Exploring Macro Photography with Lessy Sebastian

February 10, 2022 - ( update : 29-03-2022 )

By Adi Permana

Editor Vera Citra Utami

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id – On Wednesday (9/2/2022), Institut Teknologi Bandung held a Studium Generale class titled “Macro Photography: Viewing the Minuscule World Around Us”. The session started with an introduction by the Secretary of ITB Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. Widjaja Martokusumo and led by the FAD professor Drs. Alfonzo Ronald Koapaha, M.Sn.

ITB invited Lessy Sebastian- an acclaimed macro photographer who garnered many international achievements and recognition- as this class’s guest lecturer. Ever since his childhood, he was interested in the flora and fauna world. He began to pursue macro photography in 2010 by developing technical skills and sensitivity towards the aesthetics, concepts, and composition in his photographs.

Lessy often took pictures of animals, especially frogs. His photographs have been printed in several international media such as The Guardian (UK), The Telegraph (UK), Daily Mail (UK), METRO, The SUN+, Daily News, People, and more. His works also won many international photography competitions.

Lessy explained that photography consists of several genres like landscape and street photography. He opted for macro photography which involves taking pictures at a close range to get clear details of small subjects. The subject’s size depicted in the image has a ratio of 1:1 from its original size. “Macro photography is personally a surprise by itself,” he described.

To Lessy, being a proficient macro photographer begins from mastering the techniques as well as creating concepts and stories. A snapshot with a story would possess its own originality to be commercialized.

“Everyone can take a picture of a grasshopper on top of a branch, but that picture can be more special by adding a story to it, such as taking a picture of the grasshopper eating on top of a branch," he explained. Moreover, macro photography requires patience and diligence. There are different types of photography, such as macro nature, macro setting, macro extreme, and still life photography.

Concluding his lecture, Lessy offered tips in capturing the perfect macro photography. These include the usage of a good camera and backlight, the right time to snap a picture, actions that follow up the capture, as well as the implied message to respect and preserve nature.

Reporter: Kevin Agriva Ginting (Teknik Geodesi dan Geomatika, 2020)
Translator: Ruth Nathania (Teknik Lingkungan, 2019)