BUCKET LIGHT for macro photography

[FUJI]

Hi, folks,

I have hoiked this pic from my macro forum........I'm sure the original poster won't mind because he put it into a tutorial thread........I will acknowledge him at the end of this post.

For folks with a smidgen of electrical savvy .....what a brilliant ( no pun intended) solution to the macro lighting problem......the idea is a good one for any photographer of small items who wants shadow- free shots.

The LEDs obviously need to be the DAYLIGHT type.......I would imagine that strings of them pre- wired are sold in model shops?

I can envisage that a white plastic storage box or even a medium white plastic bin would work too.

Anyone here willing to make a prototype then put up pics and instructions?

RICHARD?

Acknowledgements and thanks must go to KIETH from Illinois for the pic above........he is showing how he attaches a dead insect to a toothpick for FOCUS STACKING macro shots.

FUJI

[Guest DaveW]

Basically a form of LED ring light Fuji, you could possibly pick up a new or second hand one off EBAY for about the cost of the time and bits to make that? Also flash would be better to stop vibration at those magnifications? thought you had a ring light anyway?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ring-Macro-60-LED-Flash-Light-Flashlight-for-Nikon-DSLR-Digital-Camera-/300775275027?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraFlashUnits_JN&hash=item46079a7a13

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Centon-MR20-Ring-Light-Macro-Flash-Rings-52MM-/271103506120?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraFlashUnits_JN&hash=item3f1f0736c8

DaveW

[FUJI]

I do Dave......but being an incurable lateral thinker, experimenter and DIYer........I thought it looked like a great project for those with the savvy.........I don't go much on my ring light and prefer to use flash......but for focus stacking using a camera on an incremental sliding rail you need a constant source of very bright light......the pics he takes are incredibly detailed.

FUJI

[Guest DaveW]

Agreed Fuji you need some form of supplementary constant light at high magnification for focusing since the image in the viewfinder is very dim due to extension. However I think flash is better at those magnifications for taking the picture to reduce the risk of vibration as the shutter fires.

A flash or ring flash set-up something like this in fact:-

http://mortenaagaard.com/2012/10/09/guide-to-focus-stacking-coming-soon/

DaveW

[jeremy rundle]

$40 or £30 gets you an LED ring light !

[Guest]

way beyond anything I have the time or patience to create. there has to be a way to buy something to do the job for not too much money