What amazes me besides all these wonderful photos with shooting info on this website is the variety of subjects in one post - thank you!
Here in a most southern state we get doves, blue jays, mocking birds and sparrows - not necessarily in that order all the time. Of course the doves being the larger chase off all the others.
Sometimes a jay can be caught stealing a pecan on the fly with a quick click of the shutter.

Yes, my first attempt last night showed the need for appropriate lighting. Put a dime onto a quarter as written about on this forum to observe the distance from lens to object when shooting at 1:1 was an eye opener. The depth of field was so shallow the focus had to be set half way between showing clear detail on the dime and the quarter at f/2.8.
Stopped down to f/16 to increase that depth and had to put a desk lamp very close to get a reasonably good but dim view.
I do appreciate the comment and pictures on the post/link NapaBob included. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Just putting everything away for the night and noticed these comments, thanks guys!
Looked up "sippyjug" through UHH search and read about the beer cooler light chamber, amazing. Will certainly go back to that post and video for pointers.
Through this forum I might get my macro photography off the ground this time. Quite a few years ago after I'd bought a new Canon 20d my wife treated me to a class at the local community college on macro photography. The instructor drug pounds and pounds of equipment into the 6 weekly classes on a refrigerator dolly which scared me. Even so I assembled a simple set-up but the class was over before I got a chance to use it. For some reason and I'm glad, parts of it have lingered at the back of a couple closets since then.

Finally found most of the parts to an adjustable camera stand - missing the lighting system (moved twice since last use) so used a desk lamp. Assembled this a dozen or more years ago out of scrap metal and the rack and track off of an old enlarger.
The second image is the first photo taken with a crop sensor Canon and Macro 100mm lens this evening.
Amazing shallow depth of field - had to focus in between the dime's and quarter"s surface features.
Constructive comments welcomed, thank you.

Great representation of the San Antonio culture.

The sync feature was not available on the other unit is what I determined by reading the literature found on the internet. This is all very new to me but I figured using a flash for macro photography syncing a second or more flash units was not at all necessary. So figured I'd not pay for that feature.

Been reading that I should look at GN ratings because that is the most important feature to understand and look at when selecting a flash unit. So that spec will be what contributes the most to what I buy.

I'm looking forward to going out this weekend to try out what I've heard/read so far.

Thank You everyone form your comments, they are all on track with what I've read. Just need to develop my own approach and adjust as time and ability move forward.

First - Items #1-#5 are items one poster listed that assembled together make a very good flexible flash mount. Wimberley sells them for twice the price. And I did not list a defuser - there are many good DIY examples on this forum for me to attempt to build.

My biggest decision is what flash would be best cost/functionality wise. The "II" seemed to me to be what I ought to buy - I do get into the trap that the more expensive one could be the best though.

I do like the suggestions that "handheld" is the way to go. As I was first thinking about what equipment was needed I figured in tripods, focusing rails, big lights, batteries, etc. Almost squelched the idea of getting into this phase of photography.

Seeing close-up lenses listed above made me dig up one almost forgotten about in my junk box. My first adventure out to do this type photography will be with only the camera and a lens (maybe with the close up lens too). If and when that seems to work ok, I'll add other pieces into the process.

Further comments welcomed.

Reading several member's posts on this forum (uhh macro photography) over the last week or so I think I would enjoy doing this to some reasonable level of satisfaction. I've never done flash photography except for a very small percentage of images using the camera mounted flash.

So here's what I've come up with after digging through equipment sites that have been suggested:

#1 - I have a 12" long flat camera bracket with a quick release camera clamp/plate.

#2 - Buy a Diamond plate w/1" rubber ball: RAM-B-238U

#3 - Buy two Double socket arms for 1" rubber balls: RAM-B-201U

#4 - Buy a Double 1" rubber ball connector: RAM-B-230U

#5 - Buy 1/4" x 20 Female rubber ball base: RAMB-337U

#6 - Buy a Godox TTL off camera hot shoe cable.

#7 - Buy a Yongnuo YN560-III- Speedlite Flash for Canon OR Buy a Yongnuo YN600EX-RT II Speedlite Flash for Canon.

Everything together with the first flash mentioned cost $130; and everything together with the second flash mentioned cost $188.

I will be using a Canon 80D and Canon 100mm f2/8 IS lens. I do not want a blob of stuff other than the cable's connector mounted onto the camera's hot shoe if that can be done.

Suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.

Thank You in Advance, Tommy2

Absolutely stunning, thank you!

Talking while drawing liquid through a straw - quite an accomplishment! (You do get all around Texas, an accomplishment in it self.)

Yep, unfortunately "signs of the times".

Yes welcome. You have a beautiful country, I'm looking forward to your photographs.

Yep, we had a family member like that too (Never went that far trying to sell dry food though.)

Yes, a "beautiful shot" of a hansom bird.