Gerard Maas Images

Experimenting with something different is a two sided coin: A risk of failing and the ONLY way to break usual patterns and grow your artistic vision. “Failure” is on itself a success when you learn from it and contributes to your growth, so in turn it’s a win-win situation each time you cross the barrier of the comfort zone. Of course, that’s personal growth, but when working with other people there’s an additional element to take into consideration: expectations. People you work with like to see good, nice results. Then failure is not an option, would you say? How do you grow, then? That win-win situation from the beginning is turned back to the flat line of the comfort zone just because of the expectations from others.
How to manage both? One method I’ve found practical, is to move in and out of your comfort zone in a way that you can manage and fulfil the expectations of your work and at the same time grow your artistic value. For a photo shoot this translates in getting a couple of good images in the pocket and then moving to the exploratory areas. Just make sure you have a good idea of what to explore, not to make the other party nervous.
Communication is a key enabler in this process.
So, get the creative juices going, just know how to control the flow.
-gerard.

I’ve previously written about the Ring Flash adapter from Short Images, an innovative accessory fitting the Canon 580EX II Speedlite (and Nikon SB-800). Using the fiber optics principle, the ringflash adaptor uses acrylic light “pipes” that evenly distribute the light from the speedlite in a ring shape around the lens. This configuration creates a particular light source that eliminates shadows while still providing some 3D modelling to the subject photographed. Although the concept of the ring flash comes from the medical sector, where it was originally developed and used for dental photography, the world of fashion has developed a taste of this special light, making it an iconic look in the industry.

Classical Ring Flash ” wrap” Shadow

Behind the scenes

The EOS collection includes the MR-14EX Speedlite, a ring flash dedicated for macro photography. The macro ring flash is designed to clip around the Canon EF100 f/2.8 Macro and MP-E65 specialist macro lenses, although it can be attached to other lenses using a metal ring that screws-on like a filter. Its close distance to the lens axis and compact form helps approaching insects and other small macro subjects.

Frog portrait taken with the MR-14EX Macro Ring Flash

With the introduction of the Short Images’ Ring Flash Adaptor, photography enthusiast looking for a ring flash are now confused, not knowing what to choose.
The Ring flash adaptor has been designed as a portable alternative to the heavy and expensive studio units, yet delivering the expected effect. Its generous size allows for applications in portrait and fashion photography. Also, its portability becomes a real asset for social photography of many kinds.

Portrait of Nele, taken with the Ring Flash Adaptor

The differences in size and power of the MR-14EX macro ring flash and the ring flash adaptor strongly determine the range of applications they can be used for.
A common misunderstanding is thinking that the MR-14EX macro ring flash can be used for general purposes or people photography.

Comparison image taken with the 580EX II

Comparison image taken with Ring Flash Adaptor

Comparison image taken with the MR-14EX Macro Ring Flash

Its small size and low power becomes quickly an issue as the flash-to-subject distance increases, as the light becomes very flat and the power range gets to its limit. For people photography, there’s an additional issue as its close distance from the lens axis produces a fairly strong red-eye effect.

The inverse case is more interesting to look at: Can be the Ring Flash Adaptor be used for macro photography?
A couple of experiments reveal a very interesting answer:

Macro image taken with MP-E65 Macro Lens and the Ring Flash Adapter

Image of setup

Interestingly, the Ring Flash adapter can be effectively used for macro photography, providing a very even, and somehow flat, light.
Yet, there’s a feature of the MR-14EX that places it a step higher for macro photography applications: By changing the ratio settings between the two half flash tubes composing the MR-14EX, it’s possible to modify the effect of shadows and adapt the impression of depth.

3D effect with ratio control on MR-14EX. Ratio used: 1:4

If you are looking for a general purpose ring flash, for casual use on many different subject, including people, the Ring Flash adaptor is the choice. Photographers dedicated to macro photography will be better served with the MR-14EX as its compact size and ratio features make it an excellent choice to capture the miniature world at our feet.

-Gerard.

Some people swear by natural light for natural subjects, but in a place like Belgium, you are better off if you take your light in your pocket. This photo of an anemone was taken using an Ezybox Hotshoe powered with a Speedlite 580EX. Note that I’m using the recessed border of the Ezybox to flag the background from getting illuminated. That way the flower gets ’soaked’ in light while the -otherwise busy- background gets obscured into a second plane.

In this setup picture you can see how cold and miserable the day was.

Always take your light with you.
-Gerard.

Exploring a bit beyond the initial ‘ focus on the eye’ images that we produced at the beginning of the shoot. By pulling the focus to the make-up in between the eye and the eyebrow I find that you can better appreciate the detailed make-up work of Daisy and the rest of the image takes on a dreamy, peaceful look.
Make-up: Daisy van Winkel.
Model: Annelies
Copyright: Daisy Van Winkel and Gerard Maas.
Light info:
One 580EX in an Ezybox Hotshoe 11 o’ clock with the camera at about 6 o’clock .

My living room is not very big, but with some improvisation and the compact form of the speedlites, it’s possible to create some interesting portraits. In this shoot, the make-up artist Daisy van Winkel said “I’m going to make it interesting for you… I hope you like it shinning”. Then, the clockwork started turning on how to cope with a highly reflective make-up and make it stand out.
My solution was to surround the model with light, ‘wrapping’ her with light all around not only in the left-right-up-down plane, but also mixing directions from the back and the front as you see in this “aereal” of the setup:

I don’t know how it all fitted there, leaving still some room for her to stand in front of the ad-hoc Ikea background. We had to jump around the light stands to move around but it’s all part of the fun
Thanks to Delphine for the modelling.

Despite having little time for the shoot, Nele gave her best looks during our work together. From the session this is my favorite image, with this strong eye contact that provides a great reflection of her energetic personality.

Light info: Ring Flash adaptor for 580EX II on camera. Simple, he?

-Gerard.

An experimental image taken during a photo session with Czech model Iva.

Light Info: one 580EX II on an Ezybox 60 in front and to the side and one 580EX + blue gel on the back directed to the model.
Combining different color temperatures in one image can give some interesting results.
-Gerard.

In the past, I’ve done many attempts to photography an orchid in a different way. So far, I always had the impression that either: looks way too straightforward *or* so abstract that you can’t see it’s an orchid anymore.
I was recently “playing” with a macro ring flash (MR-14EX) and its ratio function to trigger an 580EX off-camera flash. It’s meant to light the background, but adjusting the C: ratio and flash exposure compensation it’s possible to use it also to light the subject of your image.
Here’s my first orchid photo I’m happy with:

-gerard.

Image (C)2008 of Daisy van Winkel (MUA) and Gerard Maas (Photographer)
A joint project exploring beauty make-up from a very close perspective.
Expect to see more soon…

This is not the beauty you often find in this blog, but it certainly has its charms.

Portrait of an earwig (Forficula auricularia), an that got its name from tales of ear-crawling into a man’s brain.
It can strike a nice pose, don’t you think?
Pic info: MP-E65 (somewhere between 1x-2x) and a macro ring flash MR-14EX. It was handheld and a real challenge to keep up with the frentic movements of the insect. The ringflash is certainly a great aid when handholding. In the past I would have been holding one 580EX in one hand and the camera in the other, making it quite hard to keep a stable setup. On the downside, I do find the ringflash light often flat. It won’t be long until I get the 580EX in my left hand again and start experimenting with the C-group wireless capability of the MR-14EX.