How many strobe for macro-photo?

Hello,

I wonder if one strobe is enough for macro shots, or if two are needed?

thank you

One strobe is just fine. You can create some great moody shots with interesting shadows by using side lighting.

Or if you want to light up your critter in the traditional way then bring the single strobe up over top of the camera and aim just over the top of your subject

Thank you Mike.

Yep I go with mike

often like to shoot only with one for some nice shadows.

craig

All that said, it's nice to be able to control the amount and kind of shadows through positioning the strobes or adjusting their power, and you need two strobes for that.

I agree that far too many macro shots (inclding mine) are shot with flat even lighting using two strobes at the same distance from the subject on both sides. Some even look almost as if a ring flash had been used. But there's nothing stopping anyone with two strobes from using them in more interesting and creative ways (including moving the second strobe further back and/or depowering to get better shadowing across the image, or using 2nd strobe for side-lighting, top-lighting, or even back-lighting, and - last but not least - if you really want the strongly shadowed "one-strobe" look on a particular shot, just turning it off.

Frogfish

Some even look almost as if a ring flash had been used. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Frink has some fabulous ring-flash shots -- don't dis that lighting!

All the best,

Chris

If you would like to see some examples of macro work captured with a single strobe, check out Ellen Muller's work on InonAmerica's website. Ellen was Inon's artist of the month for January. If you follow the links to Ellen's Pbase website, you'll find even more facinating examples.

If you like the fish ID shooting style of Humann~DeLoach Reef ID books, those too, according to Lee Petersen of Marine Camera, were shot with a single strobe.

That said, I have no strong feelings either way as to what is best. I've even seen images that knock my socks off that were captured using only an onboard flash (internal) for macro!

hth,

b

owner of two Jessica Alba signature series DS 125s

OK, I've read your comments.

thank you

With one strobe you need to be a little more aware of the strobe position than with two strobes. Casting hard shadows will ruin an image. I shot with one strobe for years during the time when I ate hotdogs and beans as my gourmet meal. When I could afford it, I went with two strobes. You will be limited in some cases but for the most part you should get some keepers with a one strobe set up.

Joe

I'm looking forward to trying a ring flash.

Hopefully the images won't look too "flat" witht he all 'round light.

As you can see it is possible to get nice macro shots using a single strobe:

I shot with one strobe for years during the time when I ate hotdogs and beans as my gourmet meal. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I finally decided to go for two strobes and use some kind of DIY macro lens till I can get a stock one in my hotdog..

Nice shot hoovermd, isn't it a little underexposed? Did you pass it thru photoshop?

The photo you see was shot using ISO50 slide film. Actually, this one is my wife's since she is the "macro girl".

What you see there is un-retouched digital scan.

I'll get around to tweaking is someday.

I've noticed that most of the 35mm scans look underexposed when scanned even though the film looks good.

Probably need to work with my scanner a bit but up until recently we have been boring our friends with a "true" slideshow.