Super Easy Macro Lighting Using a Pringles Can

I would imagine that after yesterday’s killer tutorial you’d want something simple.

Well, here it is: A super easy macro lighting modifier.

Ok, you got me. It is a Pringles can… Again. This time courtesy of Flickr user Steve Kushnir.

If you are a macro shooter, this will probably solve both your lighting issues and your snack issues with one swish.

But, here is why this is genius: If you’ve read DIYP for long enough, you know that we fancy big light sources for soft beautiful lighting. How can a Pringles can be a large light source?

Well, big is a relative thing. When you are shooting a human model, the light coming from the on camera flash (even if diffused) is pretty small. both because it is small compared to say a face, but also because it is pretty far off from your model.

The Pringles diffuser, however, is very close to the insect you are shooting. It is also relatively larger than that insect. So no worries about hard light sources.

Lastly when you shoot from that close, the light is actually off axis from your lens, so you get it directional too.

Here are some more sample shots