sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I cannot take any claim to this creative off-camera flash technique nor this image of it, although I wish I would have thought of it.

This is for those who are curious about macro photography who drop by the True Macro-Photography Forum and want to get started perhaps with lenses that they already have with extension tubes or reverse mounting the lens or both before investing in specialized macro equipment.

I came across this image during my constant search of macro equipment and techniques and I thought that it was very creative and that it may produce the desired results of macro off-camera flash using the camera's built-in flash or adapting it to a normal hotshoe mounted speed light flash. This technique mimics use of the dual flash head lens mounted flash systems.

A bit of cardboard, aluminum foil, tape or glue, a rubber-band and then off to the field for shooting.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

That is a very clever idea.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

That is cool. But you are more a craftsman than I am, especially as I get more arthritic.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Mark, I thought so too when I seen it. Again, I take no credit for it whatsoever nor for the picture of it.

Whoever made it sure did a good job of it. I believe that one could place different modifiers over the open ends by the lens like vellum, thin packing foam, paper towel or perhaps simple white paper.

I tend to view things as shapes (I imagine it comes from my years as a mechanical designer). To me it's a series of small boxes attached together with tape and glue. Old cereal boxes would make a source of the cardboard needed. Measure the length of box section wanted. Measure the height of each side of the box, add them together and cut out the blank based on that and the length. Score the cardboard blank at the height of each side and fold. Glue aluminum foil to what will be the inside surface of the box. Tape the edge or glue it.

Repeat for each box section. Tape the boxes together. Cut a hole in the bottom of the box that goes over the camera's popup flash. Cost is near zero and the worse that will happen is it gets tossed. A fun project for a rainy or socked in winter day.

Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)

Awesome

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Your caption is misleading since it is not OFF camera
Looks like a real pita to make, also I am suspect of how effective it would be since there would be all kinds of light loss as the light is bounced around.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I suspect all of which could be true. Off-camera was used a loosely in that the light is emitted at the face of the lens rather than high on the camera's pop-up.

There are scores of DIY flash modifiers for macro photography ranging from using a Pringles chips can to building a cardboard extension flared into a softbox. A few are as simple as using a white foam picnic plate with a hole in it slid over the end of the lens to diffuse the on-camera flash to the face of the lens.

A search on the internet shows numerous photographers with amazing results. When I first started with macro I made several variations myself based on what I saw although I connected them to my SB-800 flash head to extend the light past the face of the lens as many others did.

I learned a lot from those experiments, most of which was what did not work, however it provided me with something to do and something to pursue. In the end I bought a Meike dual head macro flash. I doubt that it made me a better macro photographer but it did make a hole in my wallet compared to a DIY alternative.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

LOL
I went with the Nikon R1C1 macro flash set
I very seldom use it
but it does work great

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I also shoot Nikon and I looked at and admired that flash system. I believe it to be at the top of the list for Nikon macro shooters and I would truly like to have one however the price is at the top of that list as well. In this case, the quality of the Nikon dual head flash does warrant the price it's just that my wallet didn't.

napabob Loc: Napa CA

looks like someone is in the heating and cooling business and knows how to use CAD, ingenuity and build points from me............

sgt hop Loc: baltimore md,now in salisbury md

i used one of these........

Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY

Necessity is the mother of invention! Great idea!