(To see examples of the types of photographs discussed below, click on the underlined section headings.)

Macro Photography

Macro Photography is a bit of a misnomer. While macro generally means large, in the world of underwater photography, it means small. Image magnification runs anywhere from around 1:6 to 2:1. 1:6 means the area photographed is six times larger than the film, while 2:1 means the area photographed is one-half the size of the film, and is therefore magnified by a factor of two. In a word, this is about photographing the tiny stuff! Macro photography can be done using a "normal" lens on an extension tube, or with macro and telemacro lenses on housed cameras.

The Nikonos V can be used with the 35mm lens and extension tubes to create some great macro images. This type of setup is usually used with framers, metal or plasric frames that define and outline the image location. Using them is relatively easy; one merely places the framer directly in front of or on the subject and trips the shutter -- point and shoot! The hard part is getting certain subject to tolerate the presence of the framer. Another drwback is the image size cannot be changed; a 1:1 framer set up will only take photographs of an area the size of the film -- no bigger, no smaller.

A housed camera system has at least three significant advantages over the extension tube and framer sytems described above. First, when using a housed SLR camera, one can view the image throught the lens, allowing precise composition. Second, because there is no framer, you can photograph skittish subjects that would never tolerate the presence of any part of a camera system near them. Third, with a housed system, you can vary the amount of magnification, thereby varying the image area. Housed systems that I use can aproach 3:1 when using a 90mm telemacro lens on a 2x teleconverter with a +4 diopter on it (See Diopter Test Shots for more info on telemacro with and without diopters.)