How do you do macro photos with built in flash?

[fredpb]

I want to start doing more macro photography with my S1 IS. I just got some close up filters.

Main problem is lighting. The built in flash washes out everything. I have tried the reducing flash power and exposure, and it still washes out.

I have a small movielight for my camcorder, and was thinking of using that, maybe with some reflectors. But I hate to carry around a lot of stuff. I have great film camera macro equipment, but I just don't want to lug around a lot of stuff.

Any suggestions?

[Scottes]

The neatest thing I've seen for this is a little hard to explain...

Take a milk jug, the kind with the milky-white kind of platic that lets light through but you can't see through. Cut off one side, about 6"x3" or 6"x4". On the bottom half of this cut a circle in that so that your lens just fits through. A snug fit is perfect. Find a way to bend the top half so that it's at about a 45- or 60-degree angle to the lens. It may just bend and snap back - a little heat will work wonders. Cut & size to personal preference.

Now the light from the pop-up flash will go forward, hit the milk-jug plastic and get diffused and aimed downward towards the subject.

You will lose a LOT of light, but E-TTL will take care of that, though recycle time will be longer.

[aam1234]

I coverd the flash of G3 with kleenex once :D it seems to work.

[JoseC]

I coverd the flash of G3 with kleenex once :D it seems to work.
That worked also for me with a piece of white paper.
You can use as many layers as needed to reduce the flash light.
Jose

[fredpb]

I coverd the flash of G3 with kleenex once :D it seems to work.

So instead of saying "cheese", I say "sneeze"?

[aznkid.com]

I coverd the flash of G3 with kleenex once :D it seems to work.

So instead of saying "cheese", I say "sneeze"?

now THAT was cheese.