Controlling Light – Recommended Gear List
Christian Autotte’s “Controlling Light” article in the Spring 2019 issue of PHOTONews magazine offered a lot of great gear suggestions for macro photography.
Here are some of my favourite pieces of gear for controlling light for macro photos.
Aurora Speed Bounce
http://www.auroralitebank.ca/product-category/speedlight-accessories/speedbounce/
Speed Bounce is double-threat – it’s pop-up modifier that you can use on your speedlight that also doubles as a round reflector for filling in shadows!
Available in 30cm and 40 cm versions, Speed Bounce twists down to a quarter its size to fit in any camera bag or pocket. The included Velcro strap will fit almost any speedlight. When used with your speedlight, this handy modifier will give you round catchlights. Thanks to its small size and light weight, it’s very easy to use for any photographer.
If you want to use it as a reflector, simply open it and hold it in your hand. Unlike regular reflectors, the opening makes for a great handhold.
Aurora Studio Umbrellas
Christian offered up a great tip about using an umbrella to block hard sunlight. The nice feature that a studio umbrella offers is the shaft that can work as a handle or a rest. You can hold the shaft in your hand to position the umbrella exactly where you want or you can rest the umbrella on the ground and the shaft will hold the umbrella away from your subject.
There are three different types of umbrella – silver interior, white interior and translucent. The silver and white interior are great for bouncing light into your subject. My favourite is the translucent as you can bounce light in or use it as a diffuser between your subject and the sun.
Aurora Lite Disk
Following the Aurora Speed Bounce, your next best friend in your camera bag is a twist and fold reflector, or as Aurora calls them, Lite Disk. There are two options for materials – either a silver on one side/white on the other side or the Multi, which is a five-in-one (Silver, White, Black, Gold and Translucent).
The silver/white version is perfect for bouncing light back onto your subject. It’s also really easy to carry and use, available in sizes from 80cm up to 120cm. The larger ones should be left in studio but the 80cm is a handy size to bring with you.
I use the Multi Lite Disk more than any other. I can use the silver or white sides to bounce light; the gold is nice for adding a touch of warmth to an image; the black makes a great background or for negative light on lighter objects; and the translucent is like a portable cloud! I use the translucent a LOT as it’s a perfect diffuser for harsh sunlight.
Metz 15 MS-1 Macro Flash
The Metz 15 MS-1 macro flash is the perfect partner for your favourite macro lens. It attaches to the front of your lens via adapter rings (6 are included) or you can stand mount or hold it in your hand. My favourite feature is that it’s compatible with almost any camera system – full wireless slave TTL for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax and Samsung. It will also slave in Manual mode optically (which means may work with your point and shoot camera, if it has Manual control) and via PC Sync cord (an optional adapter may be necessary).
Metz 15 MS-1 has two flash tubes. You can easily adjust the light ratio between the two sides using buttons on the camera-facing side of the unit from even 1-1 to full one side or the other. There’s an easy to read LCD display; you can swivel each flash tube independently three angles; the bounce diffuser can be rotated for precise control and there’s a modelling light integrated that also functions as an AF Assist. You can also rotate the 15 MS-1 around your lens to get light exactly where you want it.
We have all of these great macro lighting products, and a few more, on sale at http://store.amplis.com. Limited Quantities, while product is available. Specials are for new, current orders only. Readers can use code REFLECT2019 to save 20% OFF their order of lighting accessories.
About the Author – Will Prentice (www.capturaphoto.ca) is a professional photographer based out of Whitby, Ontario and Brand Specialist – Lighting for Amplis.
