Macro Flash Question

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jonnypb

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Have been playing about with my 100mm macro and sometimes I struggle to get a decent shutter speed when hand holding at 1:1 and can get a slight blur in the pics.

I'm new to flash photography and am starting to read the strobist guide but will a macro ring flash help 'freeze' the subject?

For instance I was shooting a bug last night with my 100mm on a 40D and I was getting a shutter speed of 1/60 2.8 with the ISO bumped up. With a ring flash I presume I could have taken the same shot with better results with something like 1/250 shutter speed speed which would help to elimate shake and would the flash also help to freeze the subject?

Thanks
 
jonny..if you have an hotshoe flash..try this method..

S4300008.jpg


it works really well IMO,and has definately helped improve my results without the expense of getting a dedicated macro ring flash :thumbs:
 
cheers, will give that a try to see what type of results i get. i take it it's best to do with the hood on?

off to find some velcro.........
 
jonnypb said:
cheers, will give that a try to see what type of results i get. i take it it's best to do with the hood on?

off to find some velcro.........
Click to expand...

i use the hood on my sigma 105(the above shot isn't my setup),otherwise i might struggle to get the flash where i want it...the only thing i have to do now is adjust the power on the flash as to not blow the highlights.here's my first attempts with this last saturday...

fly3.jpg



fly2.jpg


i will try again with the lower power soon,or as soon as this wind dies down..:bonk:
 
wow great shots, did you have any tubes on the sigma with those shots??
 
Ring flashes are too expensive, don't provide the type of lighting that I like (too flat) and most ring flashes cannot use HSS. I shoot manually with my setup and my 550EX can pump a lot of light onto my subject allowing a fast shutter speed and reasonably small apertures.

My Siegelite Articulating bracket is great for macro work. I was introduced to this basic setup by Dr. Deepak Rao, an excellent macro-photographer from Bangalore India. He uses another brand bracket but, the result is essentially the same.

http://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/gallery/8189419_jC42M#534962940_vHUiM

The nice thing about my setup is that (except for the flash and Canon Off-Camera cord), the entire setup can be had for between $25 and $50 (USD) depending on how much you spend on the used Siegelite bracket. I got mine, several years ago for $5 (USD) at a garage sale. At the time I purchased it, I had absolutely no idea what I was going to use it for. However, it has turned out great as a macro flash rig.

http://photography.shop.ebay.com/?_...sid=p3910.m38.l1313&_nkw=siegelite&_sacat=625
 
thanks rpcrowe, certainly something to consider and a lot cheaper than a ring flash as I recently got the 430ex which i could use
 
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