Hey guys any you guys use flash diffusers when u can't bounce off the ceiling since its not white or anything?


I looked into the gary fong one but its a bit much and not portable.

A friend suggested the Lumiquest pocker bouncer it folds up flat but looks like it can be quite worth it.

Anyone else have any suggestions and examples?

 

If you don't have a ceiling to bounce off, you're not going to see much difference from any of the diffusers on the market that attach to your flash while it's sitting in the hot shoe.

The only way you can soften shadows is if your light source is big, relative to your subject. I say "relative to the subject" because the sun is big, but because it's so far away, it's relatively small to us, so the light from the sun makes for hard shadows. When there's an overcast day, the light is spread out across the clouds which means the light source is much larger and it makes the shadows much softer.

For a flash diffuser to function properly, it needs to make the light source appear much larger to the subject. Going from 3.5"x1.5" (bare flash) to 5"x3" (fong diffuser) isn't going to make any noticeable difference because compared to the subject, the light is about the same size. When you bounce off a ceiling, your light area balloons up to many square feet, which is noticeably bigger to your subject and softens the shadows just like a cloudy day.

You might see a slight softening with the Lumiquest Softbox 3, which is about as big as you can possibly attach to your flash while it's on the camera. Even still, you need to be no more than a couple feet away or the ratio between subject size and light size becomes too small and the light will start to appear harsh again.

Other than that, you really need to look at umbrellas or other stand-mounted modifiers to get a decent softening. Or you can use an off-camera cord at arm's length and change up the light angle a little for a more creative effect.

 

Ah thanks dan wasn't expecting all that info but its really helpful. My thing i asked is that i plan to do a bit more of couples shoot at like a banquet or dinner.

I plan to be no more than a few feet away since i have my 17-55 2.8
figure i'd hop on one these for certain low light occasions that i need to flash.

 

I realized I was rambling as I was typing that.

What flash do you have?

 

Sb-800 so its has quite a bit power and controls.

I'm thinking either to go for a sb900 or another sb800 to expand on some lighting and wireless work.

 

You should look at getting a stand and white shoot through umbrella. They've very affordable and give great results for portraits.

 

Yea I'm aware of it but i was thinking the diffuser is good for more moving things like dinners and banquets. since your always moving and only have the option on on camera flash and maybe another flash wireless.

If it was studio work i'd borrow a friends umbrella and lights, maybe get my own soon.

 

Here's some quick examples I just shot illustrating what Dan was talking about. I used my 580EX on ETTL. All exposures set for f/16 @ 1/200th. You would normally bump the flash exposure compensation by 1/3 or 2/3 stop when using the Fong. In this case, I just left it alone and shot everything at the same settings.

Left - Direct Flash
Right - Direct Flash w/ Fong Lightsphere




Left - Bouce Flash Off of Ceiling (8', painted white)
Middle - Bounce Flash Off of Ceiling w/ Fong Lightsphere
Right - Bounce Flash Off of Ceiling w/ Fong Lightsphere (uncapped)

 

hm.. so if you look at the 1st 2, and then the middle one of the 3, they have pretty harsh shadows.

 

hmm.. the softbox III blocks the AF assist lamp and any exposure meters.

 

In all fairness, the Fong is really not intended to be used in the manner I did on the right side of the pair. What that pair does illustrate, however, is the point Dan was making about the size of the light source.

The middle picture of the set of three illustrates how the Fong unit still throws a notable amount of light forward even when you have the flash physically set to bounce off the ceiling. This can be a plus or a minus depending on the subject and the situation.

 

me thinks i should just dump my sto-fen diffuser

 

Well, most dinners and banquets are going to be indoors, so you might be able to use a diffuser if the ceilings aren't too high. Otherwise, just go bare and save your batteries.

ETTL exposure reading is done through the lens (i.e. it's the TTL part of "ETTL"), so as long as the Softbox III isn't blocking your lens, you'll be OK.

As big as the Softbox III seems, it's still a very small light source. You need to be very close to your subject to get the light wrapping around them nicely. Here's a good review on Strobist: http://strobist.blogspot.com/2008/09...ftbox-iii.html

I'd keep it. I use mine quite a lot. It's good for family pics around the house. It's just not a cure-all for harsh shadows that a lot of people think it is. I always get a good laugh seeing people use them at car shows where the ceiling is 60' away from the cars.

 

Oy i done that at car shows before then saw people using the index card method so i took a white flyer and rubberband it on to my sb800. Worked like a charm.

 

Ohh so when would I use the sto-fen and when would I use the lumiquest softbox III.
And I guess I can't do anything about it blocking the af assist lamp.

And when you use the sto-fen do you angle it 45 degrees like it says to do? Or do you just point it direct? And what about the softbox III??

 

I pretty well only use the sto-fen aimed up at the ceiling, sometimes tilting it forward 45* if the subject is farther away and there is no wall behind me. I never point it directly at the subject because you don't get any benefit from that. In fact, all you're doing there is wasting batteries because it takes more power to shoot through it.

The Softbox III is still kind of a weird too for me. I know a lot of the strobist guys have them, but they're really a specialized tool for unique situations. I can't see myself ever using one on-camera because it's just so clunky and you need to be very close to get any benefit from it. Perhaps wedding photogs who shoot with flash brackets might like it more, but it doesn't fit my style. For me, it's just as easy to set up a stand with umbrella.

 

if i were to use the softbox III at say a car show, i shouldnt angle it or anything just aim the flash directly at the subject?

 

The softbox III isn't meant to be bounced, if that's what you're asking. You aim directly at the subject. Of course you can use it off-camera and angle it however you like.

 

i still have much to learn

 

http://super.nova.org/DPR/DIY01/

I made a couple of these for a few bucks. Just used hot glue instead of staples.

I haven't tried it out in areas with a high ceiling, but seems to work well w/ portraits and I use it on camera. Just like one of the the lumiquest bounce for a fraction of the price. just increasing the area of the light source and a reasonable size to use on camera. Might work well if you're taking pictures of couples.

 

After the second week of a current on camera flash workshop I'm taking, the best light has been a bounce card. With the flash straight up and a four to five inch bounce card has produce the best results.

You don't want to diffuse the light, you want to direct it.

If it has been said here yet, you will won't to get a off camera flash cord, get the light off the top of the camera.

 

 

Oh, screwed that up when I tried to copy and paste.

I was just trying to say, get the flash off of the camera it gives the best results.

 

There are so many more creative possibilities when the flash leaves the hotshoe...

 

Very cool! Going to make this.

 

well i think in his situation it would be too much of a hassle to have off camera flash.

 

i was thinking of making this...


http://www.abetterbouncecard.com/

 

basically the same thing. The other one just has more work to put in to putting on a black backing, and velcro for attachment, and allows you to close off the top to catch as much light as possible if you don't have a ceiling to bounce off of. You can still use the it w/ the top open if there is a ceiling to bounce off of, and roll it down if you don't need it so tall. A little harder to roll it down since it is thicker especially if you use the plastic mesh in the middle.

 

Well do you think for like indoor banquets and dinners getting a flash bracket is ideal?

 

for event photography where you don't have a place to set up an umbrella and have to be on the move, what do you suggest?

and say the ceilings are pretty high, like 60' or outdoors or the ceilings are black.


i was thinking of getting this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...t_Flashes.html

since it doesnt block the AF assist lamp

 

For what it's worth, I picked up a Lumiquest Softbox III a couple weeks ago to play with. It's strictly an off-camera accessory, IMO. You might be able to use it as a fill light when it's on the hotshoe though.

 

dan what do you think of the demb flip-it?


http://www.dembflashproducts.com/flipit/

 

I swear by Demb's Flip-It.

I wrote a little bit about it in Nokiaman's wedding photography advice thread.

 

so i picked up the lumiquest softbox
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...t_Flashes.html

how the hell do you assemble this thing? is there supposed to be gaps when you attach it?

 

so i just mounted it and took a simple test shot.

 

so i used it a few days ago, are you supposed let it zoom automatically or just set it at one zoom setting and forget it?