Hi Frantisek a good story and I'm interested to see what follows and of course to see you samples. I get quite good results for flash with a Hama plastic softball but fixating it in front of the flash is a bit of a pain and it covers the sensor so I can use it only with TTL flash.
The nice thing about the softball is that everybody asks what it is and finds it very interesting. On the other side, you have no chance of getting unnoticed which such "enhancements" ;-) I will certainly try your recommendation and as well report the results as well. greetings Markus >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Frantisek [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2005 3:43 AM >>To: PDML >>Subject: Cheapest flash diffuser to revolutionarize fill flash! >> >> >>* 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 >>
