Finally found a good use for my Fong lightsphere

fohchris79 wrote in post #17086737
When I use it outdoors, it's typically a situation where there is a lot of artificial colored ambient light and deep shadows on the faces. (Think outdoor corporate party.) When I need to get group shot of two to four people the the diffused light through the light sphere is enough to light the faces and still keep the ambiance of the colored light in the background. I'm not saying this is a great device, especially for what they charge for it, but I have found a use for it that works well for me.

Rather than throw half of your light behind your, into the atmosphere, and generally everywhere the subject isn't, why not use a large bounce card, or a product like the large flashbender with diffuser? As far as the "diffused light is enough to light the faces and keep the ambiance", it's called balancing ambient with flash, and you don't need any special tupperware for that. You might be doubling the size of the light using the lightshere (which really isn't much), which still only gives you a light source that's about 4"sq. For the same price you can get a lg flashbender and diffuser and have a light that is about 1 sqft, while throwing all the light at the subject. Of course indoors it's all about the bounce.

There is some opaque sheets (don't know how to explain it) that most people use when scrapbooking that you can put over your flash. It quiets down the intensity of the flash and shoot it straight on, or use an umbrella. When I had to shoot a large group outdoors last year I used two umbrellas with remotes on the speedlights. I've seen some photographers use a 42" or larger softbox umbrella.

Scatterbrained wrote in post #17086945
Rather than throw half of your light behind your, into the atmosphere, and generally everywhere the subject isn't, why not use a large bounce card, or a product like the large flashbender with diffuser? As far as the "diffused light is enough to light the faces and keep the ambiance", it's called balancing ambient with flash, and you don't need any special tupperware for that. You might be doubling the size of the light using the lightshere (which really isn't much), which still only gives you a light source that's about 4"sq. For the same price you can get a lg flashbender and diffuser and have a light that is about 1 sqft, while throwing all the light at the subject. Of course indoors it's all about the bounce.

Agree also. Why use something that throws light to the side and behind you and upwards, your subject is in front of you and that is where the light should be aimed whether it be bounce or umbrella, your subject isn't behind you. Besides, look at the people behind you that you are blinding with all that wasted light going behind you.