Source of light

I'm trying to understand something. I have a source of light which say is a bare flash. It is 6 feet form the subject. I place a large diffusing screen in middle between the flash and the subject Does that diffusing screen now become the source of light or is it still the flash?

Thanks in advance.

Yes, the diffusing screen now becomes the "light source"

digital paradise wrote in post #12199064
I'm trying to understand something. I have a source of light which say is a bare flash. It is 6 feet form the subject. I place a large diffusing screen in middle between the flash and the subject Does that diffusing screen now become the source of light or is it still the flash?

Echo63 wrote in post #12199133
Yes, the diffusing screen now becomes the "light source"

The diffusing screen would become the effective light source except for one fact. With a bare flash - and even a flash with a reflector - you'd be getting LOTS of light spill all over the place that will ultimately get to the subject in addition to the light going through the diffusing screen. In other words, you won't have much finite control over the light unless you block the stray light from bouncing off walls, ceiling, etc.

Thanks. That was way I remembered it from a flash course I took. It was over a year ago and a after we finished a friend and I put on 3 flash workshops for the local camera club. Best way to remember something is to teach it.

We have been asked to do another one. Just your basic ambient = shutter, aperture = flash & how to get the camera and flash off auto.

I was just viewing my power point and that is the way I had it written. What threw me off as I was in another forum, here or somewhere else and there was a heated debate about that which happens when the conversations get to the molecular level. I gave up on it so I never did see the conclusion. I must have been thinking about that while reviewing the presentation.

It makes sense from a physics stand point that the screen becomes the source. Basically no different than a soft box.

SkipD wrote in post #12199175
The diffusing screen would become the effective light source except for one fact. With a bare flash - and even a flash with a reflector - you'd be getting LOTS of light spill all over the place that will ultimately get to the subject in addition to the light going through the diffusing screen. In other words, you won't have much finite control over the light unless you block the stray light from bouncing off walls, ceiling, etc.

Thanks for the reply.