Ring flash
A ring flash is in the photograph a special design of a flash light . One (or more) flash tube (s) is / are arranged in a ring around the front of the lens . A sync cable connects the ring flash with the camera .
The characteristic of the ring flash light is the exactly ring-shaped frontal and therefore shadow-free illumination of the subject without shading by the lens. Its spatial expansion creates a soft light compared to normal plug-on flashes.
The ring flash forms a circular reflection on shiny surfaces (such as eyes, for example), which can be annoying under certain circumstances. The lack of spatial effect can also cause problems with individual motifs. Here is u. It may make sense to partially shade the flash or use a different light source.
The ring flash can be used, for example:
- in macro photography and technical or medical documentation and
- in portrait photography .
In addition to the classic ring flash design as a variant of the electronic flash, there are also isolated designs with multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as permanent lighting . They also offer shadow-free lighting, but are somewhat more uneven when it comes to lighting. Improvised permanent lights made of ring-shaped fluorescent tubes are sometimes used.
Another variant of the ring flash is a geometric combination of small regular flashes or lamps that can be mounted on the lens, on the housing or on a rail. Compared to the ring flash, this combination, which is available commercially or which you can put together yourself, is more voluminous and, in individual cases, more complex to adjust.
