Praying Mantis Portrait

Wireless flash photography can make macro shooting a lot easier. There are no cables and wires getting in the way, pulling and tugging on the flash units as you try to position them, or falling in front of the lens. Furthermore, you really need your flash off the camera to be sure the macro subject is properly illuminated. A flash mounted on the camera hot shoe may not properly illuminate the the macro subject. The macro lens can be so close to the subject that the flash hits the lens, casting a shadow of the lens onto the subject. Also, you generally want a lot of light for small apertures which are needed for as much depth of field as possible. Unless I have something or some specific effect in mind, depending upon my whim at the moment, will shoot macro shots with one or two flash units. I usually use them in the wireless remote mode, controlled by the Wireless Controller.

NOTE:Let me tell you this: Minolta literature that comes with their flash units and their Wireless Remote Controllers will caution you to dim the surrounding ambient light when using wireless remote flash. The reason for this is because there is a small burst of infra red light that triggers and stops the wireless remote units. HOWEVER, I have found their specs to be VERY conservative. I have used the Wireless Remote Controller outdoors in bright sun successfully. The praying mantis portrait was shot outdoors, but it was not a sunny day, however, I am sure it would have worked fine in full sun, based on my experiences with other shoots.

Praying Mantis Portrait

photo ©Gary Walts 1996

I was sitting in my backyard when I noticed a Praying Mantis walking up the wall of my house. I thought I would like to photograph him. I placed him in a glass jar & put him in the refrigerator to cool him down while I set up the equipment needed & the setting. I knew it would only take me a few minutes & the time the insect spent in the refrigerator would slow down his metabolism so that when he was positioned for the photo shoot he would be moving sluggishly until he warmed back up. This is a common technique for shooting insects and does them no harm. For the setting I placed a sunflower next to the barn. I placed the 9xi camera with 50mm macro lens & Wireless Controller on a Slick U212 Deluxe tripod outfitted with a ball head. The 3500xi flash was placed to the right & above the flower. The 5400xi flash I held in my hand, positioning it to the left & above the flower. When the flower, camera & flash units were ready I set the insect on the flower & began to shoot away. I shot about 60 frames or so & settled on the following one as my favorite because he looks so expressive. Check out the following lighting diagram. I shot the setup with the pop up flash on the 700si camera triggering the two remote flash units to further illustrate the versatility of the Minolta flash system.

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If you would like to inquire about assignment, stock photography, or fine art, or just want to send a message, please email to: waltsman@imcnet.netGary Walts Photography
PO Box 801
Watertown, NY 13601 USA
Phone: 315-649-4174
Created 8/25/96. Modified 11/12/96
©1996 Gary Walts, All Rights Reserved