create patterns in the background

[kenwood33]

I watched the strobist dvd a while ago and one tip given was to shoot through a few glasses to create a wavily pattern. I am wondering if anyone has an alternative and portable way to achieve the same result. I tried to cut out a silver anti static bag and put it in front of my flash but the result is horrible. Any help is appreciated.

[Lotto]

I did some cut out off a cardboard, placed it about a foot in front of the bg light with blue gel, projectdc on to a white wall...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2660/3779740502_0d9d2b61d4_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3594/3778933537_ff2d2d9c2b_o.jpg

[Titus213]

They are called cookies - and are used to generate patterns on the BG. Placing something in front of the flash will accomplish that if it's place in the right position to cast the appropriate shadow. I'm assuming you are talking shadow rather than color.

Unfortunately, Google has a predilection to think sweets when you enter cookie. I did find this link - http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/Manual/HOWTO-LightCookie.html

And there is a very brief discussion of them in this book on lighting - http://www.amazon.com/Master-Lighting-Guide-Portrait-Photographers/dp/1584281251/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1249176354&sr=8-1

[Austin.Manny]

I don't have a picture, but I remember David suggested using a glass pitcher also. That anti static bag didn't work because it is just silver. Shooting through glass refracts the light and makes it look weird, and good. (think a straw in water, how it looks like its in a different place)

[jm_usmc]

Don't forget, David Hobby claims his favorite cookie is a house plant.

[speedster00]

I think you just have to get creative with it. Use anything that would cast a pattern. Like a fancy cut flower vase or the back of a chair. Use some tissue paper to change the color?? just ideas

[TMR Design]

Start playing around with anything the can cast a shadow or has a shape or pattern to have light pass through.

[Hermes]

Speedlites are actually better than monolights for this sort of thing - their fresnels & tiny surface areas mean they'll project shapes & lines more clearly.

Cutting out of cardboard is good if you want a specific pattern. If you just want something interesting-looking then anything reflective or irregular can work. For example - the classic tv studio way of making a scene look like it was shot at a waterfront is bouncing a light off a tray of water on the floor.

[Cathpah]

I like using matte black cinefoil for cookies.....Rip a piece off the roll, crumple it up, uncrumple it and then take a knife/screwdriver/leatherman to it and cut some random holes. Different everytime (like a snowflake!) and you can decide what the pattern will be....and 1/100th the cost of a cookie made by a big fancy company.

[TMR Design]

Speedlites are actually better than monolights for this sort of thing - their fresnels & tiny surface areas mean they'll project shapes & lines more clearly.

Cutting out of cardboard is good if you want a specific pattern. If you just want something interesting-looking then anything reflective or irregular can work. For example - the classic tv studio way of making a scene look like it was shot at a waterfront is bouncing a light off a tray of water on the floor.

I've tried using the pan of water Hermes. I discovered that you need an awfully large pan of water to project that effect over a large area. Angle and placement of the light source are also more critical, it seems.

[kenwood33]

Guys thanks for the suggestions - they make me think about getting a fish tank fill with different colors of water and shoot through it.