From Studio to Field - a Different Approach to Lighting

Another Way to Look at Light

In the field, it is all about flexibility and preparation

Last week, on Thursday, I introduced a new series of discussions looking at the challenges facing a studio macro photographer who was planning to take what they have learned out into the field. It is a subject we have not really focused our attention on in the past. There is a lot to consider when planning such a move, so I decided to break the discussion down into a series of streams based on the various areas that would need attention - lighting, working with living subjects, managing motion, and more. Then, over the weekend, as I began putting the content together it occurred to me that there was another group of photographers who were being left out of the discussion - the folks that have been thinking about bringing their macro indoors.

Studio work is all about precision

My first reaction was to conclude that including that group would be redundant - a repetition of what I was already discussing, only in reverse. But, of course, that is not the case at all. The challenge of learning about lighting for high magnification subjects in the studio when one is coming from long years of perfecting light management in the field is completely different, in almost every respect, from learning how to use found light in the field when your background is microscope objectives and multi-LED light cages. There is nothing repetitive about these two approaches to lighting - they are equally challenging, no matter which direction you are moving in.

Single shot macro means getting the light right first time

So I have decided to look at each topic from each of the two perspectives in alternating livestreams over the next few weeks. On Tuesday’s we will look at the issues facing a field photographer wanting to add studio insect photography to their skills…

… and on Thursday’s we will ask all the same questions about the studio photographer wishing to tackle the great outdoors.

For each topic (this week it is all about lighting) we will look at what has to change when moving from field to studio, or vise-versa, and what doesn’t. We will look at gear and technique options, spending a good part of our time discussing the unique features of lighting in the studio and field respectively.

Multi-flash lighting of a small weevil - ambient/background light eliminated

This is the kind of conversation that should have value for anyone interested in close-up or macro photography, regardless of your interest in insects, or lack thereof. It should also be of real interest to those with no plans to change what they are doing - a chance to review and update what you are already doing. The sessions will focus on my experience with both transitions and will include tons of examples, with photographs to illustrate each point discussed.

Bee mimic hover fly lit using available sunlight and a reflector card

The link for Tuesday’s Macro Talk is here - https://youtube.com/live/JUD1Sv3k5s4?feature=share          and the link for MacroTalk Too, Thursday at 2PM, is right here - https://youtube.com/live/fsmLqXLKvE0?feature=share

On Friday I will be co-hosting, along with Harold Hall, the next episode of Chemical Art, our unique discussion forum for those interested in making birefringent crystals to photograph. I have been busy with the homework assignment - looking for interesting crystal structures in evaporated soy sauce (and some other available condiments from distant lands) and have managed to find a few (though I am not crazy about the smells of some of these liquids, some of which have persisted for several days after evaporation). We meet on Zoom at 2PM of Friday, and the meeting is completely free. Even if you are not too interested in this particular fermented fluid, come anyway - we have a ton of fun learning new stuff every time we get together. Here is your invitation and link to the festivities… Allan Walls is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Crystal Art

Time: Feb 13, 2026 02:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6916802815?pwd=TS9tZi9ZL1NXeVUvOUF4eTg5YjdlZz09&omn=82857563927

Meeting ID: 691 680 2815

Passcode: 678122

Join instructions

https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/82857563927/invitations?signature=QHmSGqbMPCcboxe6U7Gqq5HHr0bNUZ0WQmv5okiGNjI

For those of you who support my work (and it really is work!) through Patreon, it is, once again, time for us to gather for some stimulating photography-related banter. Pzoom will be at its usual time on Saturday morning, 10AM until noon, and, in addition to our usual updates, introductions, questions, and channel-related announcements, we will be looking back at the week’s content and digging a little deeper into concepts that were not fully explored. If you do not attend these meetings, I would reconsider doing so - it is a very special group of enthusiastic and talented macro photographers whose input has been invaluable over the years. These meetings are my favorite events of the month and I cannot recommend them more highly.

Solitary bee lit with a single, diffused low power speedlight

You invitation and pass code are over on Patreon, in yesterday’s post. See you there.

If you would like to support the channel, please visit my Patreon page for all the details - we would love to have you! https://www.patreon.com/allanwallsphotography

With all of these programming notes taken care of, let me report on last week’s AfterStack - number 39. We are only meeting once during the month, so Bud and I feel it is vital that we make each session as helpful as possible. Saturday was a perfect example of that. We talked about renting our wrk using the Photoshop print utility and it was a rich and fascinating discussion.

A tiny weevil lit by multiple low power flash units

As the owner of a recently acquired wide format Epson printer (a Stylus Pro model 7880), this conversation could not have come at a better time (which seems less-of a happy coincidence when you discover that it was my idea to talk about this), or been more helpful. If you have ever been perplexed by the  complicated and confusing user interface of the Photoshop print dialogue, this conversation is for you. Bud Perrott led a tremendous discussion of everything from sizing and resolution to color management and ICC profile selection. The session was recoded and is available by following this link … https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/qk3L9EzSR2-SBOxsH3FmTuvkbSZOMXyWYjHKFwwmHs1VKkyOQDVmz9p_HlRJRaKf.mWovGfrleH73dr0u (this link expires in 32 days - if you would like to keep a copy of this event recording, please download to you computer before it is removed by Patreon).

The subject lit by my flash, pulled back to allow ambient illumination of the background

On the subject of AfterStack, if you are looking for episode #38 I am sorry to report that there is no YouTube video of that session. A problem with the recoding prevented me from importing and editing the content in my video editing software. This was strange as the downloaded recording could be played back with no apparent issues in the two video player programs I tried. So while there is not a  video for the last episode, I do have a copy of the recording which I will be happy to send to you upon request. I will also be trying one other transcoding recommendation tomorrow, and if I am successful in getting the recoding posted, the link will be available to my Patreon Supporters as early as Monday.

I will finish with a completely unrelated and non-photography related recommendation, something I do not typically do. My brother made a podcast recommendation to me over the weekend. His suggestions are usually good and I did not hesitate to give this channel a listen. It was fantastic. It is called “Moonshots” and is available wherever you get your podcasts.

It is free, which is another reason you should try it. It deals with the newest updates of Artificial Intelligence development and consists of a group of extremely well-informed computer experts discussing AI related topics that are truly cutting edge. It is released every 3-4 days and is, in equal parts, exhilarating, shocking, and utterly terrifying. As I listen to this week’s episodes, it has dawned on me that I know only a tiny fragment of what is actually going on in the world of AI, and much of what I thought I knew was wrong. If you are interested in learning more about what is actually happening, and how it promises to change literally everything about being a human on this planet, give it a listen.

Euglossa - Orchid bee - ecuador

The images in this post are all from a file that I thought had been lost daringly most recent computer catastrophe, last year. I never expected to see these pictures again.

Myxomycete Hunting

Welcome to the fall of 2025!

Slime mold fruiting bodies

That sounded a little more ominous than my welcoming you to the transition from a scorching Summer to a crisp Autumn was intended to. Over the last few days, while worrying about the disturbing news coming from, it seems, everywhere, my anxiety was interrupted by two delightful surprises that reminded me that I have a job to do. The unexpected events were an introduction to a new photographer and the onset of several days of moderately heavy rainfall. The photographer is a chap named Kutub Uddin - from Bangladesh - and his work was brought to my attention by our own macro Master, Graham Carey. Kutub was previously unknown to me, but that is my fault, not his. If I had paid attention to the prestigious Natural History Museum (UK) Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, I would have seen his work much sooner.

Home grown myxos

Kutub and I have not yet spoken but I have contacted him and expect to meet with him sometime in the next few days. I have reached out to him to see if he would be interested in coming onto the channel for a conversation about his rather lovely fungus and slime mold work. His images may well remind you of the award winning fungus photography of Australia’s Steve Axford, or the groundbreaking slime mold artistry of California’s Alison Pollack - but you be the judge. His work can be found on the Natural History Museum’s website (https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/gallery/2025-slime-family-portrait?tags=ed.current) or on his own website (https://www.kutubuddin.photography/home).

It is the springtails that photobombed my picture that make it interesting

Apropos of nothing, but interesting nonetheless, Kutub lives just around the corner from my childhood home in the South of England. In fact, the woodlands that he frequents in search of the remarkable species that he showcases on his website are but a ten minute drive from my hometown, in the heart of the rolling chalk hills known as the South Downs. It really is a small world!

more myxos from my terrarium

What does rain have to do with any of this, you ask? Well, this corner of Middle Earth has been as dry as a bone all summer long, with very little precipitation since the merciful end of Winter (though there is another one planned for later this year - shudder!). I have been led to believe that this is precisely the circumstance under which dormant plasmodial slime molds will perk up and slither off in search of nutrition. It is also forecast that we will see a significant drop in temperature within a couple days of the rain ending and that this may be just the ticket for getting the piles of crawling dog’s vomit to rethink their plans and instead turn into fruiting bodies. Whether or not any of this is actually true is still open to debate, but the promise of a window of prime slime mold conditions is just too exciting to ignore.

We seem to have just two species around here…

Then it occurred to me that here was a rare opportunity to push the envelope and try something that no person in their right mind would even consider - A live-streamed slime mold hunt in the woods of Central Illinois. And this is exactly what I am going to try to do this Thursday during Macro Talk Too, at 2PM Central Time. We are going to take a walk in the woods and find some fruiting bodies to photograph. While we are turning over logs and digging through damp leaf litter, I will talk about how best to photograph these minute structures, in the field and in the studio. I will show you how I harvest and transport these delicate structures back to my studio. I will also demonstrate my own lighting preferences for use  in high magnification field macro photography. What could possibly go wrong? Here is the link… https://youtube.com/live/q--joWJedk4?feature=share

So what about Macro Talk on Tuesday at 8PM? I thought that this would be a perfect opportunity to  share with you my experiences using the Platypod camera platform, as well as the Laowa 90mm f/2.8 super macro lens, and a selection of exciting new macro field lights from Small Rig. This will be a multi-product pre-review that will set the stage for actually using this equipment during our field trip on Thursday. Time permitting I will also be doing a  book review and introducing you to my 3D printed, high-magnification, LED-illuminated, quantum-inspired, anti-gravity capable slime mold locator and identification aid. If not, you will get to see it in action on Thursday. Here is your link to the Tuesday livestream - https://youtube.com/live/bPSY-vAayH4?feature=share

Saturday is Pzoom day for my Patreon Supporters and we are going to continue the theme of slime mold imaging by taking a close look at my setup for studio for photographing the specimens we brought back from the field on Thursday. Of core, we will stick to our usual programming during the first hour, so if you have images to share, or an introduction to make, or an update to report on, plan on doing so in the first hour. That is at 10AM on Saturday, 10.25.25 and your invitation is posted over on Patreon.

If you are not a member of my Patreon Supporters group, but would like to be a pert of keeping this channel alive and kicking, please visit my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/allanwallsphotography and see how much richer your life can become by giving me some money!

After Pzoom, at 12:30 on Saturday (still 10.25.25) we have another episode of Tangent! This is a forum for anyone interested in 3D design and modeling for macro photographers. We talk about all kinds of “maker-related” stuff, but the focus is usually going to be on improving our Fusion 360 CAD/CAM skills. It is hosted by Larry  and myself and it is free for anyone who wishes to attend. This week we will handle any followup from last month’s discussion around parametric design workflow before diving into this week’s topic - more information coming soon. This your invitation to the party - Allan Walls is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Allan Walls’ Tangent, with Larry Strunk

Time: Oct 25, 2025 12:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6916802815?pwd=TS9tZi9ZL1NXeVUvOUF4eTg5YjdlZz09&omn=81806013439

Meeting ID: 691 680 2815

Passcode: 678122

Join instructions

https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/81806013439/invitations?signature=byetKjaeG3CWlZdOhJ3F2PTVSLycl21LfRTwolpr2XU

Fruiting bodies disgorging their spores

That is all I have for today. Hope to see you sometime this week!

Allan

Flash is Dead - Long Live Flash

Greetings!

Heather in the highlands of Scotland - courtesy of Pixbay

This will be my last blog post for a couple of weeks - I am headed back to the Motherland for a few days of R&R and to celebrate the birthday of my older brother (who will be officially ancient following this birthday). I have decided not to to to attempt transatlantic live-streaming as I will only be away for a few days and could use a short break. I will be back on the 3rd of August and plan to have everything running as usual by that first week of August.

A castle in the highlands - courtesy of Pixbay

There will only be one livestream before I leave, and I want to make the most of it, so I will be talking about the role of flash in modern studio macro photography.

A lot has changed since the last time I talked about flash and I think it is worth taking an hour to examine the relevance of flash in the era of mirrorless cameras and high-quality LED lighting. I will start out by talking about what has not changed all that much - how flash is used in field macro. I will recap my thoughts on the various flash techniques and my recommendations for field equipment. After that I will focus on studio-based extreme macro and will summarize the relevant changes in how we do this kind of photography in 2025. I will talk about how the advent of the era of mirrorless cameras has called into question the supremacy of flash as a gold standard in studio work. We will look at advances in LED technology and how the availability of cheap but high-quality lighting has impacted the use of flash. Then we will talk about my workflow and I will lay out my “best practices” for using flash. I will talk about the common problems encountered when using flash in the extreme macro setting and discuss how they can be avoided. To join the livestream at 8pm on Tuesday, use this link… https://youtube.com/live/uWWTUj-bWNQ?feature=share

Flash is not dead, but it’s role in extreme macro photography has become less dominant in recent years, and may continue to do as lighting options increase, prices drop, and the last of the DSLRs fade from the picture.

A single Flashpoint MF12

I am confident in recommending the Flashpoint MF12 (Godox MF12 is also recommended with the caveat that is must be purchased from a vendor with a proven track record of honoring the warranty of a Godox product as Godox has a track record of not doing so). Here is a link to the Flashpoint MF12 - https://amzn.to/46Zz5NM. This flash , when used as I describe in the livestream, has performed more consistently over large stacks than any other speed light that I have tested, including the TT150 and all of Godox’s larger speedlights. The trick to avoiding dropped frames due to  slow recycle time is to use  increased numbers of flash units at decreased power levels. It also helps to charge between stacks, use a relatively long cycle time (5 seconds), and turn off the modeling lights. I have consistently stacked 6-800 images without a single dropped frame, a virtual impossibility with any of my other flashes. If a speed light ever hits the market with the capability of continuous use while connected to external power, I may consider moving to larger speedlights and fewer of them, but until then I will continue to use and recommend the amazing little MF12.

A word on the TT150 - and the v150 if it is still being made - this is a terrible flash for studio macro, and probably not particularly good for anything else. It has the worst battery life of any speedlight I have ever used, consistently failing to  shoot a full stack, even a modest one, without dropping frames. I don’t know if it is a fault in the power management circuitry, or if the tube overheats, or there is a problem with the triggering, but I avoid the use of these units entirely. There are a lot of flash devices on the market, and I have not tested more than a dozen of them, so there may be some very solid and dependable offerings that I am not familiar with. But of those that I do know, the MF12 remains the most reliable, least expensive, and easiest to learn speed light for studio macro.

The Nikon R1C1 basic kit

However, the MF12 is not my favorite option for use in the field. That honor goes to the amazing Nikon R1C1. A very expensive setup that may be unattainable for many, this system has the best TTL exposure software in the business. I was shocked at how well the R1C1 performed under all lighting conditions and by the consistent accuracy of the automatic power setting. But there are a few things that are irritating - like the use of an expensive and hard to locate battery, the non-intuitive controls, and the over engineered diffusers. But I would gladly deal with all of these issues if ever I become an R1C1 owner (unlikely given the sticker price of $850 - or close to it, for two SB-R200’s, and over $1,000 with two extra flash units). Here is a link, should you be interested - https://amzn.to/4eWziDq

I have been working in the field with a single standard speed light and the AK Diffuser. It is a very different approach to lighting than I am used to. A single bright “global” light does not offer the same degree of versatility as a multi-flash system and results in images that are a little flatter and less nuanced than those captured with the R1Ci, or the Godox MF12s, for that matter. But I am not through with my testing and think that the single light may have use cases where it shines (pun intended).

Godox mf-12 setup for field work

I am going to leave it that for today - I have still got plenty to do before I will be ready to head across the big pond in a day or two. Hope you can make it tomorrow, but if not I will see you in a couple of weeks!

A highland coo licks his nostril - courtesy of Gabriela Palai