Macro and close-up using a Rogue Flashbender

[MacroMeister]

I recently bought a Rogue Flashbender, which I find excellent for macro and closeup. I tend to want a lot of DOF and I use an off-camera flash in manual mode fitted with the Flashbender.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=rogue+flashbender

The diffuser gives a very soft light. In this shot taken a few days ago, the flash allowed me to use ISO200 (no noise), f/18 for excellent DOF, and 1/200sec which I needed as it was breezy and I wanted tack sharpness. Those camera settings made the whole scene dark, but I wanted the background dark (which was good) and the flash perfectly illuminated just the subject. The flash was a Yongnuo manual flash which cost £40, and the flashbender was £30 - pretty cheap!

Does anyone use anything similar, or can you suggest anything better?

Shot outdoors at National Botanic Garden Wales.

Briger melyn by MacroMeister on Talk Photography

 

[Scooter]

Hi Rob,

Nice shot

I use a Flash-bender XL for (on-camera) flash macro too (portable for chasing insects about), it creates a very useful "light canopy" over the subject - which of course you can adjust by bending it around...
http://owenlloydphotography.com/?p=2108

Some results
http://owenlloydphotography.com/?p=2139

Background is in range of the flash on this one and the Flash-bender is huge compared to the field of view so it looks like daylight.

Owen

 

[MacroMeister]

Thanks, Owen, that is very interesting. I tried using one of those small flash softboxes as you show. They too are good, but the great thing about the Flashbender is its flexibility (literally). For my shot the mid-day sun was very bright overhead, and I actually positioned the FB so that is shielded the flower from the sun at the same time as providing the light underneath - if that makes sense.

You have some excellent shots.

 

[Sir SR]

Hi Rob,

Nice shot

I use a Flash-bender XL for (on-camera) flash macro too (portable for chasing insects about), it creates a very useful "light canopy" over the subject - which of course you can adjust by bending it around...
http://owenlloydphotography.com/?p=2108

Some results
http://owenlloydphotography.com/?p=2139

Background is in range of the flash on this one and the Flash-bender is huge compared to the field of view so it looks like daylight.

Owen

[emoji106] never thought of using the flashbender in this way......time to dust off the macro lens!!