Macro Photography
Photography at magnifications approaching or exceeding life size, revealing detail invisible to the unaided eye.
Formula / rule
m ≥ 1:1
Measured in
magnification ratio
In depth
At these magnifications every technical problem intensifies: depth of field shrinks to millimetres, effective aperture darkens by two stops at 1:1, and the slightest movement is magnified along with the subject. The usual answers are flash to freeze motion and permit small apertures, a focus rail, and stacking for subjects that will hold still.
Examples in practice
A hoverfly at 1:1 and f/11 still shows only a few millimetres of sharpness from eye to wing.