Advice on Minimising Specular Highlights

Hi, I’m trying to improve my macro skills and would appreciate any advice on lighting/diffusion, please. I usually shoot in available light and am finding it difficult to avoid specular highlights, particularly on ladybirds. I know, it seems obvious to shade the subject from direct sunlight, somehow, but I’m guessing there’s a trick or two to learn.
Last year I discovered the joys of dragonflies and damselflies and am looking forward to the season kicking off here (Ireland) soon. At the moment, bees are slowly venturing out as the days warm up and there seems to be quite a few ladybirds around this year.
I use the Canon 100mm IS macro lens, and have never tried extension tubes or flash.

Finsnapper wrote in post #19354429
Hi, I’m trying to improve my macro skills and would appreciate any advice on lighting/diffusion, please. I usually shoot in available light and am finding it difficult to avoid specular highlights, particularly on ladybirds. I know, it seems obvious to shade the subject from direct sunlight, somehow, but I’m guessing there’s a trick or two to learn.
Last year I discovered the joys of dragonflies and damselflies and am looking forward to the season kicking off here (Ireland) soon. At the moment, bees are slowly venturing out as the days warm up and there seems to be quite a few ladybirds around this year.
I use the Canon 100mm IS macro lens, and have never tried extension tubes or flash.

Although they limit your light even more (when for macro you're probably already at narrow apertures), polarising filters dramatically reduce specular highlights. Good ones, such as B+W, only cost 1 to 1 1/3 stops of light.

Consider screening the sun with a diffusion panel. The 5 in 1 reflectors are cheap enough that you aren't out much...a translucent shower curtain will work too. The sun is a pin point light source, the goal is to make the light source appear larger. (The sun is huge, but the distance makes it appear small in relation to the subject)

Pippan wrote in post #19354431
Although they limit your light even more (when for macro you're probably already at narrow apertures), polarising filters dramatically reduce specular highlights. Good ones, such as B+W, only cost 1 to 1 1/3 stops of light.

Thanks for your suggestion. I didn’t think of using a polarising filter.

gonzogolf wrote in post #19354438
Consider screening the sun with a diffusion panel. The 5 in 1 reflectors are cheap enough that you aren't out much...a translucent shower curtain will work too. The sun is a pin point light source, the goal is to make the light source appear larger. (The sun is huge, but the distance makes it appear small in relation to the subject)

You’ve given me an idea, thank you. Maybe a large sun umbrella would work. Thank you.

You are wanting to diffuse rather than block out the light, I think a sun umbrella would cast a shadow.

Ladybugs and some other beetles can be quite a problem with highlights. I use a pretty big diffuser with flash and still get bright spots. This coming season I might try shooting in natural light, with the bugs shaded from the sun. That will challenge the sensor, but should eliminate the reflections.

Finsnapper wrote in post #19354545
You’ve given me an idea, thank you. Maybe a large sun umbrella would work. Thank you.

A large translucent panel...softens light while reducing its intensity moderately. Professionals use 4' x 8' translucent cloth panels that attach to frames made of tubular plastic, for example. Photoflex still offers this type of product (slightly smaller dimensions)
https://www.adorama.co​m …_source=adl-gbase-p-photo
and there are smaller versions of the same concept
https://www.adorama.co​m/glrp2839.html

Products like these mimic the effect of an overcast sky, diffusing the sun.
Collapsible frames with panel fabrics make them easier to transport, but you could get translucent plastic panels from Home Depot or elsewhere and cut them down to a less awkward size than 2' x 4' standard dimension.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and information; I really do appreciate you taking the time to reply.
Roll on some warmer weather! It’s very wet and windy here tonight.

I have an old Lastolite diffuser I use, it is about 12-14 cm folder out then springs out to about three times the packed size, I have had for about 40 years, you can also use it a a fill in reflector.

They still make them I think, some with different coating on each side by my one is the same both sides.

This is typical, but I expect other sizes and makes are available:
https://www.proav.co.u​k …ible-diffuser-50cm-2-stop

Finsnapper wrote in post #19354835
Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and information; I really do appreciate you taking the time to reply.
Roll on some warmer weather! It’s very wet and windy here tonight.

Thanks for the link, much appreciated.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #19355018
I have an old Lastolite diffuser I use, it is about 12-14 cm folder out then springs out to about three times the packed size, I have had for about 40 years, you can also use it a a fill in reflector.

They still make them I think, some with different coating on each side by my one is the same both sides.

This is typical, but I expect other sizes and makes are available:
https://www.proav.co.u​k …ible-diffuser-50cm-2-stop

Is this "diffuser" opaque? It sounds like it is a diffuse reflector, and I'm having a hard time figuring out how it would be used in the field.

Archibald wrote in post #19355055
Is this "diffuser" opaque? It sounds like it is a diffuse reflector, and I'm having a hard time figuring out how it would be used in the field.

As I say that one seems to have two sides, I think one is intended to be a diffuser and one a reflector, the one I have is a diffuser both sides.

I am sure you can get a diffuser only one if you want, other makes and types are available; the great thing is they pack away small and spring up to a much larger size and are light weight.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #19355075
As I say that one seems to have two sides, I think one is intended to be a diffuser and one a reflector, the one I have is a diffuser both sides.

I am sure you can get a diffuser only one if you want, other makes and types are available; the great thing is they pack away small and spring up to a much larger size and are light weight.

Archibald is right, if it coated on two sides it is really a 'reflector' panel to bounce light into shadow areas. A diffusive translucent transmissive (vs 'reflective') panel increases the apparent size of the light path similar to cloud cover diffusing the sun...the movie industry often referred to them as 'silks', with light going through them to soften the source (whether sun or artificial source) Reflective panels can diffuse the light due to a rougher white finish vs. a smoother more reflective silver finish.

Short of using some sort of diffusion surface (scrim fabrics work wonders) you need to shoot in the golden hour at sunrise or sunset. Check out John Hallman's work on Flickr.

The down side to that good light is that there will never be enough of it to freeze motion, so you'll have to shoot with your rig on a tripod. Will also limit you to subjects that do not move, and you might end up with a galley full of dew covered subjects.

IMHO the best light source to use for macro is a well diffused flash. You can take total control of the light and shoot any time you want, and even go after moving subjects.

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