Just because you might know your own home like the back of your hand, it doesn’t mean that there’s nothing exciting left to shoot there. If you’re not convinced, this video from COOPH will change your mind.
Your home is full of photographic opportunities you can grab on a rainy day or when you simply feel like playing with a camera. And best of all – you can try them out straight away. Check out the ideas in the video below, and I’ll give you a few suggestions of my own, too.
Make a DIY flash diffuser
Before you start taking photos, you can make a DIY flash diffuser for macro photos. Do you have a tube of Pringles? Eat the chips, and turn the can into a macro flash diffuser. It’s super-simple, and here you’ll find a tutorial and some sample shots.
You can use it for all kinds of shots. The COOPH photographer tried it on ice crystals in the freezer and captured the motion of bubbles in a glass of sparkling water. But of course, feel free to explore and see what else you can get.
Textures
There are plenty of things we take for granted around our homes in terms of using them as photographic subjects. But when shooting them with a macro lens, they can give us some pretty interesting shots. Focus on textured objects you have at home, such as a pack of toothpicks, a kitchen sponge, jewelry…
Be creative with lighting, you can use your DIY diffuser, or play with reading lamps or LED lights.
A plastic bag
A plastic bag is one of those items you can use in more than one way as a photographer. But have you considered making it your subject? With some creative lighting and a macro lens, you can turn a plastic bag into some creative abstract photos.
Foam
Foam looks very interesting when shot with a macro lens. So, fill the kitchen sink or a large bowl with water, add some soap and make foam. Again, get creative with light and see what you come up with.
Macro still life
There are all sorts of tiny objects around your home. One of them that COOPH uses is a spring from a pen. I must say it’s not my favorite idea on the list, but there is plenty more stuff that can look interesting in photos.
My favorites are probably optical fiber lamps, and I’ve played a bit with those before:
Color macro
You can create colorful macro images by shooting soap bubbles or the refraction of light through a prism. COOPH photographer also shoots a fingerprint on an old lens. If you do that, make sure to clean the lens thoroughly afterward.
Water and oil
What you can also use to create colorful macro abstracts is a mixture of water and oil. If you want, add a splash of food coloring, or simply play with colorful lights. The oil and water combo also works well in black and white, and here’s one of my old shots as an example:
Food and drink
Shooting food and drink in macro uncovers a whole new world. Fruits and veggies look amazing when shot with a macro lens, but of course, get creative and try shooting other foods, too. I especially like how figs look when shot with a macro lens:
These are only some ideas to get you started and spark your creativity. I believe they are great to have in mind when the weather is bad and you’re stuck inside, so you can use the time at home to shoot and have some fun.
Are there any macro ideas to shoot at home that you’d like to share? Feel free to drop them in the comments below.
[Macro photography ideas to shoot at home | COOPH]
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