Macro close-up of ice crystals forming on a branch

Why this works

Macro prompts require a different vocabulary than standard photography prompts. The key is describing what the camera reveals, not what the eye sees.

Scale indicators — “Individual hexagonal crystal structures visible” and “5:1 magnification” tell the generator we are operating at a scale far beyond normal vision. Without these cues, generators tend to produce close-ups rather than true macro images. Mentioning specific structures (hexagonal, fractal) gives the model concrete geometry to render.

Backlight for translucency — Ice and crystals are most visually striking when backlit because they transmit and refract light. “Illuminates the crystals from behind, making them glow translucent” directly describes this optical behavior. Front-lighting would make ice look opaque and dull.

Compositional anchor — “Twig runs diagonally from lower-left to upper-right” prevents the common macro failure of a chaotic frame with no visual structure. Diagonal lines create dynamic tension and give the crystals a substrate to grow from.

Focus stacking reference — “Focus stacked for maximum crystal sharpness” is language that generators associate with the hyper-sharp, deep-focus look of professional macro work. It pushes the output away from the shallow-focus softness that generators sometimes default to.

Environmental context through bokeh — “Smooth wash of cool blue bokeh from distant snow” establishes the winter setting without cluttering the frame. The color of the bokeh (cool blue) reinforces the cold-weather mood.

What to change if it fails

• Crystals look blobby or undefined? Add “visible crystalline facets and sharp geometric edges” to push for structural detail. Reduce magnification to “2:1” if the generator struggles at extreme scales.
• Too dark or underexposed? Change “low winter sun” to “bright diffused winter daylight” and add “well-exposed” to the prompt.
• Background too busy? Strengthen the bokeh instruction: “completely smooth, uniform out-of-focus background with no discernible shapes.”
• Colors too muted? Add “prismatic rainbow refractions visible in the crystal edges” to encourage color separation in the highlights.
• Looks like stock photography? Add “fine art nature photography” and “printed in a gallery” to shift toward a more artistic rendering.