Shooting up-close and macro photography enables you to explore the small details found in the world around you. It’s an excellent creative outlet because even the most ordinary of places – your backyard, your kitchen, your windowsill – are hosts to a whole different world within a world...as long as you look closely enough. You also want to use the right camera gear. Macro and close-up photography place a premium on lenses. Many Sony Alpha camera users use the highly-rated Sony 90mm Macro G lens for true macro photography (1:1 magnification and beyond) and for close up, wide angle (sometimes called "wide-angle macro") a lens that can focus closer than a foot away can yield beautiful results (see how pro phootgrapher Robert Evans uses the 24mm f/1.4 G Master lens for close-up photography in our article HERE). This week we’re featuring a group of Sony photographers who are shooting up close to bring you every detail. Check out their work and give them a follow. Ready to share your own macro shot? Enter the Alpha Female+ Macro Contest this month for your chance to win a Sony ZV-1! Click HERE for details.

Tag your Sony shots with #BeAlpha for the chance to be featured on AlphaUniverse.com, and follow @sonyalpha for your daily dose of creative inspiration.

Caroline Jensen – @carolinej

Caroline is a Sony Artisan and her Instagram account features painterly photos and macro shots. She uses her macro photography as a form of stress relief, and she’s hoping that by sharing her techniques with others, they will be able to do the same. You can learn more in her Macro Therapy Series: Quick Start Guide, Shoot Your Prepositions, How To Create 3 High Impact Macro Shots, 5 Quick Lighting Tips and 3 Black & White Effects To Try. Give her a follow and relax with some macro in your feed.

Robert Evans – @robertevans

Robert is a Sony Artisan and professional wedding photographer. He always has the Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G lens on hand during weddings for close-up details like the wedding rings or even portraits of the bride or groom. You can learn more about all of the gear he uses for each chapter of the wedding day in his five-part Ultimate Gear Guide To Wedding Day Photography. Part 1 of the guide covers the gear he uses while the parties are getting ready, Part 2 is on the gear used for family portraits and Part 3 is all about the couples sessions. Stay tuned to Alpha Universe for Parts 4 & 5 that will cover gear for the ceremony and reception. Check out his fun “Rock Candy” ring shot below and give him a follow for more.

Reynante Martinez – @reynantem

Reynante Martinez is a CG artist from the Philippines and a hobbyist photographer specializing in portraits and macro. He uses his Sony α7R II and Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G lens to get up close with insects, and you can read more about how he does it here. He majorly recommends the Sony 90mm Macro for its overall sharpness and color rendition. “The way it handles chromatic aberration and distortion is impeccable! The barrel switch that allows me to change from manual focus to auto focus is a genius feature! I would highly recommend this lens to any macro photographer or even for portrait photographers who want a super sharp and fast lens.” Give him a follow for more close-ups with insects.

Mika Geiger – @mika.geiger

Mika Geiger is a nature and travel photographer based in Austin, Texas. As you scroll through her account you’ll see colorful flowers, insects and more up close and personal. It’s truly impressive how she finds an insect and composes an entire scene using their environment to show what they are doing. Check out this cute little snail exploring a flower she captured using her Sony α7R III and Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G, and give her a follow for more stunning shots like this.

Ken Dono – @kdonophotography

Ken Dono is a nature photographer capturing and sharing the beautiful scenes he comes across outdoors. Sometimes he even goes macro outside to get up close, like in this photo below of acorns that he took with his Sony α7R IV and Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G lens. Check out his account for more nature macro shots and charming landscapes.

Doris Rehling – @dorerimamo

Doris is a Sony photographer based in Austria. Using the combination of her Sony α7 III and Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G, she captures colorful and interesting macro shots of all kinds. 
Check out this impressive pink flower macro photo with a reflecting water drop she created and give her account a follow for more gorgeous macro work.