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This book is about how can one take macro photographs making some changes with things available at home
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7/25/2014 lynda.com Article Center | Shoot Macro Photos — with a Pringles Can
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By Joseph Linaschke (http://w w w .lynda.com/articles/author/joseph-linaschke) | Thursday, July 24, 2014
Shoot Macro Photos — with a Pringles
Can
(http://www.lynda.com/Photography-Cameras-Gear-tutorials/Photography-101-
Shooting-Macros-Close-Ups/164027-2.html)
Macro photography requires a big investment in lots of expensive gear, right? Well,
maybe not. With a little creative thinking, you can save money by doing some amazing
things at home.
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7/25/2014 lynda.com Article Center | Shoot Macro Photos — with a Pringles Can
http://www.lynda.com/articles/macro-photos-pringles-can?cta-bar-ac=1&accta=1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook-earned&utm_campaign=post… 2/9
A ring light is an expensive but incredibly useful accessory for shooting flash
photography of close-up objects. If you aren’t ready to invest in one, but want to play
around with one, try this:
Using nothing more than a Pringles can and a few common household items, I’ll show
you how to create softly lit macro photos with a pop-up flash.
Select a Pringles can
Choose a can with a clear lid; it’ll give you more versatility than an opaque one. Empty
it out, and clean any chip dust left behind.
Cut a hole for the flash
Cut a hole near the bottom of the can just big enough for the pop-up flash to slide
into. In the photos below, I cut the entire bottom off and also cut a hole for the pop-up
flash. This allows me to use this modifier on a full-size strobe or a pop-up one. If
you’re just using it for the pop-up flash, leave the bottom intact. If you do cut the
bottom off, you’ll want to tape it back on when using a pop-up flash so you don’t lose
light out the back.
Draw a cut line on the can the size of the pop-up flash. Remember you can always cut
more away, but can’t put it back—so be conservative with your first cut. Trim as
necessary until the flash fits snugly through the hole
(http://blogldc.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PringlesCan_01.jpg)
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7/25/2014 lynda.com Article Center | Shoot Macro Photos — with a Pringles Can
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(http://blogldc.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PringlesCan_02.jpg)
(http://blogldc.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PringlesCan_03.jpg)
In the next photo, you can see the can in place on the flash, with the bottom taped
back on.
7/25/2014 lynda.com Article Center | Shoot Macro Photos — with a Pringles Can
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(http://blogldc.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PringlesCan_04.jpg)
Diffuse the light
The next step is to diffuse the light coming out the other end of the tube. Start with a
single piece of white tissue or napkin, and add more from there if needed. Just wrap a
tissue over the top of the can and snap the lid on, then trim the excess tissue from
around the lid.
(http://blogldc.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PringlesCan_05.jpg)
7/25/2014 lynda.com Article Center | Shoot Macro Photos — with a Pringles Can
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(http://blogldc.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PringlesCan_06.jpg)
Telescope the can
For added versatility, you can turn this into a telescoping can! Just cut the can in half,
slit the back half lengthwise all the way down the middle, and slide the front half inside
the back. Add tape over the gap to keep it flexible and trap light inside, then add a
snug rubber band to hold it all together.
(http://blogldc.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PringlesCan_07.jpg)
7/25/2014 lynda.com Article Center | Shoot Macro Photos — with a Pringles Can
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(http://blogldc.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PringlesCan_08.jpg)
(http://blogldc.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PringlesCan_09.jpg)
The finished product
Now the Pringles can telescopes in and out, allowing you to get the light source closer
to your subject.
Wait, isn’t the light source still the flash itself? No! As far as your subject is concerned,
the light source is the end of the can.
And remember, the closer the source, the bigger—and therefore softer—the light will
appear. (For more on this concept, check out my Photography 101
(http://www.lynda.com/Photography-Cameras-Gear-tutorials/Photography-
101/123498-2.html) course.)
Learn it fast with expert-taught software and skills training atlynda.com.
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7/25/2014 lynda.com Article Center | Shoot Macro Photos — with a Pringles Can
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(http://blogldc.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PringlesCan_11.jpg)
Results!
The first photo is shot with ambient indoor light. The light is very soft, but the
exposure is the same on the foreground and background, plus the shutter speed was
really long, and therefore impossible to hand hold.
(http://blogldc.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PringlesCan_101.jpg)
In the next photo, I used the pop-up flash without the Pringles can. The shadows from
the flash are very harsh—yuck!
7/25/2014 lynda.com Article Center | Shoot Macro Photos — with a Pringles Can
http://www.lynda.com/articles/macro-photos-pringles-can?cta-bar-ac=1&accta=1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook-earned&utm_campaign=post… 8/9
(http://blogldc.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PringlesCan_102.jpg)
In the last photo, I used the Pringles can. The shadows are much softer, and the
background is darker because of more light fall-off from the strobe due to the can.
This makes the flower stand out more, and overall is a much more pleasing image.
(http://blogldc.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PringlesCan_103.jpg)
For just a few bucks and a little time, you too can have a super-simple, super-effective
light modifier for macro photography.
FYI, in the pictures above, I used the only tape I had on hand, which isn’t terribly
pretty. If you want to make this look like something that belongs in your camera bag,
consider wrapping it in black gaffers tape. Much better.
Be sure to watch my Photography 101: Macro and Close-up Photography
(http://www.lynda.com/Photography-Cameras-Gear-tutorials/Photography-101-
Shooting-Macros-Close-Ups/164027-2.html) course for more neat techniques,
including many cost-saving tricks like these that you can do at home.
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Tags: Photography (http://www.lynda.com/articles/tag/photography), Lighting
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