Originally Posted by
sbm12
I've been reading a lot about them lately and can't figure out the appeal/value of a ring flash over a traditional on-camera or shoe-mount model. I get that it is better for macro or in cases where the lens causes a shadow due to size or wide angle.
Beyond that is there another reason they seem to be all the rage right now (or at least getting a lot of press)??
They're popular in portrait lighting because they provide a nice even light that wraps around the subject. When you're close to a background, they can create an interesting "all-around" shadow effect, as demonstrated on my daughter's stuffed monkey
:
This is one that I DIY'd to mount on a regular old Nikon speedlight.