Ring Flash guidance

[John Liddle]

Greetings one and all.

It being the anniversary of my birth (66 years ago) I have today been blessed with a Yongnuo YN14EX macro ringflash.

I would be grateful for any tips/tricks I should be aware of for getting the most out of it. I have to confess my experience with any sort of flash is fairly limited, so baby steps might be in order!

TIA.

[tesarver]

Re: Ring Flash guidance

Sorry that I cannot help as I do not have one of those, but Happy Birthday. Enjoy your new gift.

Tom

[neilrich1966]

Re: Ring Flash guidance

Happy Birthday John. (Sorry no help on flash).

[jimsphotography]

Re: Ring Flash guidance

Hay birthday John - what sort of photography are you going to use it for ?
James

[Tigger]

Re: Ring Flash guidance

Hay birthday John - what sort of photography are you going to use it for ?
James

enjoy the new toy, tell us what your planning on using it for, flowers? insects ? I'm not that experienced but I'll try to help

[John Liddle]

Re: Ring Flash guidance

Tom, Neil, James & Ian - thanks for responding.

I am intending to use the flash for flower and insect macro work - I hope that the increase in available light will allow more stopping down of the lens and thereby increase DOF.

[Tigger]

Re: Ring Flash guidance

A lot will depend on the output of the flash and how close your getting - one of the great advantages with RF is no longer having think when going in close and worrying about DoF - close it down to F22 and let the flash control the exposure and you can get the focus point just where you want.. I think using a RF with macro takes a lot of the worry about focus out

[ST-EOS]

Ring Flash guidance

Depending on how reflective the body of the insects you shoot using a ring flash you may need to diffuse the flash. I made a diffuser using thin semi opaque foam creating a polo mint shape with the hole being matched to the diameter of the lens. Attach the foam to the flash using masking tape or similar.
With shiny bodies insects you can end up with catchlights on the insect body which is very difficult to remove in PP.
Happy birthday John, I shall raise a glass in your honour, well it is Friday [emoji12]

[John Liddle]

Re: Ring Flash guidance

Ian & Peter - thank you your advice - I can see that I shall have to do a lot of practicing and experimenting.

I shall raise a glass ....

There might be a certain amount of glass-raising in the Liddle household tonight as well!

[ST-EOS]

Re: Ring Flash guidance

Enjoy you day John [emoji482]