A question about diffusing flashes..

[noopi]

I've seen the "Show us your macro rig" thread, and I noticed that some people cover their flashes with a paper towel or a tissue. Do people use the paper towel/tissue on their flashes ON TOP OF something like the Sto-fen Omnibounce diffuser? Or do they just place the paper towel/tissue directly over the flash? And is this kind of diffusion better used for macro photography? Or will it yield similar results when doing other types of photography?

Right now I'm using a Sto-fen Omnibounce covered with a paper towel folded in half. (I was just curious to see the effect of the paper towel, so I just put it over the Omnibounce). However you can still see that bright spot in my pictures (from the flash). I have my flash on the camera's hotshoe, and not on a bracket. Will getting a bracket and moving the flash to the side reduce that bright spot in my pictures? or do I just need better diffusion?

Thanks!

[Dalantech]

I've seen people use a paper towel in both ways. IMHO a paper towel does more to block the light coming from the flash than it does to actually diffuse the light. Also keep in mind that what you use as a diffuser is going to change the "color" of the light -sometimes is ways that can't be fixed by adjusting white balance in post.

If you're flash isn't diffused enough then get a larger diffuser, or get your flash closer to the subject. Strobist has a piece called Apparent Light Size (http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/07/lighting-102-unit-21-apparent-light.html) that should be required reading for anyone who shoots macro. Me thinks that you're flash is too far away from what you're trying to shoot and adding anything to your diffuser is just going to make things worse...

[Warl0rd]

to avoid bright spots you'll either need to use less power (move the flash closer to the subject) or a bigger diffusing area. adding paper towel over the diffuser will only cut the amount of light reaching the subject, making your flash drain more power from the batteries (increasing recycle times) to properly expose the scene.

[LordV]

Just on the kitchen paper towel use (which I do use) - I had an email from a professional photographer in the USA that was just getting into macro - he did make my coke can diffuser base and then tried all sorts of "proper" photographic diffusers on it (he had a lot available) but ended up saying the paper kitchen towel was better than any of them. All diffusion materials block some light (they scatter the light). It just depends on how much diffusion you want, but most will give between a 1 and 2 stop light loss compared to a naked flash. Yes it is a good idea to check that it is not changing the colour balance.

Brian V.

[Dalantech]

Just on the kitchen paper towel use (which I do use)...
Brian V.

What I said earlier wasn't directed at you Brian -I know you use a paper towel for a diffuser and I know that it can work. But stuffing paper into a diffuser is a bad idea, and you do have to be careful about the color of the paper that you use.

I have noticed something "odd": If the flash is very close to what you're trying to shoot then some common photographic diffusion plastics don't work well -almost like they are too thin...

[MrContact]

I use a homemade diffuser out of a frost/transparent shower curtain over the flashes on my 24EX.
Works out pretty well.

[Dalantech]

I use a homemade diffuser out of a frost/transparent shower curtain over the flashes on my 24EX.
Works out pretty well.

This is how I'm currently diffusing the MT-24EX (http://nocroppingzone.blogspot.com/2009/11/mt-24ex-diffuser-how-to.html).