Tiny Worlds – What I Learned at a Macro Photography Workshop
- Rowena Mynott
- Jul 8
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 24
I’ve always been drawn to the little details—the pattern of a cobweb, the dimples of rain on sand, the textures hidden in plain sight. In fact in my photography 52:25 challenge last year most of my images were of textures - once I started I couldn’t stop seeing them everywhere! But it wasn’t until I attended a recent macro photography workshop that I truly understood just how much I’d been missing. Spending a day immersed in the art of seeing up close was both grounding and eye-opening. With my lens just centimetres from leaves, insects, and flowers a whole new world revealed itself—quiet, delicate, and full of unexpected wonder.
In this post, I’m sharing what the day taught me—not just about camera settings and lighting, but about attention, patience, and the magic of slowing down. I’ve included a few of my favourite images from the workshop, some practical tips for beginners, and a simple gear checklist if you're thinking of giving macro a try.
THE LOCATION:
The workshop, with Wildlife Worldwide, took place in a quiet nature reserve in Surrey tucked away from the main roads—one of those magical places that you might not pay attention to as a passer by. It was early morning and as a country girl I had to find my way through the busy rush hour traffic (inevitably I was 5 minutes late!). In stark contrast to the bustling noisy streets, a calm serenity waited for me in the nature reserve, and the early light filtered through the woodland canopy in soft, golden streaks was ideal conditions for macro photography. The wind - not so much!
Our small group of three gathered around our host photographer Emma Healey, who greeted us with a warm smile and a contagious enthusiasm for all things tiny and overlooked. After a brief introduction to macro gear and techniques, (and much berating ourselves for leaving certain bits of equipment behind!), we each picked a patch of hedge and began the slow, deliberate work of looking closely—really closely—at the world around us.
I had anticipated moving faster through the area, I had prepared for a hike, but from kneeling in the undergrowth to crouching beside mossy logs, we quickly learned that macro photography is as much about mindfulness as it is about technique. It’s not just about finding a subject—it’s about noticing one. And that’s where the magic began.
It didn’t take long for the world to shrink down to a few square inches. I found myself completely absorbed in a miniature landscape I’d never properly noticed before. Never in my wildest dream did I think I could happily spent several hours looking at the same patch of hedgerow! What looked like an every day ‘buzzy’ critter, took on a new life under the lens. Emmas entomological expertise made the world of difference in understanding what we were looking at and how each species would react, therefore letting us anticipate camera settings. Two weevils mating in the sunlight, newly hatched caterpillars and a scorpion fly munching on an unidentifiable fly completely unaware of its moment in the spotlight.
What surprised me most was how alive and how animated these tiny scenes felt. I spent longer than I thought possible photographing a mating weevil pair—trying different angles, adjusting my focus, holding my breath to avoid shaking the shot. It felt like a form of meditation.
Each frame I captured felt like a secret — something ordinary made extraordinary just by paying attention. And that is what I fell in love with most: the way macro photography turns the overlooked into the unforgettable.
Before this workshop, I saw macro photography as a technical skill—another lens to master, another setting to figure out. But by the end of the day, I realised it was something much more meaningful. It taught me to pause, to notice, to be still long enough for the small things to come into focus. It taught me to pay attention to what is in my own back garden - if I take the time to be still and look closely enough a whole new beautiful world will appear.
I now find myself looking at the world differently. Macro photography has rewired the way I see—reminding me that wonder isn’t always found in wide, sweeping landscapes or dramatic vistas. Sometimes it’s found in the shimmer of an insects exoskeleton, the texture of a flys head, or the eyes of a spider.
This workshop has changed not just how I shoot, but how I move through the world. I’m slower now, more curious which is something that we could all use a little more of.
As I packed up my gear at the end of the day, one image stayed with me: The wandering crab spider eating a fly whose iridescent wings are shimmering in the sunlight. Technically it's definitely not the best shot, but there was something quietly breathtaking about it—fragile, fleeting, and utterly perfect in its own small way. A story captured in one click of the shutter.
I’d driven eight hours round-trip on my mini adventure to attend a macro workshop, chasing new inspiration and hoping to improve my technique. What I didn’t expect was to return home and realise that these incredible micro-worlds are right here in my own backyard. It was a reminder to just slow down and really look at whats around me.
It’s been wonderful to share this post workshop journey with my kids too, encouraging them to slow down, get curious, and stick their heads into hedgerows or under logs to discover the tiny worlds that live there. Watching them discover a beetle’s iridescent shell or tiny woodland fungai has made the experience even more worthwhile.
Macro photography has become a form of mindfulness for me: a way to shift focus, breathe, and connect with the beauty in the most unlikely places. It's fun, surprising, and often awe-inspiring.
I will leave you with my favourate image from the trip. This one particularly grabbed me because of the depth of the colours, the lovely bokeh and the perfectly formed detail on the Hoverflys beautifully coloured eyes.
Don't forget to check out the entire gallery of my trip here.
QUICK TIPS FOR MACRO PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Getting closer to notice the macro stories you might usually miss
Use a flash with a diffuser
Shoot early or late for softer light.
Focus manually when possible.
Use a tripod or stay very still.
Look for movement—bugs, water drops, wind.
Be patient and observant. The direction an insect is facing can make all the difference.
WHAT TO BRING ON A MACRO WORKSHOP:
Macro lens or extension tubes
Tripod or beanbag
Knee pads or ground mat
Weatherproof gear or cover
Flash and diffuser
Snacks and water
Notebook (optional for notes/ideas)
A third hand tool if you have one to help hold branches still in windy conditions
EQUIPMENT I USED:
(These are affiliate links, however all items were purchased by myself and non have been gifted)
Lowepro Backpack - my exact one isnt available any more but it is similar to this one.
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