Nina Mingioni: Macro Photography of Botanical Elements

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Nina Mingioni began her photography career in her 30s, picking up a Canon Rebel T3i around 2010 to photograph her children. What started as a personal project evolved into a decade-long passion, leading her to become a mentor and Lensbaby Ambassador. Her work is celebrated for its muted tones and intricate textures, turning ordinary urban and natural scenes into captivating compositions.

Primary Genres: Macro, Urban, Botanical
Primary Photography Style: Straight Photography – Detail-oriented and textural, capturing scenes with minimal manipulation to highlight natural light and texture.
Key Message: Mingioni reveals the hidden beauty in everyday life, using patterns, textures, and light to uncover order within the chaos of mundane settings.

Nina Mingioni’s photography focuses on subjects like peeling paint, dewy leaves, and city grids, transforming them into art through her keen eye for detail. Her aesthetic leans on muted greys, greens, and browns, with a strong emphasis on texture—think cracked pavements or soft petals under natural light.

She shoots with a Canon 5D Mark IV, often pairing it with prime lenses like the 50mm macro or Lensbaby Velvet 56, and prefers golden hour or overcast conditions to enhance her subjects without artificial lighting. In post-processing, she keeps edits light in Lightroom, subtly boosting contrast and sharpness to maintain authenticity. Her work is presented in prints up to 16×20 inches and shared widely on Instagram and the Click Community Blog, where she inspires others with her craft.

For intermediate photographers, Mingioni’s style offers a masterclass in observation and restraint. Her straight photography approach, rooted in precision and minimal editing, echoes the zone system’s deliberate control, adapted for digital colour and texture. Unlike film, her digital workflow provides instant feedback, allowing quick adjustments in the field—perfect for learning composition on the fly. Experimenting with macro lenses or selective focus, as she does, can help photographers isolate details and refine their skills without relying heavily on post-production.

Accolades:
- Lensbaby Ambassador
- Local Philadelphia photography awards
- Canon Picture of the Week for “Sliver of Light” (2016)

Trivia:
- Shoots daily in Philadelphia’s Fairmount area.
- Draws inspiration from M.C. Escher’s geometric patterns.
- Teaches photography to children.
- Uses vintage Soviet lenses for unique effects.

Lessons from this Photographer:

Mingioni’s work encourages photographers to slow down and notice the overlooked—patterns in a wall or light on a leaf. Her reliance on natural light and prime lenses teaches patience and in-camera skill, while her minimal edits push authenticity over heavy manipulation. Try shooting macro or urban scenes with a simple setup, focusing on texture and light, to build a sharper eye and a more intentional approach to composition.