For the macro photographer working with natural light,
here is a tip to help improve your photos.
Here are two simple and inexpensive products that I carry with me in the field for controlling light.
12″ Translucent (diffuser) and Macro Field Support
The great advantage that macro photographers have over nature photographers who shoot landscape and wildlife is we can control the light hitting our subject. Landscape and wildlife photographers have to deal with what ever mother nature throws down on their subjects (harsh sunlight, heavy overcast skies) without any ability to control it.
Because of the small size of our subjects and a little help from these two items , we take control.
The image above was shot on a cloudy day, and as you can see, even on a cloudy day the light from over head can wash out the color on the top of a flower.
By positioning the 12″ diffuser over top of the flower, the color of the flower is restored with the shading of the diffuser.
Here is another example of controlling harsh overhead light with the diffuser.
This again was shot on a cloudy day. This leaf is blown out on the top with no diffuer.
Here I add the diffuser over top, and the color comes back.
So what do we use the “Macro Field Support” for? It’s for holding the Diffuser in place.
The stake goes in the ground next to the subject and the clamp on the other end does a great job holding the diffuser. “Macro Field Support” can work close to the subject, and allows you to move around the subject free of the diffuser.