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Lighting for Macro

by David Maynard

© David Maynard

I wanted to give the maker of this white balance filter a shot with some punch. After deciding there was just no way to fit a beautiful bikini clad model onto this little filter, I opted to go with one of natures most colorful (and more compact) models… the Red Eyed Tree Frog.


Now before you laugh, consider this. They show up for the shoot on time, require no hair and makeup people, and they work for crickets! Granted, they don’t hold still for

very long and they consistently leave slime and/or other bodily fluids on the product. But those things are a small price to pay for that adorable face.

This image was captured digitally using the Tamron SP AF180mm Di Macro lens with the exposure set to f13 at 1/125 second, using a custom white balance.

We started with a plain white Muslin background. Plexi glass was placed between the white balance filter and the lower portion of the muslin to create the reflection. We placed a battery powered Lumedyne Signature Series power pack and head behind the Muslin to be fired bare bulb producing f16. Another Lumedyne pack and head were placed in front and fitted with a 2X3 ft Chimera softbox producing f13.
© David Maynard

When shooting wild frogs I approach things from a similar perspective. I want studio quality shots while at the same time staying light and portable. I will still almost always use at least two light sources. This is one such scenario.


Using the Tamron SP AF 180mm Di Macro lens at f19, I lit this image with a single battery powered Lumedyne power pack and two heads.


The pack and one head were mounted on a lightweight stand back to my right side. This head was bounced through a small umbrella.

The second head was extended well off to my left side and diffused with a Globe diffuser. Since the power was split symmetrically, this fill source was kept at 1.5 times the distance of the primary.

© David Maynard

When using my Tamron 180mm Di Macro lens to get the tiny creatures, I often use the Profoto Acute Ringlight. To stay portable, it has been converted for use with the Lumedyne portable power packs, which I typically use on a shoulder strap.


The ringlight was diffused with a simple piece of soft white cloth cut to accommodate the lens in the center. Since I only needed to fill, I cranked the power back to 12ws and gave just a puff of light exposing the shot at f5.6

The Tamron 180mm Di Macro lens is incredibly sharp, but as with all macro lenses the depth of field is very narrow.

Insects, reptiles, and frogs are often shiny and specular so I always diffuse the lights. With a high enough f-stop from a diffused light source, I can utilize the 180mm Di to its impressive potential.