Many lighting approaches exist for macro photography, and while natural light is a simple and affordable option, alone it can’t always be relied upon. Even in the brightest conditions such as broad daylight, the intimate working distances needed in the genre often cause shadows to be cast on your subjects. When you also factor in the use of narrow apertures to retain detail at such close proximity, boosting the exposure with artificial sources of light often becomes necessary.
Fortunately, even lighting setups can be found to suit a modest budget, and the most common specialist macro options are ring lights and flashes. Circular ring flashes attach to the front of your lens, enabling the light to remain close to the subject. Starting at around £30/$40, they’re generally cheaper than off-camera…
You're reading a preview of
Teach Yourself Macro Photography (Digital) - 1 Issue, Teach Yourself Macro Photography 2