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D12monkey · 05-04-2005, 10:32 AM

If you absolutely need to use flash due to your subject moving around too much, I strongly recommend using a diffuser on the flash to soften the light and make it more appealing to the eyes, by making the lighting less harsh both on the color balancing and the subject.

Diffusers can range anywhere from $20 to over $200 depending on how it fancy you get one. But a good tip is to take a 2 ply tissue paper (whether it's toilet tissue or not is up to you as long as it's completely white). You can fold it several times and place it over the flash. This way is more of a trial and error way of trying to figure out how much light you want to soften and still be able to see the subject you are trying to photograph. I have found that 2 folds so that there is 4 layers of tissue on toilet paper usually works fairly well. This is the whole purpose of a diffuser, to block out some of the light and make it a softer illumination.

But of course the best way to take macro photograph is with the use of a ring light, a.k.a. Macro flash. It combines the features of a flash with a diffuser but is place in line with the lens allowing the subject to be illuminated correctly without the appearances of a shadow. But this is the more expensive way to go as a ring light usually start around $185 and can surpass the $1000 price.

05-04-2005, 10:32 AM	#14
D12monkey Acrotographer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Davie, FL Posts: 761	If you absolutely need to use flash due to your subject moving around too much, I strongly recommend using a diffuser on the flash to soften the light and make it more appealing to the eyes, by making the lighting less harsh both on the color balancing and the subject. Diffusers can range anywhere from $20 to over $200 depending on how it fancy you get one. But a good tip is to take a 2 ply tissue paper (whether it's toilet tissue or not is up to you as long as it's completely white). You can fold it several times and place it over the flash. This way is more of a trial and error way of trying to figure out how much light you want to soften and still be able to see the subject you are trying to photograph. I have found that 2 folds so that there is 4 layers of tissue on toilet paper usually works fairly well. This is the whole purpose of a diffuser, to block out some of the light and make it a softer illumination. But of course the best way to take macro photograph is with the use of a ring light, a.k.a. Macro flash. It combines the features of a flash with a diffuser but is place in line with the lens allowing the subject to be illuminated correctly without the appearances of a shadow. But this is the more expensive way to go as a ring light usually start around $185 and can surpass the $1000 price. __________________ Photo anyone?