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Home → Photography Tutorials

Macro Photography Lighting Tutorial

By Spencer Cox 30 Comments
Last Updated On February 23, 2020

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For our readers in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s that time of year again — days are hotter, nights are shorter, and the air is stuffier. With the changes in weather, two different creatures are beginning to emerge from their deep winter slumbers: the insect and the macro photographer. As macro photography grows more popular, a key question arises: what is the best way to light a bug’s picture?

This article goes into a lot of detail, and I’ve also made a complete video tutorial on macro photography lighting if you prefer:

 

Several different lighting techniques exist for macro photography, with each method having its own rewards and drawbacks. The best lighting method for one situation may not work at all in another, and some common lighting techniques for macro photography aren’t as helpful as they appear.

The most simple lighting method, of course, is to use natural light exclusively, without any flashes or ring lights. On the plus side, natural lighting in macro photography tends to look nicer than artificial light, and, at the right times of day, it can be simply beautiful. However, with the small apertures and fast shutter speeds required for sharp macro photos, natural light sometimes just isn’t bright enough.

Handstand
Nikon D800e + 105mm f/2.8 @ 105mm, ISO 1600, 1/320, f/8.0
Captured with a ring light.

To fix this inherent problem, two main solutions exist: ring lights and flashes. Ring lights tend to be cheaper, but they are significantly less powerful. Some argue that they produce flat and unnatural lighting, too. On the other hand, flashes are more versatile (including double and singe flash options), but they are also much harsher and more expensive than ring lights.

On Green
Nikon D7000 + 105mm f/2.8 @ 105mm, ISO 1250, 1/100, f/3.5
Captured in natural light.

This is a multi-page tutorial. Click on the menu below to go to the page you want:

Table of Contents

  • Overview
  • Natural Lighting
  • Ring Lights
  • Diffusers
  • Dual Flash Systems
  • Reader Comments
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Disclosures, Terms and Conditions and Support Options
Filed Under: Photography Tutorials Tagged With: Flowers and Macro, Macro, Speedlight, Lighting, Macro Photography, Artificial Light, Ring Light

About Spencer Cox

I'm Spencer Cox, a landscape photographer better known for my macro photography! My photos have been displayed in galleries worldwide, including the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and exhibitions in London, Malta, Siena, and Beijing. These days I'm active on Instagram and YouTube.

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