Hello, I’ve been struggling with lighting for a long time and finally I think came up with a setup that seems to work. This is simply a reference for those who are interested.

A pic looks like this with the only modification being auto-levels in Photoshop:



A close-up, done the same way:



Here are the lights:



3 Nikon SB-26 flashes slaved to Nikon D70/D50 with a macro 60mm lens.
Camera is expensive but the flashes are < $100 each on EBay, the stands are umbrellas are $30 each, the wireless slave is $10, and remember that SB-26 have a built-in optical slave. Each flash set to ¼ power. I over-expose a little bit shooting at 1/250 and f36. This gives ultimate depth-of-field and no need to accurately focus the lens.

I know this seems a little bit expensive, but I was trying to come-up with a set-up for a long time and had no luck. I got bogged down with regular lights and tripods and never had really good results. Now there is no color correction and all pics taken free hand with no tripod. This will also work with any camera with a hotshoe and a manual mode (many digital Cannon/Nikon P&S have hotshoes and manual exp modes at < $300-400 used).

Hope this may help someone. Please e-mail me with questions if there are any…

Dmitry


Dmitry Kiyatkin
Baltimore, Maryland
http://www.ww2models.com

and brilliant photos.......I note that you shoot the flashes through the umbrellas?

I have a D50 with a single sb600 on a remote cord. I shoot the flash up and into a 360 degree light tent (made up with a white sheet on a timber dowel frame)
I always make sure the lights are off in the room.

I get pretty good results (I think?), though I am considering a second flash.

I'm using a Nikon 50mm f/1.8D lens which is a bit restrictive in its ultra close-up capability (about 30cm from model)