Sharing My Evolving Diffusers For Macro Step By Step

[irenecal]

Hi Fellow PMers,
Its about sharing my little experience on Macro.1 year already..where are you now?
I better do something.
This is my first ever written experience so I apologize if its silly to post this.
There is no prejudice against different camera makes.If I do make some mistakes do point out along the way.
This is my story…

It all started a year plus ago.
I joined PM in Jan 2011.
Nikon D90 was my first purchase.I loved landscapes and macro.
I was inspired by the pictures fellow PMers posted.
I was poisoned and poisoned.
Skipping all that I started becoming serious in Macro in late August last year(2011).
I knew nothing..just shoot.Google for facts,analyze,go shoot again.Alone.
Still shooting alone.
Same place where I started out..at the foothills of Cameron.

AUGUST 2011
This was my first diffuser.




and this was the outcome.

SEPTEMBER 2011

My photos were a laughing stock.Some of my shots are still.
Sifus such as Liewwk,OM(Kurt),MarcusKam,Sideview,Wilsonblitz,KJT eng,Big Brother Derrick,Samo,TeoKF if I had missed out I do apologize were like a role model.They still are from the bottom of my heart.
I needed to do something to improve.MacroPhotography i was told was a steep learning process.
It does`t mean you got the image right….thats it.I can still improve.
So DIY-lah(do it yourself) to be continued…..

[irenecal]

I wanted to do my best,I had to do something to better my lighting.
These was my Generation 2 prototype.
Here were the steps.If it bores you..please skip the pictures.










This was one of the selected ones for that month.Posted in PM.Thread posted.

to be continued…...

[irenecal]

My humble gear grew to this present and I`m still using it.
Nikon 105 + x1.4Kenko TC+3ET.


Still I wasn`t happy.I needed a macro flash bracket.
Bought it from Tiwei.Thanks Tiwei.It was a DIY setup and my my my..was it heavy as you can see in my next DIY diffuser that I had conjured up.












And the results…

to be continued….

[irenecal]

My cravings for a better image and lightning went on to
DECEMBER 2011.There were 2 more of my crazy ideas that month.

5th December 2011
Called it X Wing Fighter.




i needed results..


11th December 2011
This was the time I used the Kirk(not Kurt its Kirk) Macro Flash Bracket.






It did light up the Y axis making it a 3 D effect.Hmmm…lighting harsh still.
Posted in PM.
to be continued….

[irenecal]

FEBRUARY 2012
I called it Octopus cos it looked like octopus arm.
Something like Fotopro dmm-901 dual flash bracket.OJTee helped me purchase it.Thanks,bro.
Alas..one of its arms broke after couple of usage.
Called it Tie fighter funneled.
Attachment 264828

Attachment 264829
Captured image before retiring it.
A Dolichopodidae(Long legged fly).Lighting too harsh.


MARCH 2012
3rd March 2012That was before I took Dhal Bhat given to me by Uncle Maxby and Uncle Yusuf.
This is to mount my 3 SBR200 Nikon Speedlights on to the 105mm which is a 62mm filter thread.There is an adapter for it.


Call this Powder Puff Girls.


Another treehopper variant.
to be continued….

[irenecal]

So…am I satisfied.Answer is no.The quest for a new diffuser and better lighting must continue.

I summarized up facts from all advices,sourced the internet and I finally made this.
Its quite similar to the Powder Puff Girls(Gen 6).
But,I tested by trial and error.
Important fact is…

1) Lightsource with diffuser should be kept apart in various layers.
Why?the light passing through will get less and less.still light passes through to reach to subject,it will be less harsh.

2) Preferably should have angulated light source for X and Y axis to have the 3 D effect.

3) If intensities of light source can vary between the axis still good.I think this applies for portraiture also.

I had made my mistakes over again and need to rectify them.
An ideal setup would be a dedicated macro lens with flash.
What sort of flash is alright.but…

How would you put your flash in front of the lens?
Either by assistance or a setup like a flash bracket or snoot diffuser.

I had googled up queries on this…ultimately a dedicated macro setup end of story.
Lessen your worries.But its costly.
You got the X axis and y-axis covered.
You can do portraiture or landscape format as you wish.

So this is my GEN 7 setup of late July 2012.
Made up of 2 diffusers taped up with masking tape.Nikon SW11(it came with the R1C1 kit).The loner(middle one)they didn`t supply together so must order separately.looks flimsy thats why got to tape it to prevent it from dropping.
http://shashinki.com/shop/nikon-sw11...sh-p-1459.html
You`ll notice the middle one hasn`t got one.i`ll be getting them soon.just ordered yesterday.
Followed by 3 laters of opaque plastic wrap around with soft styrofoam.paper clip attached.
rubberbands to keep them in place.
Can take out if the diffusion down`t permit enough light to reach the subject.
Thats when the usage of RAW comes in.can recover some details.











Landscape mode

Top lighting portrait mode

Side lighting portrait mode
to be continued…...

[irenecal]

Different diffuser setup from my buddies…fellow PMers.










I hope everyone benefits from my sharing.
Even by viewing hopefully it will spruce up ones creativeness.
Thankyou,PhotoMalaysia.

[triplet1701]

TQ for sharing irenecal... very interesting.
I tried an external flash (Nissin DI866) with diffuser but the weight bordering me. Since I'm currently using a set of ext tube (manual) + reverse 50mm, I like my gear as light as possible, so I shoot with onboard flash + patato can diffuser. The view finder quite dark due to the ext tube and it's hard to focus manually. Sometime I use a small led flashlight to light my subject. In future, I'm thinking to get 28mm prime and ring flash (or do-it-myself).

[irenecal]

TQ for sharing irenecal... very interesting.
I tried an external flash (Nissin DI866) with diffuser but the weight bordering me. Since I'm currently using a set of ext tube (manual) + reverse 50mm, I like my gear as light as possible, so I shoot with onboard flash + patato can diffuser. The view finder quite dark due to the ext tube and it's hard to focus manually. Sometime I use a small led flashlight to light my subject. In future, I'm thinking to get 28mm prime and ring flash (or do-it-myself).

I was contemplating on one like that,small led flashlight just at the base of my holder not on focusing ring.
Like the one we can get in Kinokuniya,Popular book Store or any books store.Reading light that clips on to book.
That won`t be heavy.
I was thinking of taping a Maglite on my setup like I`m going for military ops.
The idea is good.Light,cheap and not messy.
A) I wouldn`t go for A)...it would attract unwanted attention.
B)
c) C) would be an idea If its powerful enough to light up for reading,instead of using it as a bookworm,
it will help hunt for worms more so bugs.

I think it would work for night macro too.For myself it would be 6am macro then.
I need more rechargeable CR123A batteries now.
>> On 28mm prime and ring flash.You mean you reverse the 50mm and also reverse the 28mm?
I have no knowledge on that one.

[ojtee]

soooo deeeeeeeeeep.......

Great write-up D !

[suhazliey]

[QUOTE=irenecal;2090599]Different diffuser setup from my buddies…fellow PMers.


WOW...my J1 make the list haha...
I think u are more than extreme la hehe
Very Good Article... someday we will macro together this i promise u!

[maxby]

Thanks for sharing Doc. I am promoting this to "Articles and Reviews".

[irenecal]

soooo deeeeeeeeeep.......
Great write-up D !

Thanks for having a look at my evolving diffusers.
Its not the end of my diffusers though i.e. Gen 7.
The final setup must be comfortable to the user and he/she can achieve good images weather in portrait mode or landscape mode.
With soft diffuse light.
One Sifu told me..just shoot a watch.Watch is reflective at arms.You will know how much you need to diffuse the light.
So..insects which are having reflective body already you got them covered.Which is if they want to model for you-lah.
The technique which will be in a different section.

[irenecal]

[QUOTE=suhazliey;2090672]

Different diffuser setup from my buddies…fellow PMers.
WOW...my J1 make the list haha...
I think u are more than extreme la hehe
Very Good Article... someday we will macro together this i promise u!

Your J1 very unique.Very few use J1 and share their macro setup.Thanks for being open minded.
People would say…Is it a secret weapon? Oh you got this setup sure win prize one.
No,I would say.Lets all enjoy photography with different experiences.
Apply it practically,and see the result.
2 people shooting the same bug with the same setup and technique isn`t going to be the same.
You know why?..The Bug moved.
In search for the right light is a great experience altogether.
Some use A4 paper,vellum paper,tracing paper.Got people use toilet paper..any macro kaki?
I will definitely join you for Macro with keropok lekor with everything nice one day.

[irenecal]

Thanks for sharing Doc. I am promoting this to "Articles and Reviews".

Thanks,Uncle Maxby.

[triplet1701]

' >> On 28mm prime and ring flash.You mean you reverse the 50mm and also reverse the 28mm?
I have no knowledge on that one.'

Only 28mm. I read that the magnification is higher than 50mm. Hope I can get it before raya to experiment during raya leave.

[irenecal]

' >> On 28mm prime and ring flash.You mean you reverse the 50mm and also reverse the 28mm?
I have no knowledge on that one.'
Only 28mm. I read that the magnification is higher than 50mm. Hope I can get it before raya to experiment during raya leave.

Working distance also is another factor.
My setup above just gives me bout 2.5:1,I think.

[reaganchen]

Derrick... so informative leh...
i also just changed my lighting system to ring flash...
trying out the lighting and diffusing it as much as possible
failed numerous times already
gonna add some ext tube n telecon too

[irenecal]

Derrick... so informative leh...
i also just changed my lighting system to ring flash...
trying out the lighting and diffusing it as much as possible
failed numerous times already
gonna add some ext tube n telecon too

Thanks,Reagan.Glad you found this useful.
Ringflash would yield different results on the jumpers eyes for example.Very cool look.
The idea is to get it layered by layer.Light softens up as it pass through gaps of air and layers.
Placing several layers with no gap at all would permit light to be diffused in a very very short working distance.The further away the harsher the light and chances it will be underexposed.
Its all trial and error.
Judge your most comfortable working distance and work from there.

[Struxure]

Excellent write up, it would be useful for us to improve our lighting.