world. I’ve met Geraint several times before, and his infectious enthusiasm for all things small and intricate is perhaps even more captivating than the shots themselves. For Geraint, macro photography isn’t just about the technique or practical side of taking photos, but a way to share with others the fascinating creatures and plant life that often gets overlooked.

The welfare of subjects is a priority, which means that all his “bug buddies” have been captured where found, and he never shoots in a studio environment.

Main image © Geraint Radford

If you’re already a macro enthusiast, you’ll know that the optimum time to head out with a camera is during the early hours of the day or at sunset. At this time, insects tend to move more slowly, making them easier to focus on at close magnifications. Softer natural light is also less harsh on often iridescent bodies, and on early spring mornings, insects such as dragonflies covered with dew drops can look stunning.

Even equipped with this knowledge, ongoing Covid travel restrictions mean that our shoot – an exploration of Llanelli Wetland centre in Wales, UK – takes place in bright summer sunshine. Geraint assures me that we can still get professional results, as for many images, he’ll be using his flash to overpower the sun.