Macro Photography

I love macro photography. This photo above, as you can probably guess, is a very close-up of the aloe plant below. But I've noticed that I can only get "so close" and focus, manually or automatically. I talked to a guy at a photo shop about it and he suggested getting a macro lens (the expensive way - anywhere from $500 to $1000!!) or a set of filter lens that you screw onto the end of your lens with different "powers" that will let you get closer and focus (the less expensive way - about $70 for the set). I have a set of those but they won't fit the end of the lens of my digital camera. So. . . I'm going to experiement a little tomorrow and take my lens from my film camera and see if it will work on the digital body with these macro lens. If not. . . I may be spending $70 soon. I asked him about extension tubes, which I'd read about, and he acted like that was the worst thing I could do. I don't know what to think. If anyone out there could make a suggestion, I'd sure appreciate it.

Here's a photo of the aloe plant with natural light coming in from the side. I really like this photo, too. Then I saw the drops of water where I had just watered it and decided to go macro but think it could be better than the results I got.

It's a fun hobby but sometimes expensive!