Macro nature photography is among my favorite ways to strengthen my connection with nature. Heading out on a hike or to my sit spot with my camera trained on the tiny details around me never fails to bring me to a place of mindful connection with nature.

So much is happening in the natural world on a small scale, often right under our noses. We might not notice the tiny amazingness all around us unless we make a point to go out and look for it.

Taking macro photos of our fellow living organisms and creatures helps us to focus (forgive me) on the tiny overlooked things in nature. 

Of course, one goal of macro photography is cool photos. A deeper goal is bringing ourselves back to a place of mindfulness. 

How to:

Want to try it yourself? Great! You can take some very nice close-up photos with your phone camera, just by getting up close. While these might not be true macro shots, they are still an easy and accessible way to explore the tiny world around you.

You can also make a small investment in a clip-on lens for your phone camera. I use one made by Xenvo. These clip-on lenses provide a true macro experience for your phone camera. As an extra bonus, they are lightweight and compact, making them easy to slip into your pocket, or on a lanyard around your neck as I do.

Almost all digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro setting. If you have this type of camera, try playing with the macro settings to see what type of lighting conditions give you the best images.

Finally, if you’re really serious about taking macro photos, a DSLR (SLR if you’re into film!) with a dedicated macro lens will give you the highest quality. Of course, it’s a larger investment.

If you’re new to macro nature photography, start with your phone camera, and see how that works for you. That might be all you need.

When we look at the small things in nature, we get a glimpse into how everything is connected in the bigger picture.