E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
There are books and articles about understanding your kids, your cat, you eccentric neighbors, your computer, and everything else, so here my contribution ...understanding you ring light!
If folks are disappointed with their ring lights and consequently don't use them it is probably because they donate exactly understand the nature of COAXIAL lighting. Many photographers have misconceptions of how and why they are used but nonetheless perceive them as a necessity for macro work. They also have a role is some styles of fashion photography and portraiture.
Ring lighting is perceived as shadowless lighting. We know that in order to create shadows in our photographs, the kid of shadows we need to enable modeling, dimension, drama, the rendition of texture and the Chiaroscuro affect the application of light and shadow in art, the ligh source must be direction from a position off-camera or specifically at an angle off the camera/subject axis. Shadows appear more prominently from light sources from 25 to 135 degrees off came or what is commonly known as a side and backlighting. The lesser the angle the "flatter" the lighting. A directly aimed Speedlight mounted on the hot shoe, directly above the lens is almost a zero degrees, however, being slightly above the lens there might be a bit of vertical modeling and certain shadows are still observed, especially on a nearby wall or background behind a subject. A ring ligh deliver lighting COAXIAL to the lens and you can't get much flatter than that0 a true zero degrees. This can be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on what kind of photography you are doing and what kind of results you require.
Traditionally, the rin light is used in scientific, medical dental and certain kids of industrial photography where shadows would be detrimental to what needs to be defined, illustrated and clearly rendered. In photograph surgical fields where there are various exposed tissue and surgical instruments all in a confined space or cavity, coaxial lighting is essential. There is actually a Medical Nikor macro lens with a built-in ring light for this purpose. In intraoral photography of dental procedures and illustration, again the ring ligh is essential. In records for plastic surgery, flat lighting is preferred because shadows can alter the exact appearance, shape or proportion of a face. In forensic, police, evidence gathering photograhy, again flat ligh can be an asset in not obscuring anything in shadow. A class usage example is in photography of the electronic circuit board or similar items where you can't have shadows projected from one tiny component to another and thereby obscuring vital details. In a scientific recording of flowers, insects, small animals, again you may want a clinical or strictly documentary detailed image, however, they may not be aesthetically pleasing.
You can, however, obtain a more dimensional image with more texture and a bit of modeling by altering the effect of a coaxial light source. You can utilize a ring lig with multiple flash tubes and by switch off on side of the "ring. or place a diffuser or neutral density filter (gel) on one side of the flash tube, thereby creating a lighting ratio. Also, keep in mind that make photography can be done with natural lighting, off-camer flas or natural ligh plus fill-in lighting from a ring light.
There is a trend in some circles to use ring ligh for fashion, "glamour", and portrait photograhy. Personally, it is not my favorite effect but it is a stylization that has gained popularity. Man fashion or cover modes are chosen because they have symmetrical facial structures. At one time so-called Butterfly lighting was the kinda "Hollyweed" and "cover-girl" standard. That light is comparatively flat when compared to loop and Rembrandt kinds of lighting. Spe photographer employed cross-lighting, or reflector from under the chin, combined with heavy makeup to flatten outThe cam the ring lig- flat as a pancake and the tell-tale donut-shaped catchlights in the center of the eyes. lighting and create a kind porcelain skin texture. There is an array of larger light stand-mounted ring lights to accommodate this style and technique.
Many advertisements for ring lights show the negation of the undesirable background shadows as they oftentimes appear with conventional speedlights. The shadow is gone but the subject is totally flat and the lighting is without dimension, mood, modeling or texture. You can eliminate the background shadows, using conventional lighting by increasing the distance between the subject and the background, Using an over-the lens flas bracket, adjusting the off-camera lights and correct lighting for background management.
No matter what kind of light you use, the angle of incidence theory applies as do the effect of diffusion, distance, and the old inverse square law. So..if you photograph a highly polished reflective subject with a ring light, the unwanted reflect will still come right back at you. The light will still fall off in the back of the subject and possibly overexpose the foreground. An undiffused flas tub may still produce a harsh lighting effect. A ring lig can be a great tool but it is no magic cure-all in macro or any othere kind of photography. You have to apply in according to theory, modify it when required and try it ou in various ways to explore all its potential.
So...if you have a ring light-collecting dust, give it a try and use a few of my suggestions. If it's really old, just make sure the trigger voltage is safe for your current digital camera- you may need a Safe-Synch adapter to use it safely. If you are contemplating the purchase of a ring light, they can be a good investment as long as you know the advantage and shortcomings of coaxial lighting.
There are books and articles about understanding y... (
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