Thanks Tom, I have a ring light, forgot all about it. I'll play with it a bit when I get a little time.
Don > -----Original Message----- > From: Tom Reese [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 11:33 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: TTL Flash for Macros > > > Don Sanderson asked: > > "I just read an article saying that flash was the best way to shoot macro > shots. It cited the fact that both faster shutter speed to > prevent blur and > smaller aperture for added DOF could be used. I have several Pentax TTL > units to try this out with. Have any of you tried this? What setup did you > use ? Did you LIKE the results? > I'd always imagined the light would be too harsh to look "natural"." > > I use a ringflash or the AF360FGZ for macro flash work but I > prefer to work > with natural light when possible. > > Bugs can be extremely reflective and I hate the bright highlights > I get with > flash. Ringlights give you very (or no) soft shadows when used on the lens > and odd looking circular highlights on round reflective surfaces (I have a > slide of some ants attacking a caterpillar with multiple highlights on the > ants). Those highlights are the main reason I prefer to work with natural > light. > > Ringflashes can give you soft shadows that give you the three dimensional > look in your pictures if you use it off the lens. I mount my camera on a > tripod and hold the ringlight off to the side. In my experience, a normal > flash used in this manner throws shadows that are too strong to > look right. > YMMV. > > Ringlights allow you to work very closely to your subject without worrying > about the lens blocking the flash. I use my AF360FGZ (it tilts slightly > downward - very helpful) when I'm not working quite so close. > Ringlights are > generally too weak to use at any distance. > > I hope this helps. > > Tom Reese > > > > >
