About a week ago I finally got off my rear and made a very simple and very, very cheap ring flash using a speedlite as a source of light. I've seen similar 'how to make a ringflash' tutorials online but I think this one is easier and cheaper than any of them. Just the fact that I could actually build it is proof of that.
Link to the tutorial itself and a couple of example pics:
Very cool idea, jedrek! What were the shooting parameters (including distance) for the shots you posted? This looks like just the ticket for macro work if the front lens element can get close enough to the front of the small bowl.
EA6B, for the tutorial part click the link in OP's posting. Goes to a flickr-page that has the tutorial (as a picture).
Great idea! Ring flashes gives a very pleasing light, I think. Too bad commercial made ones are so awfully expensive.
Another, easier, way of making the "reflector" of the ring flash, is by using a large bundt cake pan. The only challenge would be cutting out the piece for the flash, but if you have e.g. a Dremel, it should be easy. You could even cut and fold out, without really removing anything, should give a good base for the flash holder. The holder itself could then easily be made from some stiff plastic from a binder or something like that, glued to the folded metal with super glue (or riveted in place). I would then use something to pad the "holder", e.g. some fleece fabric or something like that. If you choose the right bundt cake pan, you wouldn't even have to glue aluminum foil to it, I guess. There is a tutorial using this online somewhere. That one uses 4 small slave flashes as the light source. Mounts to a tripod as well, so you wouldn't have to hold it. There's lots of bundt cake pans to be had on eBay for a small amount.
Tried this myself tonight, and it works well enough for a 6 € investment on my part and 90 minutes work (and I still have three unused containers from the package of five! ).
I might try for something a bit bigger another time (my first attempt is around 20 inches width total, with the ring area perhaps 5 inches wide). A larger light source might be more useful if you get beyond a head shot.
