Hello,
I have a Canon 100mm macro as well as Kenko non-digital extension tubes I used for macro with my film cameras. Last week I bought my first digital camera, a 1Ds mkII, and want to try some flower macros with it. When I shot film I always used available light but am now considering using a flash. Is anyone using a flash with an off-camera cord or do you use ring lights or Canon's double flash outfit?
I'm looking at trying to do macro without a tripod even though I have a Manfrotto 055 with the pro pan/tilt head. Any suggestions would be most welcome, thank you.
Think you will find there is a mix here of people using normal flashes on brackets and using macro-flashes both have their pros and cons. Having said that I think the best "whole flower" macro shots I've seen are nearly always done with natural light maybe using reflectors etc. Obviously flash has an advantage in helping to stop motion blur of camera or subject.
Brian v.
For flower Macros i recommend shooting with natural light and/or reflektors. You are able to keep the flower in position with clips and have the time for slow shutter speed.
If you going to shoot moving subject's without perfekt weather or small critters at 1:1 and up, then use flash ( with the known problems ) .
Thank you everyone. I do have small reflectors but was wondering if I should add a flash, not that macro will be a large part of my photography. Your advice will be heeded as well as much appreciated, thank you again.
The convention for flowers is to use natural light, preferably "bright overcast". With the magnification being low to moderate that is probably the best default.
With the higher magnifications required by arthropods, especially at low ISOs with film, flash is really the practical default, to freeze movement and give DOF. When following mobile subjects the best option is lighting attached to the camera. A ring flash has it advantages but a pair of flashguns, main and fill, generally gives the best results. Care to avoid dark backgrounds, due to steep fall-off behind the subject, should always be taken and can be ovecome by shooting with (close) foliage filling the background.
melkor wrote:
Go natural light. Flash will kill the flowers imho.
Much can be done with diffused flash. However, there is room for some experimentation with polarised flash. It remains that ambient-lit backgrounds should be the default.
I was thinking about polarised flash last night, has anyone used it (with a filter) for shiny bug or wet leaf/flower surfaces on here? Would like to see some comparisons...
