"Alan Browne" <alan.browne@videotron.canospam> wrote in message news:3F4F729E.6090607@videotron.canospam...

> Vinnie wrote:

> > I've gone through the photo.net archives as well as the EOS Flash FAQ,

> > and while some of my questions have been answered, I still have

> > additional queries. I also have John Shaw's "Closeups", but it doesnt

> > answer my question either.

> >

> > I want to do macro bug photography, using the Canon 100/2.8 macro lens

> > and 380EX flash (auto, provides E-TTL with both my IIe and 7e). The

> > main goal is to be able to shoot at a high shutter speed, while

> > handholding.

> <<SNIP>>

> 1. Forget bug macro handheld looking through the VF. You will never

> hold focus during the shot. Tripod/release or see 5 below.

This has not been my experience, even with 3X magnification (see

http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/bugs4.html for an example [and the

high-magnification examples before and after this one...]). With care,

and a good TTL flash set-up (see below), it is almost easy to do this...

(See also: www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/phun.html, "Bugs".)

> 2. Forget high speed flash and just go with the lowest power flash you

> can manage. Expose for flash-TTL, not "high speed flash".

Yes to the latter part, but a good flash can get you the VERY small

effective stops needed for good DOF with high-magnification with

hand-holding...

> 3. Flash mounted on the camera will really cast shaddows. Two flashes

> on a wide bracket to each side of the camera, angled inwards is a good

> compromise, short of a ring flash.

I do not like a ring flash (too flat) or dual flashes (dual shadows)

for bug work, especially since there is an easier solution. I mount a

normal flash (Nikon SB24) on bracket with a remote TTL cord

with the head at the front edge of the lens (at the "10:30" or "1:30"

position, depending on the direction of rotation of the camera for

verticals), with the head pointing directly at the subject. Since the

flash head is relatively enormous compared with the tiny subject,

the light acts like a softbox, and the results mimic natural light

well (add an acetate filter to the flash if its color is too cool to

look like sunlight).

> 4. Flash macro is flash macro, there is little means of balancing

> ambient and using fill.

Often, but not necessarily, true. With lower-magnification work, it

is practical to shoot hand-held ambient-light macro with TTL fill

lighting...

> 5. Chasseurs D'Images had a very good article on bug photography a year

> or so ago. However, the setup to get GREAT bug macro shots was quite

> elaborate. One element was a pair of feelers in front of the lens, out

> of the field of view that were at the focus distance. In this manner

> the photog simply walked up to a hovering bug and when the bug was at

> the distance of the feelers, he would release the shot without looking

> throught the viewfinder. This MIGHT get you around the no-tripod approach.

Only if the magnification is low - but then this is easily done without

the elaborate set-up using a flash mounted directly on the camera

(a small paper tent/reflector may help here to place the light source

in a better position). Good macro work does not require a very elaborate

set-up (though it does require a good, sharp camera viewfinder and

steady hands...;-).

--

David Ruether

d_ruether@hotmail.com

http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com