Wywiad - Evan Sowder - Macro Photographer

Today I would like to show you some incredible macro photography done by my friend Evan from Minneapolis. We met in New York last year and when we finally got to see each other’s work I was really impressed with his macro portfolio. Despite his young age and being a fresh college graduate, Evan’s skills are already on a professional level. I thought I’d ask him a couple of questions about this totally unknown type of photography to me. I was curious how it’s actually done. So there! Enjoy the short interview and those eyemazing images!

Bee Fly

Black Wasp

Dragonfly

Frog

House Cricket

Jumping Spider

Ladybug

Leafcutter Bee

Red Milkweed Beetle

Tiger Beetle

What draws you to macro photography?

The way I think of it, it’s like hunting with a magnifying glass to discover things we don’t ordinarily see with the naked eye. I like the process of discovery, and I like sharing what I discover with others through the macro photographs.

How did it start?

I’d been given a digital camera and was starting to take pictures when I ran across some macro photographs of insects covered in dew drops. As an art student, I was struck by the beautiful patterns and details of the insects, and by the reflection of those details in the water droplets. Those images inspired me to begin making my own macro images.

What are the biggest challenges?

Macro photography of insects takes a lot of patience. You need to maneuver a large camera within an inch or two of a live insect that moves, and that may jump, fly, or scurry away while you’re trying to shoot. The depth of field in macro photography is razor thin — it’s a challenge to get that perfect focus on the eyes that makes a great insect macro.

How does macro photography differ from other genres?

Insects sometimes aren’t the most cooperative subjects; I suppose that’s both similar to and different from other forms of photography! Like wildlife photography, it’s an exciting process to find new subjects to photograph and to capture new images.

Career-wise, can you make $ off macro photography?

It’s really a niche market. Some photographers offer workshops in macro photography, with a few specializing in insects. Macro insect images are sold as stock photography and also as fine art.

What gear do you use?

When I first started, I used a Canon 60D with a Canon 100mm macro lens and a Canon 50mm f/2.5 macro lens reversed on the front of the 100mm. I used a Canon 220ex for the flash, and a cereal box for a flash diffuser. I have since upgraded to a Canon 6D/5D3, a Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens, and a Canon MT-24ex flash. I modified two Gary Fong inverted dome flash diffusers and attached them to the MT-24ex with velcro.

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