Use a diffuser to improve your macro shots

A diffuser is a small and cheap device that can really make a difference in the quality of your macro images. You just hold it between the sun and the subject you want to photograph.

Harsh sunlight is not the most beautiful light for nature photography. Take the following image as an example.

The strong contrast caused by the midday sun is not a very beautiful light and in my opinion this image is not good.
Fortunately, it’s not difficult to get a much better light as in the next shot:

Now the contrast is much weaker and the image has better colors and is much more pleasing to look at.

A diffuser saved the image, here. I just held it between the flower and the sun:

A diffuser is a very cheap item that you should always carry with you when you want to photograph flowers. With it you can photograph all day long, not just in the early morning and late evening hours when the natural light is better.
Instead of a diffuser, you can also just use a white shirt or something similar.

With macro photography, a small diffuser will be enough and normally you are so close to the subject that you can hold the diffuser yourself without needing an assistant (as would be required most of the times, for example, when photographing people).

The next time you are photographing flowers or other macro subjects, try a diffuser in harsh sunlight and you will be surprised by how much your pictures improve.

Be careful when using it with insects like butterflies. Sometimes, when you put a diffuser between them and the sun, they just fly off. In that case, using a flash to reduce the contrast might be a better idea.