DIY Snooted Flash, Glamour Gear Shots?

[jmolli]

I had the day off, so I built myself a snooted flash to use as a hair light. While playing around to get a feel for the light pattern it would throw, I think I invented a new picture category, "Glamour Gear Shots". Take a look, I figured the DIY types would get a kick out of my snoot. Its made from a Quantaray MS1 flash with self contained optical trigger (bought it about 20yrs ago), a Cool Wip container, an old miniature traffic cone that came with a kids soccer set , some black construction paper and rubber bands. Don't laugh too hard, the thing actually works, although I have to control flash power by moving it back and forth since it has no power adjustment (what do you want for $15.00). Thats an old scarf used to fix a little light leakage where the traffic cone mates with the cool wip container. :mrgreen: Why am I laughing as I type this?

[jmolli]

Here is another shot with the snoot that I thought was kinda cool.

[ebann]

won't the red traffic cone give off a redish tint to the subject?

[elwood58]

That is a very slick idea. I never thought of using an orange cone for the snoot shape. I would imagine that heat is not an issue with it either.

[jmolli]

To answer your questions.

1) The cone is lined with black construction paper to avoid any orange tint and 2) The flash is very weak, its powered by two AAA batteries so heat is not an issue.


John

[ebann]

Superb!

[jmolli]

Still playing around. Here's another gear shot.

[ebann]

Some difuser manufacturer warns the user that after a couple (tens or hundreds?) of flashes, to let the flash cool down otherwise the plastic difuser might melt/burn. The black paper you used might be a small fire hazard, even if from many low power flashes. It might be a good idea to check the heat and possible burn marks on it after a while.