Question about the uses of a ring flash

[behanana]

Ok, so I work at a car dealership and I've aranged to do the photography for the used car department so they can post online. I'm using this as experiance more than anything and I had a thought that a ring flash would be a good option for fill inside the car, and also allow me to move my speedlight off camera and still trigger it via the ring.

My question is, is this an appropriate use of a ring flash? Or am I looking at the wrong tool to do the job I'm looking for. If a ring flash would work, would something along the lines of like a Bower light work for those that have expieriance with them? Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Big Mike]

Maybe someone would say different, but I don't think that a ring flash is going to be a good tool for this.

When I think ring flash, I think three things. Firstly is macro, where you are so close that the lens would block light from other lights. Secondly is when you're shooting close up portraits and you want that unique round catch light in their eyes...and thirdly is when you wan that flat lighting look (with slight fall off toward the edges) that is popular in fashion...and also the 'halo' look that you get when you use it against a close backdrop.

 

[behanana]

Thanks Mike, I knew about the macro part, and I kinda got the idea of using a ring from the strobist site where he used it as more of a fill flash. I tried a making a DIY flash, I'll just leave it at it didn't work out all that great (although I might try it with some macro stuff). I figured it wouldn't hurt to actually determine if I was looking to the wrong tool for what I want to accomplish, I'm thinking I am.