The minute organisms within the nature preserve near her home in London are the subjects of Jamie Rosencrans macrophotography work. “My process starts with observation,” she says, searching the logs, stumps, and patches of moss she’s come to rely on for the slime mold, fungi, and insects she wants to photograph. She often ventures out after rainfall when new subjects are more likely to appear. “My goal is to encourage people to consider a different perspective on the inhabitants of the forest floor and present them in a way that sparks curiosity,” she says of her work, which she’s collected into a book titled, “Tiny Nature.”

Equipment: Rosencrans uses the OM System OM-1 Mark II paired with M. Zuiko 60mm and 90mm macro lenses. For lighting, she relies on a Godox TT350 with the 60mm lens and a Godox V860III with the 90mm lens, both of which have a custom Cygnustech diffuser setup. She describes the system as compact, reliable, and designed for fieldwork, “which is essential when I spend hours shooting close to the ground.” Since she does handheld shooting, the in-body image stabilization feature is key, and she also uses the in-camera focus stacking feature to increase the depth of field.

Challenges: Rosencrans’ subjects are tiny and often found in awkward places, so getting a good angle can mean lying flat on the ground or bending into uncomfortable positions, she says. Sun and shadow shift constantly under the tree canopy and even the slightest breeze can ruin focus at high magnification, she explains. “When I am focus-stacking, I must stay extremely steady.” 

The process is as much about art as it is about documentation, she says. “I emphasize texture, form, and color to hopefully create images that are compositionally strong and visually striking.” 

Amanda Arnold is a senior editor.