Most macro photography is centered around 1X (one time) magnification and can easily be accomplished with a simple macro lens, camera, appropriate lighting, and a solid tripod. Beautiful images can be made from the hundreds of common subjects found anywhere. Flowers, insects, crystals, and the like make great macro photography subjects. Unfortunately, although pleasing to the eye, 1X images leave many of the more intricate patterns wanting. The various facets of an insect’s eye, flower pistol and stamens, the scales that make up a butterfly wing, and thousands of other intricately patterned biological and geological features need additional magnification to allow the viewer to see their marvels. By exploring beyond 1X into higher levels and even up to 5X the macro photographer opens up an incredible array of images that, unaided, cannot be seen by the naked eye.
Join photographers Bruce Taubert and Amy Horn as they take you on a journey where the unseeable and unbelievable will be yours. Bruce and Amy will instruct on the various photographic tools and skills necessary to capture marvelous Super Macro images. The learning curve is not steep and if you have taken one of Bruce or Amy’s Macro Photography Workshops you will be prepared with the basics and ready for advanced work. The tools are not expensive but the techniques are exacting.
The workshop is not a lecture format but one where, after a brief discussion, the participants will dive into taking their own Super Macro photographs. Insect eyes, butterfly and moth wings, intricate flowers, bug faces, and loads of other subjects will be provided. You will need to bring your “normal” macro equipment. We will have lenses to attach to your macro lenses.
Super Macro demands image stacking to appreciate the full beauty of a subject. Amy will explain the ins and outs of stacking software and the participants will use Helicon Focus when working on the final images. Amy will also explain the post-processing techniques. If you have a camera that does focus stacking internally you will not need anything additional. However, if your camera does not fall into one of the above categories you will need to purchase a focusing rail. We will recommend one to you that sells for $129 on Amazon.
If you want to take your macro photography to the next level this is the course for you. In Bruce’s search, there are only a couple of similar courses in the world! Bruce and Amy have spent the past 10 years perfecting their skills at plus 1X photography.
Equipment Required
Camera, macro lens, tripod with a solid head, remote camera release, two flashes triggered off-camera, Helicon Focus and Helicon Remote (we will provide the free download site), focusing rail (see above), and computer. If you have extension tubes, focusing rails, macro flashes, or any other macro equipment please bring it.
Pre-requisites:
Participants who attend this workshop should either have previous experience with Macro photography or take the Art of Macro workshop prior to attendance.
Workshop includes:
- 2 days of super macro photography instruction with 2 experts
- Usage of macro diopters
- Discount on Helicon Focus
- lunch both days
- post-workshop critique
Day 1 – Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023
- 8:00 AM-introductions and logistics.
- 8:30-AM discussion of equipment, techniques, and other methods.
- 10:00 AM -introduction to Super Macro set-ups.
- 11:00 AM -begin photographing Super Macro Subjects.
- 12:00-1:00 lunch
- The rest of the day until 5:00 PM will be spent photographing different subjects, focus-stacking, and post-processing.
Day 2 – Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023
- 8:00 AM- discussion of post-processing and subject preparation.
- 9:00 AM – jump right into photographing Super Macro subjects.
- 12:00-1:00 lunch.
- 1:00 PM -critique of the participant’s Super Macro images.
- Continue with photography until 5:00 PM when class ends.
The workshop will be based:
Arizona Game & Fish Department
7200 E University Drive
Mesa, AZ 85207
Our workshop will kickoff with a classroom presentation Saturday morning at 8:00 am at the Mesa office of Arizona Game & Fish.
Arizona Highways PhotoScapes reserves the right to cancel any workshop if our minimum student enrollment is not met. In the event AHPS cancels a workshop, participants will be given the option to reschedule to a later date or receive a full refund for the workshop components booked directly with AHPS. Please Note: we are not liable for the additional expenses incurred such as airfare, hotel accommodations or any other components booked outside of the workshop.