• Home
  • Reviews Index
  • Best Gear
  • Inspiration
  • Learn
  • Disclaimer
  • Staff/Contact Info
  • Media Kit
  • Membership
Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
Features

4 Items You Need for Macro Flash Photography. Try These!

Chris Gampat
No Comments
11/01/2021
3 Mins read
Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Sigma 100mm f2.8 DG DN Macro Art images edited 81-250s400 1

For more stories like this, please subscribe to the Phoblographer.

Lots of photographers are shocked at how much really goes into macro flash photography. Macro photography in and of itself is already really complicated. We’ve featured tons of macro photography projects here on the site. They all end up needing to get very technical before being artistic. What’s more, macro flash photography has so many variables and things that can go wrong. But with the right setup, you’re guaranteed to not have problems. And lucky for you, we’ve tested everything you need.

Pro Tips for Macro Flash Photography

Here are some pro tips on doing macro flash photography:

  • Unless you plan on focus stacking, stop the lens down a lot. You’re then going to need to raise your ISO up and possibly get even more power and light. We recommend shooting with a macro lens outdoors or in a very well lit area. Then use a flash in addition to the ambient light. Otherwise, go for a much more powerful studio strobe.
  • Put the flash close or right on top of whatever you’re photographing. You need a flash instead of an LED. LEDs are way too weak when it comes to power output.
  • One of the key advantages in macro flash photography is, well, the flash. Flashes and strobes have something called flash duration. Flash duration acts almost like a second shutter speed and helps to prevent camera shake. LEDs don’t have that.
  • Modern image stabilization is very good. But it’s still not going to outdo what a solid tripod can do. You’re going to really, really need it at macro ranges. All your slightest movements are magnified tenfold.
  • True macro lenses shoot at a 1:1 ratio.

ExpoImaging Rogue Flashbender

In our review, we state:

The build quality is really amazing here. It bends and warps into various shapes and then can fold down pretty flat to be stored into a backpack or messenger bag. That’s a really awesome part of it.

Buy Now

ProMaster SP528K Tripod

In our review, we state:

Out of the box, the ProMaster SP528K is really easy to use and set up. Perhaps the most complicated part is the tripod head. That’s because it has a lot of different functionalities. You can do things like dial in how much sensitivity the ball head has. It also can let you tilt, pivot, etc. I expect this level of control from higher-end products, but the entire package together is cheaper than most camera lenses. One nice touch is the tripod legs. They aren’t rounded for a twist–which has its advantages all its own. It lets you be much more careful about how you’re setting up the tripod to take a shot. I think that both cityscape and landscape photographers will really like the ProMaster SP528K because of just how much it lets a photographer do in an affordable package. It lacks the sexiness of more modern tripods, but it more than does the job.

Buy Now

Flashpoint Zoom Li-on X R2

In our review, we state:

With just 75 watt-seconds of light output, the Flashpoint Zoom Li-on X R2 is obviously nowhere near as powerful as traditional studio strobes. This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to produce pleasing images with it though. As long as you understand how the size and intensity of light work in photography, you’ll be able to create some pleasing results using the Flashpoint Zoom Li-on X R2 as a light source.

Buy Now

Breakthrough Photography X4 Circular Polarizer

In our review, we state:

I have a love/hate relationship with polarizing filters. Their effect can be useful, however, they traditionally reduced exposure by a couple of stops. In addition to the obvious implications on exposure, this also hampers autofocus performance. I was thrilled to learn that new filters are made with a more transmissive polarizing film, and the Breakthrough Photography X4 Circular Polarizer lets through about a half a stop more light!

Buy Now

breakthrough Breakthrough Photography X4 Circular Polarizer expoimaging expoimaging rogue flashbender flashbender flashpoint flashpoint Zoom Li ion flashpoint zoom li-on x macro macro flash macro flash photography Macro Photography promaster ProMaster SP528K tips tripod
Shares
Written by

Chris Gampat

Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.
Previous Post

One of The Best. Fujifilm 33mm f1.4 R WR LM Review

Next Post

Get it While it Lasts, Nikon Camera Fan Boys and Fan Girls

The Phoblographer © 2023 ——Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
  • Home
  • Our Staff
  • Editorial Policies
  • Media Kit
  • Membership
  • App Debug