I've been doing lots of portraits lately, and I've been thinking about getting a ring light. Seeing photos using it, I think it could really improve my portraits..and overall photography.
But I just wanted to ask you guys first..
Do any of you guys use a ring light? If so, what kind? Is it worth getting?
Or if you have any helpful information on it at all, please share...
I don't, but would love one in the arsenal for close up work, where I feel they work best. They do channel light nicely. There are cheap ways to have one, and expensive.
If you shoot for money, the more expensive approach is always the best. For experimenting, you could actually build your own, just to see how they work. I have built large softboxes for my 160wps strobes, and am happy with the results. If I did it for a living, I would never show these in public, as it appears chintzy, albeit effective. Amazing what things like panty hose and other things around the house can do. There are also snoots, barn doors, grids, etc.
Bear in mind that ring flashes work well on eliminating shadows. Digital cameras appear to flatten an image a bit as it is, so I tend to like some shadow for dimension (on the subject, not the annoying flash shadow behind them. So, I bounce a lot off anything from reflectors to a wall.
I guess it depends what you are trying to accomplish.
I think I'm slow to jump on this bandwagon. I haven't yet decided if I like the ring light or not. Right now, to me, my own opinion, it makes the persons eyes look like alien eyes. But I'm sure that's just because I'm a fan of the natural light catchlight and eventually it might grown on me.
im a nikon gut so im looking at getting a nikon ring flash. i have flashpoint lights and im happy with them, they also have a ring flash. what company are you looking at to buying from? i buy from www.adorama.com
I have a Ringflash, seen on the right here and its a cracker for macro photography. Good fun to use, makes the frogs and the bugs have cool reflections in their eyes!
You can see the ring flash in the eyes of this spider:
But I was able to get a similar effect using a camping light made up of LEDs, see here:
and the light that produced that corona effect can be best seen here:
@ehenry95 Erin, I just saw this. I almost bought you one for Christmas! I saw this neat website with photography accessories...but then your mom told me those IPAD2 accessories, so I got you that. Did you get a ring light?
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If you shoot for money, the more expensive approach is always the best. For experimenting, you could actually build your own, just to see how they work. I have built large softboxes for my 160wps strobes, and am happy with the results. If I did it for a living, I would never show these in public, as it appears chintzy, albeit effective. Amazing what things like panty hose and other things around the house can do. There are also snoots, barn doors, grids, etc.
Bear in mind that ring flashes work well on eliminating shadows. Digital cameras appear to flatten an image a bit as it is, so I tend to like some shadow for dimension (on the subject, not the annoying flash shadow behind them. So, I bounce a lot off anything from reflectors to a wall.
I guess it depends what you are trying to accomplish.
http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/ring-flash-adapter/
You can see the ring flash in the eyes of this spider:
But I was able to get a similar effect using a camping light made up of LEDs, see here:
and the light that produced that corona effect can be best seen here:
Is this what you mean @ehenry95 ???