Even though I took this shot outside in my backyard, I used a ring flash. Ring flash units, when used very close to the subject, simulate the diffused light of an overcast sky. That's the ideal type of light for macro subjects, but the reason I used the flash was because it provided enough light for a small aperture. The wings of this io moth were flat and f/32 wasn't imperative, but the closer you get to a small subject, the more depth of field you lose. There are various planes in this shot -- the wings, the head, the bark, the foliage -- and I wanted them all to be sharp. If I tried to use a tripod, the moth could shift position or fly away in the time it took me to set it up, so the ring flash was the best option. I could shoot fast, and I could position the camera easily without having to adjust three tripod legs. My settings were 1/160 (i.e. one of the sync speeds with the flash), f/32 for maximum depth of field, and 200 ISO. I took this with a 50mm macro lens.
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