Lighting Kit + Elbow Grease = Inexpensive Ring Flash

Theresa Stone

Did you know that the ring flash, a circular flash that fits around a camera lens, was invented in 1952 for dental photography? Nowadays, it’s a great way to add even lighting to all sorts of photographic situations where unwanted shadows might be a problem.
The only drawback is that those suckers can be expensive, but if you’re willing to do a little assembly, you can have one for just $24.95. The DIY Ring Flash Kit isn’t too tough to assemble and fits most common strobes, including Canon’s 430EX and 580EXII and Nikon’s SB28, SB80dx, SB800, and SB26.
You can strap the ring flash to the flash head with gaffers’ tape, or you can shell out an additional $9.95 for the Ring Flash Bracket, which lets you mount the ring flash on the camera tripod socket.

This portrait is an example of ring flash lighting: