Macro Photography: A Prescription for Well-being
Macro photography is often seen as a niche hobby. In the last years of practicing it as a well-being practice, I found it's so much more than just a hobby and I wrote this blog to encourage you to look closer into this photography niche and learn the biggest benefits you can gain from it.
As a photography lover and practitioner for more than 10 years, I found that this unique form of photography offers a wealth of benefits that extend far beyond capturing stunning visuals that one does not normally see with the naked eye. From boosting your brainpower to enhancing your overall well-being, let's explore the surprising ways macro photography can positively impact your life.
Sharpen your mind
Delving into the intricacies of the natural world through a macro lens is really like a workout for your brain. As you may already know, focusing on minuscule details demands intense concentration. When you engage in activities requiring close attention to detail, such as macro photography, you stimulate and strengthen these cognitive processes. In other words, your brain gets stronger and you get smarter!
This can sharpen your attention span and improve your ability to observe. If macro photography is practiced regularly, this heightened focus can translate into improved cognitive function and problem-solving skills in other areas of your life. So, I’d say, at least for this reason, it’s worth giving it a try!
Activate your body
In case you had the belief that macro photography is a sedentary activity, it is not true. Macro photography often requires saying yes to micro-adventures. Exploring your surroundings, whether it's your own home, your backyard or a local park already involves activating your body and put those muscles to work out. Moreover, moving around to find the perfect shot not only keeps you active but also provides a much-needed break from the digital world. This combination of physical activity and mental engagement contributes to that healthier lifestyle you’re looking for.
A spring sign I got in May in a short photo-walk in my neighbourhood
Nurture your heart
The most profound combination I found has been connecting with nature through macro photography. On a personal level, it can become deeply spiritual experience. As you immerse yourself in the intricate details of the natural world, something magical unfolds. Time seems to stretch and a whole new realm reveals itself, right under your nose. It’s almost whimsical to realize this hidden world is available to us at any time, if we would just slow down and see it. Macro photography, I believe, helps you exactly with that: slow down automatically.
You’ll find yourself slowing down and appreciating the beauty around you in ways you never imagined. I’m nearly certain of it. This practice not only offers you a direct connection to your inner self, but also helps you reduce stress and enhance self-awareness in an easy and creative way.
The Magic Behind Macro Photography
If you ask me, what makes macro photography truly magical is its extraordinary ability to ignite your sense of wonder. It is almost impossible not to fall for that. Imagine you have a tool for magnifying a hidden world. Would you be curious to see what no one normally sees?
It’s like looking through a microscope and discovering a hidden universe right at your doorstep—a bush by your door, the intricate texture of a neighbor’s fence—things that, in their normal scale, might go unnoticed.
In other words, if you start practicing macro photography, you’re being gifted with a rare opportunity. It’s not just about capturing stunning visuals, even though this is the case most of the times; it’s about unlocking a new way of seeing. You’re invited to stop, to take in, and sense all delicate wonders that unfold before your eyes.
A more personal view
I’ve always viewed my camera as an enabler. It's more than just a tool to capture beauty; for me, it has become a gateway to a deeper connection with the world and with myself.
Getting my macro lens in 2021 was like like getting the key to a secret garden of serenity and beauty that I can open everytime I feel anxious, stressed, I lack motivation or I want to gain some inner knowlegde and inspiration. As in Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence” song, start your macro photo journey and learn a new way to…enjoy the silence!
Your monthly well-being photo-game
As you may already know if you are already a subscriber of Creative Harmony, I design a photo-game for each monthly blog post. If you want to play a bit with macro photography and explore how this can improve your well-being during your practice, feel free to subscribe and you will get the next monthly well-being photo game in your email! For all my subscribers, I offer the chance to send their work to me and receive a direct feedback from me regarding their photography style, subject matter and visual concept!
This month well-being photo game sounds like this:
Over the next month, I encourage you to explore the world up close. Choose one flower and look at it with your macro eye for 3 minutes. It can be any natural flower - in a pot, that you picked from nature, bought from the flower store, etc. After 3 minutes, you may take as many close-up photographs as you want. Photograph what surprised you and what took your attention in those 3 minutes.
*using your digital zoom from your phone should be enough for this exercise if this is all you have! If you do have a camera, try to go as close as possible to the flower. My message: It’s not what lens you have. It’s first what you see. Work with what you have.
Pro tip: set up the time in advance on your phone so you do not need to think about it, just be present and really see the flower!
Observe its shapes, colors, and textures more closely. What basic shapes (like squares, triangles, or rectangles) can you identify? How much closer can you zoom in with your eyes, and what details emerge that you might normally miss?
In need of some self-care and self-love?
As August unfolds, the final month of summer 2024, let’s make this exploration even more meaningful. Take a moment to look closer at your own summer 2024. Reflect on how many things happened in only two months and how many new experiences and beautiful memories you’ve gathered. Appreciate the warmth of summer (even if it got too hot sometimes, yes), the refreshing moments it brought to you (the swimming sessions, the colder showers, the ice teas, etc) , all the delicious fruits that nourished you, and all the meaningful conversations and other unique summer activities that enriched your soul. Remember with your mind and Feel it with your heart.
Express your gratitude for all the good things this summer has brought. Write them down if you’d like, or simply make a mental list of at least 10 things you’re thankful for. Embrace the beauty of this season with a new sense of appreciation and wonder.
Have fun discovering and celebrating the hidden beauty around you and see you next month!
Write me in the below comments section and let me know how this article resonated with you. Did you got any inspiration for it? Did you learn something new? What are your thoughts on macro photography?
For more tips and inspiration on how to improve your well-being with the help of photography, follow @creativeharmony.art on Instagram! Subscribe to the new Creative Harmony Youtube channel where I share insights into Finnish culture, creative photography tips, and glimpses into the artistic life of me and my partner - two international creative entrepreneurs working, creating and living in Finland.
