DIY flash diffuser - review

[Artur Gajewski]

Hello all,

Just wanted to write a little review of a flash light diffuser technique I learned from a website I read couple of days ago. Unfortunatelly I don't recall the URL but here is what its all about.

A neat and cheap way of diffusing a flashlight is to simply use a bubble plastic wrap around the flash so that it extends beyond the flash as well (picture 1). This will diffuse the light as well as create a light-bulb effect that will illuminate surroundings evenly (picture 2).

I took this diffuser on a test drive outside during a sun-shine and took a picture of my 2-year-old daughter. As you can see, the exposure is even, nice colors and no shadows that you usually get from sunshine (picture 3).

Later that day I took a portrait shot of my 8-month-old daughter indoors. Again, as you can see there are hardly any shadows and colors are warm and nice (picture 4).

The scret to this is to always point the flash up to the ceiling whether you have camera in landscape or portrait position.

http://www.majgaj.com/blog/images/bubble1_thumb.jpg (http://www.majgaj.com/blog/images/bubble1.jpg) http://www.majgaj.com/blog/images/bubble2_thumb.jpg (http://www.majgaj.com/blog/images/bubble2.jpg) http://www.majgaj.com/blog/images/bubble3_thumb.jpg (http://www.majgaj.com/blog/images/bubble3.jpg) http://www.majgaj.com/blog/images/bubble4_thumb.jpg (http://www.majgaj.com/blog/images/bubble4.jpg)

I really recommend this DIY flash diffuser to everyone, the material is really cheap and you can get it in stores or post office.

[Curtis N]

I like it!

Gonna have to try it. Seems more practical than a 1 gallon milk jug, and easier than trying to find a rubbing alcohol bottle that fits perfectly.

The only disadvantage I can see is it's inefficient, just like the Omnibounce and Lightsphere II. It sends half the light the wrong direction. So it reduces your operating distance and will use batteries faster.

[RyanD]

It would be possible to tape an index card or something similar to the back of the bubble wrap if you want to increase your efficiency.

Ryan

[Curtis N]

It would be possible to tape an index card or something similar to the back of the bubble wrap if you want to increase your efficiency.Well, sure. But then it might not look too "professional.":lol:

[Merle]

What you have created is the poor mans version of the bare bulb lighting technique. The bare bulb portrait lighting technique has been taught for years by the famous (and recently late) Portrait Artist and Educator Don Blair. Don called this technique "the kiss of light" 6-8 months ago Don pasted away so if his video tape seminars are still available or not I do not know, you may try writing:
DON BLAIR PRODUCTS
4883 South State Street
Murray, Utah 84107


Good Shooting to ya !!
Merle;) :) :D

[tkoutdoor]

A neat and cheap way of diffusing a flashlight is to simply use a bubble plastic wrap around the flash so that it extends beyond the flash as well (picture 1). This will diffuse the light as well as create a light-bulb effect that will illuminate surroundings evenly (picture 2).
I really recommend this DIY flash diffuser to everyone, the material is really cheap and you can get it in stores or post office.
Hmm... I wonder if the Stofen diffuser comes wrapped in bubble wrap. That would be too ironic... 2 diffusers for the price of one. It would ultimately be just the right size too. The bubble wrap one would get more use for me because it takes up less room and weighs less. Typically I try to keep everything in a small Lowepro Slingshot AW 100 and this along the lines of what it takes to use a smallish pack like that. Currently I'm using a custom made flash card kind of thing that is made out of plastic of the stiff sort that you may find on 3 ring binders that has premade creases in it. It makes a big light area, but its a little bit cumbersome for some applications (off camera in one hand) and since I can never point it right at what I'm lighting I lose some light. I think I'll try this one out too. I used to do a similar thing with my on camera flash for those times when on camera fill flash was better than none at all.

[notapro]

That's brilliant! I have sooo much bubble wrap. I told my husband I might need it one day...

[notapro]

wait a minute.. so you point it up straight up outdoors, too? with nothing to bounce it off of?

[tkoutdoor]

wait a minute.. so you point it up straight up outdoors, too? with nothing to bounce it off of?Yep, you point it straight up (there may be some advantage to a slight angle, but that's up to you), but no to the nothing to bounce it off of. Keep in mind what "it" is... "It" is the light coming out of the flashgun. You bounce it off of the diffuser and it rebounds from and through the diffuser to the subject.

It works exactly like a wall does in the sense that it bounces from the diffuser like a reflector, but is different in that it also shines through the diffuser like a softbox. The diffuser essentially becomes the light source in this way instead of the wall becoming the light source. I know, I know... you thought the flashgun was the light source, but it's not the light source anymore unless you allow a little bit of the light to hit directly at a slight angle. The primary light source became the wall or flash card) as soon as you bounced it. A small diffuser alone is not going to give phenomenal effects (so long as it remains small)... because it's not as big a light source as the wall. You will get much better effects with a soft box because the large front of the soft box becomes the new light source. It's a compromise, but if you wanted a Stofen or something similar it will replace it just fine because it's a light source of about the same size. If you wanted to have a better diffuser than the Stofen use an oversized bubble wrap bag as big as you have desire and capability to make. It's essentially what a softbox is. It's just too unwieldy for casual use, hence the place for bounce cards, Stofens, and bubble wrap diffusers.

[notapro]

hmm.. I've never used a Stofen. I thought they were meant to be bounced as well. I'll have to have a go at this and play around and see whether i feel compelled to add that index card someone suggested. I'm thinking this could make a great mod to my existing DIY pie-plate diffuser, which currently uses parchment. bubble wrap be much more efficient. Thanks for the info!

[simwells]

Hmm... I wonder if the Stofen diffuser comes wrapped in bubble wrap. That would be too ironic... 2 diffusers for the price of one. It would ultimately be just the right size too. The bubble wrap one would get more use for me because it takes up less room and weighs less.

Nah the Sto-Fens don't come in bubble wrap just a plastic baggy, and the Sto-Fen doesn't exactly weigh much and you can leave it on the flash head in storage so isn't really taking up any additional space.

hmm.. I've never used a Stofen. I thought they were meant to be bounced as well. I'll have to have a go at this and play around and see whether i feel compelled to add that index card someone suggested. I'm thinking this could make a great mod to my existing DIY pie-plate diffuser, which currently uses parchment. bubble wrap be much more efficient. Thanks for the info!

Yes the Sto-fens are indeed designed to be bounced just it creates a larger flash source that is being bounced therevy further increasing the light source.

[tkoutdoor]

the Sto-Fen doesn't exactly weigh much and you can leave it on the flash head in storage so isn't really taking up any additional space. With my 550ex flash I have to stretch the bag and the zipper, etc. to get it to fit in. I wedge it into the bottom of the triangle area in the top section of the bag. It doesn't look like it should fit, but it does. It's amazing how much stuff I barely fit in this bag. It's that little bit of additional space it takes up that I don't have. Are you saying that the Sto-Fen slides down over the flash and doesn't extend the length of the flash "at all" when in storage mode? I hear the 580ex is a little smaller, I'm gonna do one of them as my second flash that would become what I carry with me instead. Not that interested in the 4xx series, I want to keep the light output.

Yes the Sto-fens are indeed designed to be bounced just it creates a larger flash source that is being bounced therevy further increasing the light source. Ahh... so in cases where there is something to bounce off of effectively the Sto-Fen will be better than the typical bubble wrap diffuser, in cases where the light can't bounce from a larger object the oversized bubble wrap could still provide the larger surface. Does the Sto-Fen use some kind of end cap etc. when it has no external object to bounce the light from? I've heard of some products with open ends that optionally plug the end so you can choose whatever angle you want to use, maybe this is one of them.

[simwells]

Are you saying that the Sto-Fen slides down over the flash and doesn't extend the length of the flash "at all" when in storage mode?

Does the Sto-Fen use some kind of end cap etc. when it has no external object to bounce the light from? I've heard of some products with open ends that optionally plug the end so you can choose whatever angle you want to use, maybe this is one of them.

Ah no didn't release your space requirements would be so tight the Sto-Fen does stick out around an extra inch at the front.

No the Sto-Fen once mounted is basically a sealed system, there's no open end or removable parts etc.

[picard]

would the plastic bubble melt due to high heat of the flash?

[tkoutdoor]

would the plastic bubble melt due to high heat of the flash?
No, there is not problem with heat whatsoever. If it were always on there would be a problem I'm sure, but the nature of flash is intermittent enough that it's not an issue.

Also as a follow up to a previous post... The bubble wrap allows enough light to escape the end that it can still be bounced from another object as well. Obviously the light is gonna be somewhat diffuse already, but it does send out enough light that there is some left over to bounce. I was using mine today and found if I pointed the end of the flashgun straight at something I had a hotspot. Typically you wouldn't point it straight at something anyway, but I had a reason to try it and the light needed to be bounced.

[kenwood33]

I don't think the bubble wrap is a good idea because it sends some (dont know how much) light to different directions (don't know which directions). I prefer flip-it because you have control over how much light to send forward by adjust the angle of the board. http://www.dembflashproducts.com/flipit/

[PhotosGuy]

It works exactly like a wall does in the sense that it bounces from the diffuser like a reflector, Not exactly, because walls & ceiling give a much larger light source as you said later. I don't think the bubble wrap is a good idea because it sends some (dont know how much) light to different directions As Merle said, that's the whole idea. It's a much softer light when you have walls & ceiling to help out.

I used to use this indoors, but I'll bet that the bubble wrap would give a nicer light.

[Karl C]

The 3x5 card has been used by generations of photogs with excellent results. I've tried the 3x5 card and Better Bounce Card with mixed results, largely due to lack of my own abilities. I just purchased a Sto-Fen to see how that works. I've seen some PJ's use it on their flash but that doesn't mean anything. In the end, good flash work is a result of knowledge and practice.

You have to admit the 3x5 card option is the most economical.

[matthias.s]

Before the "invention" of the index-card my flashphotos were just rubbish, most of the times. Now I actually dare to show them to other people. And now I'm going to look for some bubbles.

[tkoutdoor]

Not exactly, because walls & ceiling give a much larger light source as you said later.
It works exactly like a wall does in the sense that it bounces from the diffuser like a reflector,

[Picture North Carolina]

Many think a better answer. A better bounce card (http://abetterbouncecard.com/) (watch the video). Cheap (42 cents), flexible (doesn't really tear), can almost be bunched up when packing into a camera case, etc.

[tkoutdoor]

Many think a better answer. A better bounce card (http://abetterbouncecard.com/) (watch the video). Cheap (42 cents), flexible (doesn't really tear), can almost be bunched up when packing into a camera case, etc.
I've tried that too. They are both DIY projects that cost almost nil to complete. Make em both, you want to make a decision based on what works best no matter what you end up with. Just make sure you don't stop at the Better Bounce Card without trying them both. You'd kick yourself once you see the difference a bubble wrap diffuser makes. Don't limit yourself to the smallest size bubble wrap diffuser you can make either. It's the size of the final light source that provides the best benefit. I just made mine out of a large sheet that I cut into the size bag I wanted since I couldn't actually find a similar bag size and then used box tape to seam it together. I had a Better Bounce card type on a couple weeks ago that I made from here and I would only go back to it if that was all I had available to improvise something.

[Picture North Carolina]

I've tried that too. They are both DIY projects that cost almost nil to complete. Make em both, you want to make a decision based on what works best no matter what you end up with. Just make sure you don't stop at the Better Bounce Card without trying them both. You'd kick yourself once you see the difference a bubble wrap diffuser makes. Don't limit yourself to the smallest size bubble wrap diffuser you can make either. It's the size of the final light source that provides the best benefit. I just made mine out of a large sheet that I cut into the size bag I wanted since I couldn't actually find a similar bag size and then used box tape to seam it together. I had a Better Bounce card type on a couple weeks ago that I made from here and I would only go back to it if that was all I had available to improvise something.

Agreed in the respect that for everything you do in photography, lenses... bodies... bubble wrap, it's what works best for an individual in what they are doing. The inherent problem with the bubble wrap, tho, is that a sizeable chunk of the material (with the big bubbles which actually distribute light better) can, by itself, take up a very large part of a camera bag's storage space. But it is light and easy to hike with! :)

On the other hand, I have my BBC wrapped around the inside surface of the camera bag and it takes up about 1/8" inch.

[Mum2J&M]

Well, sure. But then it might not look too "professional.":lol:

ROFL Curtis - I was just thinking the exact same thing. I mean, how far could one go with this without feeling like a complete dork?! :lol::lol::lol:

[tkoutdoor]

ROFL Curtis - I was just thinking the exact same thing. I mean, how far could one go with this without feeling like a complete dork?! :lol::lol::lol:
Just hand them your portfolio and show them how you are a genius at delivering exceptional value without a compromise in quality. If you aren't that genius then the problem might not be the fault of your equipment. Some of us buy costly equipment as something to hide behind to assure others that we are qualified. One's work needs be to the thing that our customers hear at the end of the day, not ones equipment. An experienced eye doesn't care what you shot the image with, it cares whether you did or didn't get the image. That being said... My bubble wrap diffuser might not make it out during the formal part of a wedding, but if it was the thing that delivered the best light it probably would (I'd make the judgment based on my judgment of the client though I'm thinking). :-)

[rhys]

Hmm.. I'm going to experiment now!

[rhys]

Ok. I experimented.... and came up with a puzzle...

Gear used: 420EX, diffuser cut from the side of a plastic milk jug and held over the flash lens, Tamron 17-35 at 22mm. 1/160th and f3.2.

Fresh AA Alkalines in the flash.

First shot - no diffuser - came out dark and gloomy.
Second shot - with diffuser - came out light and airy if slightly yellow (as to be expected from the creamy colour of the milk jug.

Diffusion was negligible but the result was fascinating.

[rhys]

Next I tried it with a piece of card secured with an elastic band. The result was darker which I suspect means the flash hadn't fully charged despite the pilot light being lit.

Results in all 3 photos are almost identical. Lighting appeared most even in the one with the milk jug over the flash lens.

[FlexiPack]

What a great diffuser idea!

In the OP's example the bubble bag seems to be sealed at the top, would it not be more efficient and i would've thought better in most cases if the top was open to allow more light out to, the ceiling will diffuse it after all.

Or perhaps have two, one with an open top, one with it closed for times you don't need/want over powering bounce?

[tkoutdoor]

Ok. I experimented.... and came up with a puzzle...

Gear used: 420EX, diffuser cut from the side of a plastic milk jug and held over the flash lens, Tamron 17-35 at 22mm. 1/160th and f3.2.

Fresh AA Alkalines in the flash.

First shot - no diffuser - came out dark and gloomy.
Second shot - with diffuser - came out light and airy if slightly yellow (as to be expected from the creamy colour of the milk jug.

Diffusion was negligible but the result was fascinating.

You may have only meant to show how the light was or wasn't diffusing, in which case your examples did that well enough. If that wasn't your goal then the rest of this post would help overall.

If I were using the gear you have and actually wanted to get a usable photo here's what I'd do. First thing to keep in mind is that your camera exposure control deals with the background and your flash exposure control deals with the subject. The two objects are controlled independently. Your background is dark so set your exposure to the side that makes the shot brighter (as though you were shooting the photo without flash). In this case, it also means that you will have to set it on a tripod. Your flash is exposing about right, but you might want to turn it's exposure level down a tad to find the perfect balance for the subject. Your histogram will be happier when you find the right balance.

To get softer/more diffuse light remember that the larger the light source the softer/more diffuse the light. The first thought in that regard is to bounce what light you can out the top of the bubble diffuser to a wall/ceiling to hit some of the background and possibly the subject. Let the face of the bubble wrap also light the subject by exposing it relatively parallel to the subject (you'll have to balance this with your desire for bouncing the light out the end of the flashgun). This will improve the overall lighting. Another test to try in your series of tests is to make a larger bubble wrap diffuser and get a sense of what difference it makes. The keys to softness/diffusion are... the larger the light source and the closer the proximity to the subject the softer/more diffuse the light. The more diffuse the light the softer (and smaller) the shadows.

Some people presume that what makes soft/diffuse light is simply that it passes through a special material. That's only somewhat true and typically produces only a small benefit primarily in decreasing hotspots. The primary benefit of softness/diffusion occurs by creating a larger light source. An index card is larger than your standard flash, the bubble wrap diffuser is larger still. Either one can bounce light straight out the flash off another object (i.e. a nearby wall) besides the reflective ability of the device and should be used in that way whenever possible. When there is no other object to bounce the light from, then the actual flash mounted source has to become larger to get more diffuse light (as it is the only real source). That's where a larger bubble wrap diffuser, oversized flash card style bouncer, reflector (to bounce from), softbox, or umbrella etc. comes into play. Somewhere I read about a photog who strategically uses his assistant or innocent bystander dressed in white or other light color as a reflector whenever possible.

[dicky109]

Well, sure. But then it might not look too "professional.":lol:

I'm glad I'm not a professional, and can get away with cr*p like this, and it makes getting smiles on people shots a lot easier. Also get to meet nice people when they tell me I forgot to take off the packing material!

I've been using a bubble wrap diffuser for several years after reading a thread here on the subject. Took a piece of bubble wrap and wrapped around the flash head to fit, then sealed the seam at the back with duct tape, which is white on the inside. If I were a pro, I'd have to use gaffer's tape! This seam redirects some of the light back, so less is lost. The unit slides down the flash for easy storing and is held in place with a rubber band. Waiting for Gary Fong to adapt it to the new self-storing, lightweight diffuser for only $39.95.:)