Lighting for Macro

[roofguy]

What kind of flash have you tried?

[spencer_robertson]

Hi,<BR>
<BR>
Something that I am planning on making for macro, and also outdoor portrait is some lightweight 3/4" wood made into something like 2'x2'or smaller, or bigger, with white opaque plastic wrapped around it. This gives off really soft light, which wraps around the subject making it much less harsh. You hold it between the subject and the sun to diffuse the light.<BR>
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One of the easiest things to do is shoot on bright overcast days. If you are shooting slides, you might need a warming filter if the clouds are not thin enough.<BR>
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With using diffused light you are also going to get different highlights. If there are water droplets, there will be a long curved highlight instead of a little point. Similarily, if you are shooting a very shinny flower it will make nice long highlights along the entire shape of the petals instead of little points everywhere.<BR>
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Spencer Robertson /ibb/skins/default/emoticons/cool.gif

[photographer.man]

I don't know much about these or peoples opinions, but they make macro lights that fit around your lens. If you are using a built in flash you are probably too close for what the flash was meant for.

[Art]

I have to agre with photographer.man. Check out the Nikon SB-29. It's a ring flash designed for macro work. The flash is not as harsh as a "regular" flash. You can set it to ligh both sides or either right or left side only.

[ronk]

different types of flash units will give different effects. pick up a copy of john shaw's close ups in nature. this will sort it out for you.