Why I love macro photography

In case you haven’t noticed it yet, I may have an interest in macrophotography

First of all, here is a definition, by MarcosRodriguez of macro photography: "A Macro photograph shows a subject that is life size compared to the size of the negative of a SLR or sensor in a Full Frame DSLR, that's a 1:1 reproduction ratio aspect. […] Often a ratio aspect of 1:2 is also considered Macro, although that ratio shows subjects which life size is half of the size compared to the negative or sensor, I prefer to call those pictures Close-up photographies." (quote from here)

But why do I love it so much? In order to answer that question, I asked for the help of some other macro lovers:

Because it makes you discover a whole new world

Sheila-M-Carlo explains it well : "Macro is like magic to me. It’s all about the details that emerge when the picture is enlarged. Those that can’t be seen or aren’t noticed with the naked eye!"

Thanks to macro photography, everything around is magnified: “I have always found it fascinating to be able to see things that can't be seen with bare eyes. The possibility to be able to make invisible things visible - not only because of their size, but also because of the limited time of occurrence – is a special excitement in highspeed - waterdrop photography. Besides the forms that are coming to existence when waterdrops collide are extraordinary intriguing and most beautiful.” - AlexGornikiewicz

I’ve been practicing it for a couple of years now, and can’t stop but being amazed by how some very simple things, like water drops formed by water and oil for instance, can look so amazing. And I still get excited about it!

Because it teaches you to appreciate everything and everyone around you

Starting macrophotography opened up my mind on how to perceive my surroundings. It made me realize that I don’t have to go hiking, travel around the world, or see some people with some special looks to see the beauty that is around me. Everything has macro photography potential, whether it is indoors or outdoors, him or her, or even yourself, as long as you see beauty in it.

As Sheila-M-Carlo says: ”With Macro photography, I learned to appreciate more the simple things around me. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that some details are all creations of nature and not human, and I am talking about insects, flowers, human body...it is just incredible, and the more I see, or discover...the more I love macro photography. My best example of this is the human eye! Thanks to macro photography I know that our eyes look like portals to another dimensions! How cool is that!”

Thus, you see your environment differently: "I was drawn into macro for the sheer pleasure of (re)discovering nature, and the amazement it brings each time (e.g: didn't know flies had that feature, what's that bug anyway, etc.) […]" - Kisarisary

Because it develops various skills

Macro photography (amongst any other type of art) helps developing your creativity, concentration, your observation skills.....and strengthen your muscles Yes, I can’t tell you the number of times that I got sore about a shooting session from remaining still for a long time

Because we’re inviting others to see the world differently

Macro photography can also change people’s mind: “I love seeing things differently than I usually would especially with smaller creatures. The detail and things missed by the eye normally that make them that much more interesting. How you may perceive something as tiny and harmless by looking at it and then see a macro shot and it becomes horrifying and monsterous." - morbidman187

Thus, it can change your perception of things! “I like macro photography because it allows me to show the small world in a way that people can't see it with their naked eyes. In the process, I've managed to change the way that people feel about insects, to view them as more than "just bugs.""- dalantech

Now, one can ask: do you have to be a photographer or more specifically a macrophotographer to enjoy it? Que nenni!
“Macro in terms of photography makes you as a god able to penetrate another Dimension, just... Another World. All of a sudden, you're a super hero able to travel where you would never ever go and worse than that: would ignore till end of times!
That's why I admire and respect macro photographers, and the way they bring us into the beauty of this infinitely small world heck not deprived of Beauty and amazing discoveries.”- hosagu

At the end of the day, when you think about it, macrophotography is all about loving every single thing to bits and embracing your environment.

Now, come on, try it out!