Tea Time

[Hailwood]

Was practicing improving my lighting control using this tea set I brought back to my wife from Japan.

I didn't particularly like how the colored version came out, so I used the B&W conversion to bring out the texture in the wood.

Single 580EX snooted at camera left:

http://dangerwillrobbins.smugmug.com/Photography/Light-Box/IMG9702/787489535_dJSyK-L.jpg

Any tips on how to make the light softer, but still have better control? I was able to clone out the main hotspot on the tea pot, but I'd prefer to get it right with the lighting itself. I'm thinking a softbox would probably help, but I'm still looking for a DIY solution at this point.

Any C&C is most welcome.

[canonloader]

A snoot, but no diffuser? Use a layer of paper towel, or better, a piece of milk carton plastic to act as a diffuser. That should kill the hotspots.

[Hailwood]

I did try a couple of shots with a bit of printer paper over the snoot opening, but it created quite a bit of spill onto the table and even into the background. I could see something like tissue paper working better though.

I'll play around with it some more and see what I can come up with. Thanks for the suggestions!

[canonloader]

I would take one square of toilet paper and just poke it into the end of the snoot.