macro photography in the dark

[sid1987]

what do you think is the best way to orient the flash while taking a macro picture in the dark. the problem is that the lens is very close to the object and hence there is no room for the flash.. any suggestions?

[Darren Rowse]

Not really my area of expertise sid but I'd experiment with bouncing the flash off different angles or even investing in one of those ring flashes that go around a lens.

Low light is always difficult for all photography and with macro I can imagine it gets even more difficult.

[hitkaiser]

Could you show us an example of what you are trying to capture?

[henryscat]

Yeah need more info for this one i think.
You could try bouncing it off a reflector if you have one.
If you don't, then take a side off a cardboard box and cover it with tin foil using double sided sticky tape.

[Quamen]

Originally Posted by sid1987

what do you think is the best way to orient the flash while taking a macro picture in the dark. the problem is that the lens is very close to the object and hence there is no room for the flash.. any suggestions?

I built a MuzzBounce for using my speedlight for macro shots. It works great for getting light above a macro subject. It's a bit ghetto but who cares, it's cheap and it works!

I use the light from my mobile phone to manually focus my camera and then use the flash + MuzzBounce to light the subject.

[googlit]

I think the best thing to do would be to take the flash off of the camera. Using a PC cable, you can get some more distance between the flash and the subject.

If your camera doesn't have a PC jack, you can buy an adapter for it that attaches to the hot-shoe mount.

The other alternative is to get some external light sources. Not always an option, but they're useful. I've got an old work lamp that I use fairly often when my flash just won't cut it.

[Gromguitar4]

Wow, quamen! I really like that idea for the flash bounce! I have to try it.

[henryscat]

Nice one Quamen - thats something i'm going to try myself!

[henryscat]

Ok I just built my own from a Tesco car screen wash bottle.
Extremely easy to build thanks to the instructions by Quamen.
I gotta say mate - this is the best photographic add-on I have ever seen - and it cost nothing!!
Thanks once again.

[Quamen]

Don't thank me, thank MuzzleHatch. I am just a messenger

But I agree 100%, Of all the lighting items I've built this one was the easiest and has produced the best results.