8.) Controlling Flash

1. Books have been written about lighting for photography. There are several references on the web as well. The one that influenced me the most was this site on using manual flashes – http://Strobist.Blogspot.com. The gist of working with manual flash is to use your camera’s display and a little trial and error, also known as chimping. I will try a few exposures and make adjustments (chimp) until the exposure works. Exposure adjustments with flash are made with any combination of the following: Change the shutter speed on the camera – This has limits
   • If there is movement then I usually have a fast shutter speed in mind
   • If I have flash, I go with the fastest speed my camera will allow for flash sync (it is 1/200). Sync speed is the maximum shutter speed your camera supports and can be found in your manual or online. Many consumer grade DSLR cameras are 1/200.
2. Change the aperture on the lens – This has limits
   • I want as small as aperture as possible to ensure a decent sharpness utilizing depth of field. Many macro photographers will shoot at F16. Going past that may cause diffraction and softening.
   • Some of the lenses I use are not that fast - the fabulous El Nikkor 105mm is wide open at 5.6
3. Move the flash closer or farther away from the subject
   • Moving the flash an inch or two can dramatically change the exposure for macro
4. Change the angle that the flash strikes the subject (either more direct or less direct)
5. Change the output of the flash – manual flashes allow you to control the amount of light they put out
6. Use multiple flashes
   • This can work well and helps to balance out the light and prevent shadows
   • Syncing multiple flashes with your shutter is straight forward and explained in section 9.) Wireless Flash Equipment
   • This can also increase the amount of light – two flashes can produce more light than one.

I tend to work with a combination of items 3. – 6. and find flash distance, flash angle and multiple flashes have the most impact.

Most of my flash macro photographs are at f/22, with a shutter speed of 1/200. I will adjust the flash output (flash distance, number of flashes, power of flash) and adjust the aperture until the composition works for me.

Read on to 9.) Wireless Flash Equipment to learn about inexpensive equipment that works with macro and also with your non macro flash photography – sort of a two for one deal.

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