Yellowjacket

[Archibald]

Yellowjacket looking at you.

 

[Stephen]

Excellent work! Handheld? Focus Stacked?

 

[Archibald]

Excellent work! Handheld? Focus Stacked?

A single shot, handheld, and a live subject. Here is the same bug but in profile. Diffused flash in both shots.

 

[KD_Reno]

Lighting looks good on these Ed. Would you mind describing your flash setup?

 

[Archibald]

Lighting looks good on these Ed. Would you mind describing your flash setup?

I use an on-camera Canon speedlite firing into a fan-shaped diffuser attached to the end of the lens. The diffuser was from some stationery product at Staples - called a portfolio or something. But many translucent plastic materials will work. I have a snoot extending from the flash head to the edge of the diffuser. It is made of resin-coated paper (old color print) so it can take some rain, and it has aluminum foil glued to the inside. It boosts light by about a stop, plus it also gives the whole setup stability so it doesn't blow away in a little breeze.

Here is a photo of the rig from a few years back. It hasn't changed much (but I did add some velcro for convenience).

There are lots of ways to configure diffusers. I have different rigs for the MPE65, and also twin diffusers for the Godox M12 flashes. Basically, just use a reasonable translucent sheet. It doesn't have to be special. Even writing paper will work. The denser it is, the better it diffuses and the softer the light, but the more light you lose. So don't overdo it. And try to get the diffuser fairly far forward without going past the focal plane. That helps to illuminate the subject well without bumping into your subject or stuff around it.

 

[KD_Reno]

I use an on-camera Canon speedlite firing into a fan-shaped diffuser attached to the end of the lens. The diffuser was from some stationery product at Staples - called a portfolio or something. But many translucent plastic materials will work. I have a snoot extending from the flash head to the edge of the diffuser. It is made of resin-coated paper (old color print) so it can take some rain, and it has aluminum foil glued to the inside. It boosts light by about a stop, plus it also gives the whole setup stability so it doesn't blow away in a little breeze.

Here is a photo of the rig from a few years back. It hasn't changed much (but I did add some velcro for convenience).

View attachment 21309

There are lots of ways to configure diffusers. I have different rigs for the MPE65, and also twin diffusers for the Godox M12 flashes. Basically, just use a reasonable translucent sheet. It doesn't have to be special. Even writing paper will work. The denser it is, the better it diffuses and the softer the light, but the more light you lose. So don't overdo it. And try to get the diffuser fairly far forward without going past the focal plane. That helps to illuminate the subject well without bumping into your subject or stuff around it.

Thanks. I’ll give something like that a try. I’ve got all winter to figure something out. I mostly use available light, but I live at 4,700 feet and the sun up here can give worse highlights than a bare flash. I’ve also played around with a Rogue Flashbender. Easy to set up and works well for the bugs with a matte finish, but not enough actual diffusion for the glossy ones.

 

[Archibald]

Thanks. I’ll give something like that a try. I’ve got all winter to figure something out. I mostly use available light, but I live at 4,700 feet and the sun up here can give worse highlights than a bare flash. I’ve also played around with a Rogue Flashbender. Easy to set up and works well for the bugs with a matte finish, but not enough actual diffusion for the glossy ones.

A fierce sun like that can give problems, because the flash usually is not going to overpower it. So if the subject is sunlit, you will have double highlights, one from the sun and one from the flash. The best is to use your body to cast a shadow over the subject if you can. Often, though, double highlights are OK. Keep the shutter speed as short as possible to minimize ghosting.