Macro is Portrait photography

Scott Murray

Senior Member
The more I have been experimenting the more I realise how much Macro and Portrait photography have in common, the lighting affects it drastically just like a portrait. And the more I experiment wit Macro and diffuser setups the more I realise that it is just a mini studio setup for portraiture and the lighting principals are much the same but on a smaller/closer scale so you need to adjust for this. But you can use the same lighting principals in macro as you do in portraiture so long as you have a few common things, with me I do insects or amphibians etc but if I want to practice my macro lighting my Green tree frog is my model and will just sit there while I take shot after shot. This allows me to see what works and what doesn't. I am thinking in my head in regards to an ideal set up but like portraiture it is all about the impact you want the photo to have. So instead I am thinking about a portable flexible solution to my macro which varies from 1:1 to around 5:1 at times. And tonight I learnt a valuable lesson. You do not always need the best diffuser. This last photo was taken with a speedlight pointing straight while holding a piece of A4 white paper above my model.


Nice diffused lighting and small catchlight, now to experiment with a front on diffuser and maybe some A4 above aswell.
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Bill16

Senior Member
Well Scott is claiming the frog is all! She is cute Scott,and I hope you both will be very happy together! Lol :p

On a serious note, I see what you mean Scott buddy! From our last talk I'm debating whether to get a 80-200 f/2.8 or a raynox this next month! I wish I could afford both at once! Thank you so much for all the help you share with us my friend! :)

Nice Scott....but your name is embedded on the poor frogs lower lip!
 
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