articles/Nature/extrememacro-page3

Extreme Macro - part 3 of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

by Mike McNamee Published 01/10/2010

Lighting Control

Lighting is difficult because the working distances make for very little space in which to introduce lights. For this reason fibre optic light guides are often used; they provide, continuous light which is compact but also cool. Flash used to be a problem, especially judging the exposure but these issues are resolved today with the use of digital cameras.

Dark field illumination is shown in the diagram and gets around all the lighting issues in front of the lens because it is a transmitted light technique. The fact that it creates spectacular back-lit effects is a considerable bonus. Two flash guns are best, but you can get away with just one. The guns only need low power as they are used very close to the subject. This brings benefits in terms of flash durations (see later).

Flash - using Commander Mode

The modern system flash guns (eg Nikon and Canon) and the Sigma guns may be controlled 'off-camera' using EX Flash (for Canon) and Commander Mode (for Nikon).

On the Nikon you press the menu button, then Custom Settings, then Bracketing and Flask, then Built-in Flash to reveal the correct menu for setting up Commander Mode (you scroll down to this to reveal the options).

We used the 'built-in flash' set to do nothing ( - - ); Group A on manual flash and set to 1/4 power (initially at least) and then Channel 1. This is a default setting but your flash might have been set up differently on other jobs. Settings are completed by pushing the Enter Button. Opening the pop-up flash automatically brings commander mode into operation. The two guns are normally set to Manual and 1/4 power then put into Remote mode.

This is done by holding down the centre SEL button, then pushing once more to select the Remote controller then scrolling to the right to select the list and then scrolling down to REMOTE. Push SEL once then push the on-off button briefly. A new screen view appears on the back of the flash and you are good to go.

• Extreme Macro page 1
  
• Extreme Macro page 2
  
• Extreme Macro page 3
  
• Extreme Macro page 4
  
• Extreme Macro page 5
  
• Extreme Macro page 6
  
• Extreme Macro page 7
  

There are 37 days to get ready for The Societies of Photographers Convention and Trade Show at The Novotel London West, Hammersmith ...
which starts on Wednesday 17th January 2024