See the web-page on 'depth-of-field' where 'aperture' is explained. However I prefer to take photos using the diffuser with the camera set on 'manual', with the shutter-speed set at 1/250, and decide the aperture myself.ĭeciding the correct aperture is helped by looking at the exposure histogram after the photo is taken, take another photo if necessary. The Nikon D7000 'auto' works quite well, setting the shutter-speed at 1/60 second and the aperture in the vicinity of f 25 for flower close-ups in dim light. Some digital SLR cameras can be set to 'auto' and correctly set the exposure using this diffuser. Unlike a ring-flash which flattens images by almost emiminating shadows, the diffuser does not illuminate from below the lens, providing some modeling - the shape of a flower is clearer if some shadow is present. The diffuser also eliminates the shadow of the front of the lens which can ruin very close-up images if only the camera's inbuilt flash is used.

The diffuser now becomes a broad light source reducing harsh shadows. The tracing film cuts down the intensity of the flash. The diffuser cuts down the power of the flash which would otherwise wash out the photos, even at very small apertures like When the camera's inbuilt flash fires, the light hits the diffuser which then becomes a much broader and diffuse source of light to illuminate the subject of the photo. The important thing is that the diffuser moves when the lens is extended. Here the diffuser is clipped on to the front of the macro lens. Some people might find it easier to attach the diffuser to a standard filter-holder which already has a screw or clip fitting for their model of camera lens.Ĭamera with diffuser attached, inbuilt flash raised The way the diffuser is attached to the front of the lens is going to be different for different cameras and lenses. The clips were cut from cheap conference name-tags. Two clips have been glued to the transparent lid to attach it to the very front of the camera's macro lens. The lid has been cut with scissors to the shape of the camera lens at the bottom.Ī piece of translucent tracing-film (from an art supplier) has been cut to the same shape and stuck on with small strips of sticky-tape. Made from the transparent lid of a frozen cheese-cake container. Here the camera's inbuilt flash is not raised. The camera is fitted with a Nikon macro lens. Photographing Australian Plants DIY Macro Flash Setup Murray Fagg's quick and cheap flash technique for plant photos with a macro lens

Macro photography with flash