Ringflash

[candleman]

I like the way it highlights the face & features, so I’m going to build my own to experiment with, I like the results I’ve seen on flickr.

My question is.. what defines a “good” ringflash? In terms of quality of light, and how the light falls on the subject?
IE what are the key indicators that you have “nailed it” in comparison to what an off the shelf $$$ ringflash will produce. I thought of buying an ORBIS.. but really.. I’d rather just make one myself and see how I like it.
(I know this is somewhat arbitrary and silly.. but I really have no other way of describing what I’m asking)

The design is pretty basic, no issues there, and I’ll probably use 2 flashes 180degrees apart.. so if you have any other tips from your “DIY” experiments, my ears are open.

[Eastree]

I'm still trying to find the one I remember from a few years ago, but here's one that's similar to many i have seen posted lately:
Quick cheap ring flash - Hack a Day

(that site has some REALLY fun photography tricks! It's part of what got me interested in paying attention to lighting etc. int eh first place)

The one I was seeking was similar to this one:
Fiber optic flash ring - Hack a Day

and HERE is the original!
Fiber optic flash ring - Hack a Day

So ... you got me to look through that site and now I have a gazillion tabs open, so I can read about how people modified their stuff.

I hope you smile to know that xD

[RexK_Cozumel]

make sure you make the center ring where the lens fits through large enough that you have some play. You do not want it snug to the lens because when you compose the shot you don't want your light to move since it will cause the shadows to move around.

[AnnaV]

Look forward to seeing the results

[candleman]

hmmmm, thanks gents,

Rex,
i'm a tad confused about your comment,
so you are saying make it loose so you can actually get some zoom going on.. ?
but surely if it loose it would jiggle more with zooming... and thus shift the shadows.

i was planning on making it similar to a beauty dish/softbox (IE with the cover over the front ) but obviouly the "bowl inside bowl" typ econstruction. thus giving a smoother result without "hot spots".

i'll probably make one this weekend and see how it goes.
thanks again.

[RexK_Cozumel]

a normal ring flash is designed to attach to the camera via the tripod mount at the bottom of the camera. The flash can be moved slightly up /down and left/right with out altering your composition. Say I want to shoot at a slightly downward angle or I want to compose to leave a little negative space in front of my subject. However I do not want to move the light off the subject onto the negative space. Well if the light was attached to the lens hood there is nothing I can do about it since the light will follow whereever I point my lens. However if I can move the lens inside the center ring a little bit with out moving the flash head itself then I can compose how I want to with out affecting the lighting of the subject.

You see what i am talking about??

anyways even the orbis or ray flash allows you to do that to a certain extent. Although with those the flash is hot shoe mounted and adjusted by tilting the flash head up/down and rotating left or right.

[candleman]

aaaah, OK, i see, that makes sense.
saweet. i'll give it a crack this weekend hopefully.
cheers bud.

[RexK_Cozumel]

Just remember to use the largest lens you have when you make the template for the size of the center ring. It would be a pain in the butt to redo.

Also be sure that the lens/lens hood extends slighty past the front of the ring flash otherwise you will get wicked lens flare. You can also go slightly inside the center column if you want but that might cause problems if you are using a wide angle lens. Whatever you decide to do just make sure that the light from the flash is not spilling onto the lens.

If you decide to go slightly past the front of the ring flash be careful to not go too far cause that will block some of the light from hitting the subject.

GL let me know if you have any other questions.

[candleman]

well i did it,
no real attempts at an actual decent image yet, but heres something i snapped off within 15 minutes of finishing it.. 100%sooc (with exception of watermark obviously


i jumped inbetween him and his xbox game... so naturally i got a serious expression
(i hope you can see it.. its set to pirvate)
Shutterspeed:1/60
Aperture: f/9.0
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 100
sb600 at about 1/8th
(pumped up the flash and stopped down to give the ringflash a bit more even spread.. that was my logic anyway. i know technically i could have gotten away with a lower flash power.)


heres a shot in the mirror. it doesnt seem to be wrapping around the entire ring.. but its just a bit dodgy to dangle a second flash off the top.


i made it from a $1.50 bowl and a 1.5ltr pepsi bottle, two plastic bags and a bit of duct tape.
i covered the inside of the bowl with the greyish/silver tape as the bowl was semitranslucent, and then covered the front with about 5 layers of white plastic (you know.. supermarket bags)

the centre ring extends about an inch past the edge of the outer ring.. so at about 30mm i get edges if the pepsi bottle showing,.. but thats fine..
as you mentioned there is a little bit of play for re-composing.. not as much as i'd have liked.. but it does what i want for now.

good looking light

i'm pretty happy with the results.. my only point of ponder is the circular catchlight.
i dont relly like them.. however.. when i get closer nd the catchlight encircles the pupil... i think its pretty cool.

watch this space.. i'll make an attempt at a half decent picture and see how it looks..

[spencer28n]

Seems really cool. Great job!