Post #174978 by SilverLine on Tue, Jul 26, 2005 7:50 PM

Lighting is the key, and it doesn't really matter so much how MUCH light you have so long as it's well directed. If you don't have a lot of light available, use a tripod. No tripod? Get more light. The cheapest way to get more light is to go outside on a shady porch, tape a piece of white cloth to the wall for a background and shoot. Shade gives you even, nearly shadowless lighting. Use your camera's white balance pre-set with a white sheet of paper to correct for the blue cast of the shade and you'll have accurate colors.

Personally, I like to use old movie lights (Sylvania Sun Gun units are GREAT and CHEAP), bounce them off the ceiling and do the white balance pre-set. Gets me a solid f11 and into good depth of field range.

Getting good macro shots doesn't have to be difficult, or expensive. To learn about more advanced (but still cheap) lighting options, check THIS out!