DIY Bounce card w/flash...

I was called upon to take some pictures of a reception today in a small crowded room with a low ceiling and flourescent light fixtures. Since I was right on top of everyone, I decided to use bounce flash and tweak the white balance later in post processing. BUT, I didn't have a bounce card for the flash.

So, I grabbed a styrofoam desert plate and cut one out of the middle, leaving just a little of the curved portion of the plate at the top. I mounted it on my Sigma 500 Super flash with three of my wife's black elastic hairbands. It worked perfect.

Here are a couple of pics. Looks like I just about eliminated the harsh shadows. They have been cropped to help reduce background clutter.

Mike

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Those turned out very good! Gotta love low ceilings

McGyver would have been proud of me!
Mike

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I love that. I keep a bunch of elastics on my flashes, they hold all kinds of things besides bounce cards.

GSansoucie wrote in post #4796327
I love that. I keep a bunch of elastics on my flashes, they hold all kinds of things besides bounce cards.

cigars & beer:p

if it wouldnt have been curved at the top (cut portion of styrofoam plate) what would the results have been like? just asking cause i now do notice the curve at the top

I don't know. Maybe just raise the card a little higher so some of the light will reflect forward.

Mike

That looks like the Mk XXXII model? Here's the original:
.

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MT Stringer wrote in post #4794103
McGyver would have been proud of me!
Mike

Man, I was picturing half a big plate on top of the flash!


Good thinking!

the plate doesnt seem to be far up enough to be doing much at all?

I had it a little higher when I used it, but pushed it down for the trip home. But it did work. All of the pics I shot were almost completely shadowless, no redeye or dark eyes.

BTW, it's still on the flash ready to go next time. My wife had to buy some more hair bands!
Mike

hehe, on second glance, i do see the catchlights in the eyes very nice.

your new name should be macguyver

Thanks. I'm beginning to think I'm better at DIY stuff than the actual photography itself!
Mike

hi guys.what was the purpose of the styrofoam and what was witht low ceiling?

Instead of having the flash face forward and blasting the people with light, he aimed the flash at the ceiling and it lights up everything softly and evenly. It essentially makes the ceiling the light source instead of the flash itself.
The plate then acts as a reflector and bounces some of the light to the subject(s), and fills in shadows.

Here's a hoydy-toydy store bought version: http//www.bhphotovideo​.com/c/product/544387-REG/LumiQuest_LQ_101_P​ocket_Bouncer_for.html

some