Learn / Lesson 67 / Practical
Practical exercise

Macro photography with kit lenses: try it yourself

Photograph by Carl Cooper LRPS illustrating macro photography with kit lenses
Photograph by Carl Cooper LRPS.
Photographic example for macro photography with kit lenses

Aim

You should learn the close-focusing limit of your own lens and make a deliberate close-up rather than simply cropping a distant photograph.

Do this step by step

  1. Choose a small stationary object with fine detail.
  2. Zoom your kit lens towards its longer end and move closer until autofocus begins to struggle.
  3. Move back slightly and focus on one clear detail.
  4. Take the photograph, then change your angle so the background becomes simpler.
  5. Try supporting the camera and taking another photograph.
  6. Compare which detail is sharp and how the background changed.