Two views of a clematis in my yard

[DanK]

Tried something this morning I haven't done before. It was a bit windy outside, and cloudy, so it wasn't feasible to freeze the motion of flowers with natural light. So, I took my highly diffused flash rig, which I use normally for macros, and used it to illuminate the flowers. I hand-held the flash so that I could try lots of different angles. Here are two of different blooms on a single clematis vine. Both were 1/125, f/14, ISO 400 (to lighten the background a bit), with some positive FEC. I'll post an image of my flash below it. C&C welcome, as always.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice and clear shots Dan, I especially like #2

[IzzieK]

I like the angle of #1 better because it is not as direct -- if only that leaf wasn't included...

[Shadowman]

Nice efforts.

[Dave Humphries]

Nice shots Dan,

Seeing the picture of your rig, can I ask if you get problems with all those mechanical connections and the balance of weight of the flash causing them to loosen or even the entire rig twisting round on the camera's tripod connector?

I ask because when I tried creating such an assembly, I had little faith in it all staying together without bits swinging round unexpectedly as I framed up shots - and at best spoiling the aim of the flash, or at worst; falling off or even smashing in to the subject itself.

TIA, Dave

[DanK]

Thanks, all. Dave, yes, the rig is less stable than I would like. There are three potential points of failure: where the bracket is screwed into the bottom of the camera, and each of the two mini-ballheads. The first never fails. The most common problem is with the bottom, more expensive mini-ball, which is a Novoflex with a separate pan control. The locking screw of the pan control sometimes loosens. However, it is not a big deal to tighten it again.

The bigger problem is that having all that weight so far forward is awkward. That's why I use a monopod for most field macro.

These days I sometimes do macro with a Wimberley bracket--expensive and heavier, but much more solid.

In the case of these flowers, I used the diffuser but not the bracket. I hand-held the flash separately.

[Dave Humphries]

Yes, I was thinking hand holding the flash might be better (than what I built up), although in certain circumstances, I can predict a chance of inadvertent collision with the subject or surrounding foliage while I am peering through the viewfinder.

The next idea I came up with (but have yet to try) was to mount and aim the flash safely from a light stand, RF triggered, leaving the camera free and handheld, for maximum flexibility in framing and 'sway focusing' for bug shots.