PhotographyBanzai.com

If you have used add-on flash much, you probably realized that the light directly from the flash can cast harsh light onto your subject. To get around that you can bounce the flash, or use something to soften the light. I have three light modifiers that attach to a standard add-on flash unit that are designed to soften the light. My test today will demonstrate just how much of a comparative difference each one makes. Quick overview video Youtube): Diffusers tested: STO-FEN Omni-Bounce diffuser (designed to fit my Sigma flash) Impact Universal Bounce diffuser Fotodiox 3.5 x 3.5 mini soft box diffuser Testing conditions: A green camera bag was placed on a light stand around 4 feet from the camera to act as a subject. The camera had a 14mm lens to maximize the possibility of vignetting. Each diffuser was tested with it facing directly toward the camera bag (direct) and tilted upward toward the ceiling (up). The room was small, so there was probably some amount of unavoidable light r...

Why bother using Photoshop to do “artistic vignetting” when it’s as simple as attaching something to your flash unit that distorts and shapes the light? The answer would probably be lazyness, but Photoshop probably can’t produce the such unique lighting as I’ll be showing you below! First, let’s start off with the result: The goal was a sharp well lit subject with unique unevenly darkened corners. Here is a picture of the camera setup: The light modifier consists of: Cardboard that was shaped around the flash unit on one end and on the other it was tightened more to produce a slight cone effect. Electrical tape wrapped around the cardboard. A silver translucent anti-static bag I had lying around. This was the first thing I could find that I though would work to smooth out the light coming from the flash. A lens hood used backwards to hold the bag in-place as well as to produce a round shaped hole on the end of the modifier. The camera settings were as follows: Flash in HSS (High Spee...