Several UHH macro-photographers started with flash-rings, but nearly all of us have progressed to using a standard speedlight with a 6x8-inch softbox diffuser. We have a multi-page thread documenting macro set-ups from four-years back to the present, including illumination sources: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-32754-1.html Page four has my current set-up, which is quite similar to 90% of the hand-held set-ups currently being used. Which speedlight do you own?