LAP queried how I'd lit a couple of pics, this being the best example:

🔗Rhosydd-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-050[linkphoto]Rhosydd-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-050[/linkphoto][/link]

As you can see, the lighting is pretty even, but there are dark patches, with some parts of the winder frame in shadow.

This was lit with a Fenix P3 with a diffuser on the end of it to produce an even light source that remains directional. The darker patches of the photo are the shadows, achieved by using a point source, similar to a single flash burst.

The advantage of this technique is that you can fiddle with the position of the light source before you take the shot, ie you can get the shadows in the right place without having to take test shots.

In terms of exposure/aperture, I merely put the camera into macro mode and let it sort itself out - including focusing: there was enough light cast to allow the camera to focus itself.

So, a useful half hour spent experimenting with technique and a few lessons learnt. Indeed, possibly adequate compensation for being abandoned 😉

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What camera did you use?
Was the fenix on full power or a lower setting?
I find a lower setting with longer exposure is giving me better results.

Cheers;
I haven't used my macro mode yet, bur probs will when I try similar shots 😉
Can you remember about how long an exposure these shots were?

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Fenix P3D on full power or one down from full power, but with the diffuser on it.

Camera is a Nikon Coolpix 8400 as used by many others :)

What sort of length exposures are you using?

(The exif data for that shot shows F2.6 and 2 seconds, incidentally)

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Why do you think the Nikon is so popular?

Is the diffuser home made or a commercial one?

I have been using between 10-15 seconds.
I was recommended to use f2.8, but have better results with f5.6 as it gives a better depth of field. This is for general shots, not close up's.
2.8 is OK for close up's, but i'm still experimenting with the light, I find some shots can be washed out as some of the surrounding rock is more reflective than others.

Why do you think the Nikon is so popular?

A combination of things; very wide angle lens (24mm equivalent), good sharp optics, bulb mode and a manual focus facility. Plus it's a good size (smaller than a DSLR) and not that pricey to worry about getting mucky.

Is the diffuser home made or a commercial one?

The 'official' Fenix one:

🔗Personal-Album-1-Image-054[linkphoto]Personal-Album-1-Image-054[/linkphoto][/link]

The P3D in that photo is now somewhere under a pile of rocks somewhere in Rhosydd 😢

Although a bit of greaseproof paper over the end of the lamp would probably work quite nicely too.

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Dare I ask the price & availablity.
(Of the official diffuser, not grease proof paper) 🙂

I don't know 😞 Never had any other than that sample in the photo. Might order a few with the next Fenix batch though; but that's 3 to 4 weeks away.

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