HOWTO make a macro flashbox!

[major_clanger]

One of the problems with macro photography is getting nice, even light on a very small subject. Ordinary flash tends to cast shadows; one solution is a ring flash that sits around the camera lens, but these tend to be very expensive. So another approach often used is a softbox, an enclosure that scatters and diffuses flash light to give a nice, even illumination. Now, you can buy these - they're popular for product shots for catalogues or web sites - but, inspired by memories of Blue Peter, I thought I'd make one.



The MC Mark 1 Softbox comprises a box (free from Amazon), some white paper (nicked from my printer's in-tray) and some translucent paper that was about 30p a sheet from the art shop up the road. My flashgun fits through a hole in one end; the flash is spread first by a diffuser (which I had already) then by the translucent sheet; it then bounces off the white sheet at the other end. A slot in the side allows for shots to be taken other than from right above, whilst a sheet of black card acts as a background for light objects.

My first tests were with some of the fossil shells tamaranth and I found at Bracklesham the other day. These are first, rough attempts with the camera hand-held rather than on a tripod, and the depth of field is rather shallow, hence the lack of focus at the edges. But all in all I'm pretty pleased with the results. For scale, the scalloped shells are 2-4 cm across, whilst the conical one is about 2cm long.

Comments

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

Very nice! I have a softbox (part of a studio lights kit) but those are just as good as I'd get, I think. (OK, I have coloured filters available as well, but who'd want those for fossils?)

[ms-cataclysm.livejournal.com]

hope eggboxes, sticky back plastic and fairy liquid bottles were used in abundance

[htwj.livejournal.com]

You've catalysed thoughts I've had. Thanks