sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I thought that I would share my improved generation of the DIY macro flash diffuser that I will be taking to the field. The first attempt was quite crude which most of my experiments tend to be. It was made from a piece of No. 10 stranded insulated wire to hold the form and two layers of vellum tracing paper. It showed promise by doing what was asked of it to diffuse the flash to avoid specular highlights and blown out bright colors.

Tracing paper is widely used to diffuse flash and illumination in the macro photography community however it was not durable enough for the rigors of outdoor use with humidity and combat with brush and weeds where wildflowers and insect specimens thrive.

With not much to do all day and having all day to do it leaves me time to study and when it comes to lighting and diffusing it one of the better sources for information is the video industry for lighting is their mainstay both indoors and out.

So...what is it that they use to diffuse the harsh video lights including creating color effects? One product is made by Roscolux which makes a large variety of diffusion material which much is a three layer laminated plastic that is impossible to discern from that of tracing paper except that it is "tough". It comes in sheets of 20x24 sheets for $7.00 from Adorama or B&H. For those of you that follow Alex Wild it is what he uses to diffuse his flash. He favors the Roscolux Tuff White which is what I used for my DIY diffuser by taking a sheet and folding it in half and wrapping the edges around the stiff wire and taping it with a strong clear packing tape.

I've attached Velcro where it attaches to the lens and twist tie where it attaches to the focus assist spot light of the flash. It's flat in design so I can get close to the subject where cone shapes may protrude too far when focus distance is ever so short and get in the way. It's broad enough to perform much like a large soft-box.

Weather has been crummy here with our best outlook for Sunday which I have plans to walkabout the large park along the Mississippi River.

I know that there is an older section of shared macro rigs, various gear and techniques although it appears to be quite aged. I learn from others and it feeds inspiration and perhaps as a group we could refresh much of what we use and how we use it as a learning library here.

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Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Nice set up Sippy. Thought about getting one of those flexible lights for a while but it will have to wait for a new lens first. Thanks for the tip on Roscolux. I need to make some diffusers for my SB700

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, and you are quite welcome. If you laid a piece of vellum tracing paper and the Roscolux Tuff White together you could not tell the difference between them. The Roscolux is the same to the eye and feel except that it is durable where paper is....well, it's paper. It is a highly used product for commercial video production where they have to tame large arrays of lighting.

I got mine from Adorama where they have a large inventory of different transparencies and colorations. The Tuff White is rated as having tracing paper transparency quality.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I have an SB800 and it does an excellent job much like your SB700 does from the posts that I view. My situation is that I use an assortment of lenses and because each is physically different is size, diameter or length so using the SB800 requires numerous diffuser cones or whatever. The "Bendy Arm" flash helps elevate that problem for me.

I also have a Meike dual head lens mount macro flash however I have not found an effective way to tame it when focusing ever so close with some of my lenses. It works well on my 200mm macro where I have more working distance.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

DIY, is part of the fun of photography... good work.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, and you are spot-on about the joy of experimenting in the hunt for something more perfect....and then something more perfect than that. There is a search for the Holy Grail in photography for sure.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Your mind wanders in some strange and wonderful ways, sippy.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Kpmac. My Better Half would surely agree with me having a strange mind although not so much so of it being wonderful.

The Roscolux Tuff White diffusion material is quite amazing material. Identical to vellum tracing paper in everyway however very durable and it can be gently wiped off where tracing paper can not without falling apart.

The size of the source of soft illumination is in proportion to the size of the subject. White umbrella (or soft-boxes) for example is quite large compared to the size of the face in portrait photography. Thus the same technique applies in macro photography too. Diffused light with larger surface area than the subject produces more desirable results with less cast shadows and less specular highlights.

When we use a speedlight as the light source for a soft-box the area of the flash head is quite small in comparison to the surface area of the soft-box diffuser. The flash head is also held back a distance so that the light does not produce hotspots of light on the diffuser material. So...hold the flash back a bit from the macro flash diffusion material as well for controlling light applies to all.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

thanks for the idea.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Very good! Then comes the part of testing it out on something shiny. Maybe on the back side of a spoon?
I had quite forgotten about that special material. The thin packing foam I use is not as good, I am sure. There is also this particular white of white silk cloth which one hears about, but that is rather pricey.
As you well know, the "diffusion problem" is one of the most challenging things about this hobby. Funny how some ideals of the hobby has gotten into a particular corner which do not match the real world. Highlights from shiny surfaces must not be blown out. Backgrounds have to be strongly blurred. And so on.
Looking forward to the results! 👍

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Mark. Commercial cinematography relies heavily on staged lighting and often times lots of it. Their need for controlling that light makes all the difference in the world to them. Frankly, it's a source of information and products that I had not thought to follow until recently and its a science in its own right.

There are many sources of diffusion material available that has listed qualities for folks to make decisions to match their staged lighting needs. The material is available in sheet stock as well as large rolls.

Vellum tracing paper is handy and easy to fashion and multiple plies can meet a variety of lighting needs. Great for indoor use and great for outdoor use when placed in a plastic sleeve to protect it. This does the same without the need of the protective sleeve and holding it in one's hand would be difficult to know which is which until you try to tear it.