Twin flash macro work with completed rig

[Walti]

Two photos I'm reasonably pleased with - I've post processed them for sharpening but have deliberately not cropped them, these are full frame...

Comments very welcome, I think I'm heading in the right direction with these and definitely need far more practice (theres a few pictures of the space the fly was in, rather than successful photos...)

I think I've got the distance and DoF about correct here, the defraction at the smaller aperture is not that visible (to me) the flash is without diffusers (seems better to me - I've tried both)



Second one is not quite as good, as there is a slight shadowing from the LH flash (petal in the way) which has caused visible shadows from the RH flash behind the fly, but again, I'm reasonably pleased.

[alfbranch]

Re: Twin flash macro work with completed rig

The first is a good angle but the focus is a bit too far foward the second I think the focus is too fart back.

Are you shooting handheld?
Show us your macro rig.

[Walti]

Re: Twin flash macro work with completed rig

The first is a good angle but the focus is a bit too far foward the second I think the focus is too fart back.

Are you shooting handheld?
Show us your macro rig.

Alf,

Yes they're both handheld and I have to be honest and say the focussing is one of the hardest elements, that and reacting quickly enough and framing the subjects reasonably well...

I started out with the 60mm Macro, and have added one to four extension rings dependant on the subject, but can't hand hold with four fitted!

Rig build was shown in this post... but I have swapped the Nissin flash (that's the one you can't see under one of the diffusers) for another Olympus flash, so both are now TTL wireless devices and this seems to be getting the exposure spot on.

http://e-group.uk.net/forum/showthread.php?t=42720

[alfbranch]

Re: Twin flash macro work with completed rig

I always shoot handheld even with tubes and a Raynox together.
I now usae manual flash as it doesnt delay the shot as in auto Oly do a double flas to get the exposure rifght and I even had moths escape the frame due to the pre flash.

IMO you need more diffusion.
Are you using back button focus and rocking the camera to get focus. By the way keep at it as it takes practice and a 10% hit rate is good when setting out.

[Walti]

Re: Twin flash macro work with completed rig

I'll trim the diffusers down and have another go with them.

I've been using S-Af and locking it and rocking... It's windy today so the rocking vs the plant movement is difficult!

[David M]

Re: Twin flash macro work with completed rig

My set up in my film shooting days was the main light at 2 or 10 o'clock with the second light opposite at 3 or 9 o'clock. The second flash had a ND fitted as it was filling in the shadows from the main light. It was filtered to provide a third of the light compared to the main light. Both were fitted with diffusers.

[Walti]

Re: Twin flash macro work with completed rig

My set up in my film shooting days was the main light at 2 or 10 o'clock with the second light opposite at 3 or 9 o'clock. The second flash had a ND fitted as it was filling in the shadows from the main light. It was filtered to provide a third of the light compared to the main light. Both were fitted with diffusers.

It's my intention to try different flash positions as there's reasonable flexibility in the rig, and making the flashes different outputs should be straight forward now they're both TTL with a nice menu to change the outputs on the camera.... Will try many thanks.

[alfbranch]

Re: Twin flash macro work with completed rig

I'll trim the diffusers down and have another go with them.

I've been using S-Af and locking it and rocking... It's windy today so the rocking vs the plant movement is difficult!

Windy is always fun and a matter of timing and multiple shots to stand any chance of success.

Here is a view of my diffuser

Zuiko-40-150-tubes-and-raynox by Alf Branch, on Flickr