Interesting. Over here coffee cups are often white styrofoam, but soft drink cups are platic coated colored paper, beer is sold in clear plastic cups. That is not 100% the case but probably 70-75% so.
However white styrofoam cups do work well for that use. Actually, a white hankerchief held in place with a rubberband is the oldest one I know of. Kind of balloon it out so it defuses the light in multiple directions. However, thanks for the reminder, sometime we forget low tech still works. graywolf http://www.graywolfphoto.com "Idiot Proof" <==> "Expert Proof" ----------------------------------- Frantisek wrote:
* Tired of your overpriced LumiQuest flash diffuser disintegrating itself under field (ab)use? * Not wanting to buy an Omnibounce for each and every of your differnt flashheads? * Always leaving them at home right before the fashion show assignment? * Addicted to new, fresh lighting-modification gadgets but without funds for one every week? * Impress the other (or same, depending on preference) sex? Other photogs? Make new friends in the media crowd? * And maybe even solicit a smile out of the notoriously grim-looking city major at a press conference? I have the solution! It's free! It is not even patented! And it involves recycling trash. Yes. Maybe even filthy trash. If you beg a bit, you might get a clean one though. What is it? If you are a conservative not-eco-friendly photog, you probably drink your favourite third-world-water-level-depleting-soft-drink out of one every day... Still more hints? White PVC cups for soft drinks. Unfortunately - for our environment - almost ubiquitous in any modern city trash cans. Or at many events, left all over the grass field. Or just over the corner at a refreshment stand, for few eurocents or a smile or a desperate beg. These cups are white, diffuse and flexible. And round. Ideal for diffusing the harsh light coming from your strobe. And white. And diffuse. And cheap. Did I mention cheap? Just look on the ground for a not-yet-smashed one and use it. Preferably cleaning it first, to not get beer residue all over the flash. Although, if in a pinch... Surprisingly, 0.2l or 0.3l sizes fit smugly over most flash units, smugly enough for demanding PJ work. The best type are the more thick ones, which do not break upon deforming as easily. And they diffuse the light better. Most coffee-cups are out of question, because they are dark brown. OTOH, if looking for dark brown lighting, they might work quite well... They provide enough coverage for a 12mm lens on 1.5x crop digital (well, not quite, but enough for fill-flash). I didn't notice any weird colour shifts after using many of them. For the image-(un)conscious photog, you can even get one with a logo (preferably only on one 'side'). I have used them at all sorts of events, soliciting friendly comments ranging from bystanders to TV crews. People sometimes actually smile at them, even if you poke a "big black camera" in their faces. And what's best, you can pour yourself a wine or beer into one after the event ends! Don't forget, do not throw them away after the shoot, be eco-responsible, put them in plastics recycling trashcans! Samples to follow... Frantisek
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