PhotoJoseph:
The box is roughly the shape of the flash, and was my initial guide to cutting a hole. However if you only plan on using this on a pop-up flash, there’s no need to cut the bottom of the can off initially.
PhotoJoseph:
Cutting out the hole. Watch those fingers!
PhotoJoseph:
PringlesCanMacro_2011-05-28_14-16-05_IMG_3630_©JosephLinaschke2011
PhotoJoseph:
The back end taped back on, and now attached to the flash. If you cut the hole just the right size, the can will hold itself on the camera. Nice!
PhotoJoseph:
A plain ol’ tissue is between the can and the lid here. You could add multiple layers to reduce the light output if you wanted to—definitely necessary if you put this on the end of a big flash. You could add gels, cut holes in a lid, really do anything.
PhotoJoseph:
The excess tissue has been torn away. Real classy looking, huh?
PhotoJoseph:
Here’s the can cut in half. Next step was to slit the back half down the middle, from the flash-hole forward.
PhotoJoseph:
The front half is now inserted into the back half. You can see the split up the back half of the can. Next step was to tape it up.
PhotoJoseph:
All taped up and ready to go. The rubber band adds a little tension to the tube, keeping it from sliding in and out unexpectedly.
PhotoJoseph:
The telescoping Pringles macro light extended all the way, for a more distant subject.
PhotoJoseph:
PringlesCanMacro_2011-05-29_17-09-04_IMG_3661_©JosephLinaschke2011
PhotoJoseph:
Ambient light only (reference shot). ISO 400, 0.4s ƒ9.0 (that’s nearly half a second, so impossible to hand-hold)
PhotoJoseph:
Unmodified pop-up flash. 1/200th second at ƒ/4. Notice the hard shadows and brightly-lit background (spill from the flash, not ambient light at that shutter speed)
PhotoJoseph:
Pringles can modified light source. Same exposure as above; 1/200 at ƒ/4. Notice both the softer shadows and the darker background; due to less light spilling past the flower.