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glare or highlights on black beetle - poor diffuser ?

Started 5 months ago | Discussions thread
OP jim mij Senior Member • Posts: 1,027
Re: Thanks for the idea

jim mij wrote:

Mike Engles wrote:

What would you suggest as a suitable subject, given that insects are getting more scarce in the garden as winter approaches?

Something shiny I imagine?

I’ve not seen anything outside in the last couple weeks, a couple of ladybirds today but they were out of reach, and for me macro is not really about inanimate objects so I’m struggling. I can see now why folks keep things in the freezer or purchase online for these testing moments

how about a metal measuring spoon or teaspoon? It’s meant to be raining tomorrow so I’ll try it and let you know
Jim

re metal measuring spoon, i wish i hadn't tried, glare squared, but i did learn a few things along the way so this may help others.

this metal measuring spoon approach is great at seeing what is actually happening when the flash fires, rather than what i thought would happen

The following are examples of what didnt work

pic 1, iso 400 hence lower power flash, and that red ring around the outside of the diffuser has to go

pic 2, that diffuser actually has light concentrated in the center, much less so at the sides, that diffuser is now in the bin

I tried making (30 seconds effort) a paper cone / ring / concave diffuser seen in a youtube vid, just a4 paper rather than vellum or whatever

pic 3, cone diffuser, note the light is only visible on the top of cone, most of the flash escapes elsewhere, this "cone" really needs a softbox style wrapper to help focus the light

pic4, back to my original flat diffuser, all i can say is that the light is consistent and all the flash power is coming out the front , and apart from beetles and spoons it seems to work on other less reflective subjects

so what next ?,

pic 5, the light from has to hit a few inches in front of the lens, pretty tricky from where the flash is firing from regardless of what diffuser sits in front of it. Its a challenge to bend and soften that light in the space available

I'll put some effort into making a concave diffuser with a box wrapper to help get all the flash light out the front, and start looking at gear to get the flash further away from the hotshoe,

PS I'm not actually sure if taking a pic of a measuring spoon is actually possible, or what good would look like. Pic 6 looks best and its from my iphone with no flash

PPS there's a woodpecker in the garden, looks like its time to get the big lens out...

regards

Jim

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