Rogue Flashbender or Gary Fong collapsible light sphere? Take a guess which is which

i went all out and spent 99 cents on a piece of craft store foam. This was a early prototype, i have since upgraded the velcro to a kind that actually stays in place.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #17737532
i went all out and spent 99 cents on a piece of craft store foam. This was a early prototype, i have since upgraded the velcro to a kind that actually stays in place.

You clearly spent too much! We merely purchased feta cheese to put into Greek salads, then recycled the container to other purposes

Well, there is the XL Flashbender, 13"x16"...is about $100.

TooManyShots wrote in post #17737681
Well, there is the XL Flashbender, 13"x16"...is about $100.

Do people actually walk around with these giant things at weddings or events?!

BlakeC wrote in post #17737682
Do people actually walk around with these giant things at weddings or events?!

My limit on size was the extra large Lumiquest and I thought that was even pressing it. Now I just bounce off side walls, back walls and the ceiling when available, using the little slide out card on the 580ex. It's not effective for large groups but does a very nice job up to about 12 ft.

sapearl wrote in post #17737690
Now I just bounce off side walls, back walls and the ceiling when available, using the little slide out card on the 580ex.

Same here except I use a 6"x6" to-go box bounce card

BlakeC wrote in post #17737707
Same here except I use a 6"x6" to-go box bounce card

Even better yet! Innovative and even thriftier

sapearl wrote in post #17737746
Even better yet! Innovative and even thriftier

And when I need to get a new one, I just go order some more Chinese!

Some places have black Styrofoam boxes too. Was thinking of trying one of those. For now, I covered the back of mine in black electrical tape so I can just turn the flash head 180° if I need to.

BlakeC wrote in post #17737682
Do people actually walk around with these giant things at weddings or events?!

my original foam bounce card was too big for on camera walk around use. Think it was about 10x15 current one is around 8x10. I rarely use it, but it's nice to have in a pinch.

BlakeC wrote in post #17737748
black electrical tape

next time i go to the craft store i'm going to pick up some foam just for you.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #17737493
Have you read up on the black foamie thing? .

Funny this came up; I ran into VanNiekirk's stuff just a couple weeks ago and bought his new book. Anyone else making use of his recommended cheap black foam?

mpstan wrote in post #17739585
Funny this came up; I ran into VanNiekirk's stuff just a couple weeks ago and bought his new book. Anyone else making use of his recommended cheap black foam?

It can be handy. I think he sometimes overstates its usefulness. It depends on your available nounce surface and how directional uou wamt yoir light to appear.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17737182
Sorry but using a flash Bender on a light stand is almost as silly as using a fong. When you can get a 24 or 28 inch softbox for $20 there isnt any reason to use the flashbender.

Too many cooks in the kitchen criticizing what spices the other chefs are using.

The photographer had a Flashbender on hand, and he produced a decent looking shot with it. Light is light, and as long as the photographer could control it for a pleasing result, why bash it or bring spill-over hate for Fong's product into the discussion?

The Flashbender isn't "perfect" by any means. But among the dozens of various tools out there, it has a proper place. Different light modifiers can always be explored, but sometimes time constraints or space limitations or other factors come into play.

Ulysses01 wrote in post #17739900
Too many cooks in the kitchen criticizing what spices the other chefs are using.

The photographer had a Flashbender on hand, and he produced a decent looking shot with it. Light is light, and as long as the photographer could control it for a pleasing result, why bash it or bring spill-over hate for Fong's product into the discussion?

The Flashbender isn't "perfect" by any means. But among the dozens of various tools out there, it has a proper place. Different light modifiers can always be explored, but sometimes time constraints or space limitations or other factors come into play.

There are also a lot of cooks making bad food when they shouldn't be.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17739981
There are also a lot of cooks making bad food when they shouldn't be.

All too true. However not in the context of that poster's photo. He achieved a decent result and explained a bit about the circumstances under which the shot was taken. So my hat comes off for him.

Personally, I wish I could pull out my 60" Softlighter or my 48" Ricebowl or some other modifier at EVERY shoot for gorgeous soft shadows and gentle falloff. But for a lot of reasons I'm glad I have tiny modifiers for occasions when I absolutely need to be quicker, or more mobile, or have space constraints, or have an impatient client with limited time, or a piece of gear fails and totally negates use of the "better" modifier.

When the photographer actually gets the shot, it's more productive to just let this stuff go. There are other opportunities to be more helpful with alternate suggestions.