With some natural light and a flash i can capture some decent shots but when it gets a bit darker in the room I start to struggle to light the subjects correctly. All I have is a 92 LED fill and a smaller one. I've watched some vids on lighting but a lot of people use larger studio lamps which I also have but don't want to use due to them taking up a lot of room. I just need to be able to evenly light the subjects (flowers etc) so I was thinking about getting another 92 LED fill plus a couple diffusers?
I'm stuck lighting macro subjects.
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Garry Edwards
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I'm a bit confused . . .
Macro is subjects rendered life size or larger on film or sensor, and flowers are usually much larger than that, so I'm guessing that you want to shoot close-ups not macro?
If it really is macro then you'll need tiny light sources, and (modified) flashgun are often the best choice for this because of their small size and because only very low power is wanted.
However, if the subjects are larger then there will be times when you'll want softer light sources, and although flashgun will be OK with softboxes, studio flash would be better because it will be easier, and you'll also have the big advantage of having modelling lamps.
LED lamps will be the worst possible choice, partly because they will be too large to create hard light when required, partly because they are incapable of reproducing colours accurately, which I would have thought essential for flowers.
So, two flashes of some kind and a couple of reflectors - the best of which, for small subjects, is usually a choice of small pieces of white paper and of shiny aluminium foil.
Macro is subjects rendered life size or larger on film or sensor, and flowers are usually much larger than that, so I'm guessing that you want to shoot close-ups not macro?
If it really is macro then you'll need tiny light sources, and (modified) flashgun are often the best choice for this because of their small size and because only very low power is wanted.
However, if the subjects are larger then there will be times when you'll want softer light sources, and although flashgun will be OK with softboxes, studio flash would be better because it will be easier, and you'll also have the big advantage of having modelling lamps.
LED lamps will be the worst possible choice, partly because they will be too large to create hard light when required, partly because they are incapable of reproducing colours accurately, which I would have thought essential for flowers.
So, two flashes of some kind and a couple of reflectors - the best of which, for small subjects, is usually a choice of small pieces of white paper and of shiny aluminium foil.
For my similar work I favor the LED pocket flashlights that an electrician or plumber would use, such as Nebo Big Larry or Lil Larry. Also, Duracell makes neat LED work lights. For larger subjects, LED daylight balanced household lamps in clamp light reflectors work well. Construction paper snoots are easy to make.