Join OM System Ambassador Lee Hoy in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas to be immersed in an Introduction to Macro Photography. October in the Lower Rio Grande Valley offers an exceptional backdrop for macro photography, with the subtropical climate encouraging a rich diversity of butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, other insects, and reptiles. Shooting without flash in this region takes advantage of the soft, often golden light of early morning and late afternoon. Natural light preserves the ambient atmosphere, giving images a warm, authentic feel and allowing you to blend subjects seamlessly into their environment. However, it requires careful attention to camera settings—higher ISOs or wider apertures may be needed in shaded areas under the dense vegetation along the Rio Grande. The natural hues of migrating butterflies or the delicate patterns of dragonflies can look particularly striking when captured in this gentle, directional light.

Using flash, on the other hand, opens creative and technical possibilities when daylight is limited or when you want to reveal fine details. A diffused flash helps freeze motion and bring out texture, from the iridescence of beetle wings to the fine scales on a lizard’s skin. In October’s mornings, when dew clings to leaves and insect bodies, a well-controlled flash can highlight the sparkle of water droplets while maintaining natural colors. Macro photographers enjoy using flashes to avoid harsh shadows, ensuring even illumination of small subjects in dense foliage or under the shaded canopies of the Valley’s refuges and wildlife corridors.

A workshop with the beginning and intermediate macro photographer in mind. You will learn how to use a super telephoto lens for large butterflies, dragonflies, and large damselflies to increase your working distance and how focus stacking can help you capture tack sharp images with greater depth of field. The instructors will teach you fieldcraft on how to approach often wary and spooky subjects. Furthermore, the use of regular macro lenses for smaller subjects and diffusing your flash will add to your learning experience.