Sharper Images and DIY Tools

 Sharper photos

Small apertures reduce the amount of light passing through the lens, and this can lead to slow shutter speeds and long exposure times.

Any slight movement - even the vibration caused by the mirror moving inside the camera - will increase the risk of blurred pictures.

To combat this, activate your camera's Mirror Lock-up function, or shoot using Live View (where the mirror is automatically locked up) and trigger the shutter using a remote release or the camera's self-timer.

Increase the ISO to get a faster shutter speed if necessary, although you'll get the cleanest looking shots below ISO 1600.

Make a DIY a reflector

It can be challenging to ensure a small subject is evenly lit, particularly if you're using a shorter macro lens to take life-size images - the camera will need to be very close to the subject and this can limit your creative lighting options.

A simple reflector goes a long way to solving this problem. You can make your own DIY reflector using a piece of aluminum foil: screw into into a ball and then flatten it out again to create a more diffuse quality of light.

Position it on the shadow side of a subject to reveal previously hidden details.