Better bounce card test.... for your amusement and edification

The other day I stumbled across the "better bounce card" video and tonight I did some simple tests to see if the claims about it are in fact true.

Here are the results

First off I tryed it with the flash pointed up and pivoted sideways, like the video and got the following result (My mother who was willing to be used as a model)



This was very dissappointing... and at this point I almost gave up. I have heard all kinds of claims about diffusers and they all yeild similar results.

I then noticed that the paper I was using was really too narrow as it folded around the flash head. So I pivoted the head and was able to broaden the paper a bit so that the shape resembled that in the video and then I reshot and got the following results



Bingo - success. You can still see shadows but they are in fact much softer - as advertised.

So then I though I would try the test in the vertical position, however, with my setup this forced me to narrow the folded paper again and the results were pretty bad.



Then I tried it with the stoffen:



then I tried a plain bounce off the ceiling and got the following:



Anyhow - there it is - so if you have a ceiling this does seem to work pretty well - sadly in most of my events shooting I don't have one, so this will probably not be very helpful for me.

-Peter

--
Peter Waldvogel

Nikon D80
Nikon D70
Nikon 20mm f/2.8
Nikon 50mm f/1.8
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
Nikon 18-70mm (Kit Lens)
Nikon SB600
Sekonic L-508 Zoom Master

I was going to make one but have not rounded up the right materials yet.

Tom: They have the stryopaper at Hobby Lobby, Michaels and WalMart.

Gary
--

This post is incredibly helpful. I appreciate your hard work.

--

There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for.' Mahatma Gandhi

Don't use paper, you want to find some cheap thin foam found in every craft store and/or dollar store. Then you want to mount it on your flash with the flash pointing straight up/sideways. Even with no ceiling you'll get results like this.



or like this



I usually dial in anywhere from -03 to -07 flash comp exp.
Trust me, with the foam I find it the best product out of all I've tried.
--
Visit my website at
http://www.danielsdiaz.com
or my Gallery at
http://www.betterphoto.com?daniel_diaz

----

I just used printer paper and a rubber band - pretty easy - although I probably need to make it from some more stable material if I do use it in a shoot.
-Peter

tominrom said:

I was going to make one but have not rounded up the right materials
yet.

Click to expand...

--
Peter Waldvogel

Nikon D80
Nikon D70
Nikon 20mm f/2.8
Nikon 50mm f/1.8
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
Nikon 18-70mm (Kit Lens)
Nikon SB600
Sekonic L-508 Zoom Master

looks good, but what about a subject with a wall directly behind them? Thats the issue for me the horrible shadows I usually get.
-Peter

Daniel Diaz said:

Don't use paper, you want to find some cheap thin foam found in
every craft store and/or dollar store. Then you want to mount it on
your flash with the flash pointing straight up/sideways. Even with
no ceiling you'll get results like this.



or like this



I usually dial in anywhere from -03 to -07 flash comp exp.
Trust me, with the foam I find it the best product out of all I've
tried.
--
Visit my website at
http://www.danielsdiaz.com
or my Gallery at
http://www.betterphoto.com?daniel_diaz

Click to expand...

--
Peter Waldvogel

Nikon D80
Nikon D70
Nikon 20mm f/2.8
Nikon 50mm f/1.8
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
Nikon 18-70mm (Kit Lens)
Nikon SB600
Sekonic L-508 Zoom Master

seriously looking forward to this little hack. i'll pick up some styofoam this weekend.

Is that Peter's mother standing by the bar in the background of the first photo?

Seriously, what kind of event was this? The women look like they're made up for a photo shoot. Is the good lighting partly accomplished by bounced flash off the ceiling? If not, you're just using the foam as a diffuser if you have it in front of the flash or a reflector if it's behind. Surely a Sto-fen would be better for a situation like this. Also, you wouldn't have to look like a dweeb in front of the beautiful women ith a big old paper cone sticking out of your camera

wupeide said:

Daniel Diaz said:

Don't use paper, you want to find some cheap thin foam found in
every craft store and/or dollar store. Then you want to mount it on
your flash with the flash pointing straight up/sideways. Even with
no ceiling you'll get results like this.



or like this



I usually dial in anywhere from -03 to -07 flash comp exp.
Trust me, with the foam I find it the best product out of all I've
tried.
--
Visit my website at
http://www.danielsdiaz.com
or my Gallery at
http://www.betterphoto.com?daniel_diaz

Click to expand...

--
Peter Waldvogel

Nikon D80
Nikon D70
Nikon 20mm f/2.8
Nikon 50mm f/1.8
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
Nikon 18-70mm (Kit Lens)
Nikon SB600
Sekonic L-508 Zoom Master

Click to expand...

wupeide said:

looks good, but what about a subject with a wall directly behind
them? Thats the issue for me the horrible shadows I usually get.

Click to expand...

Here's one of my son right against the wall, no shadow



In portrait mode you will still get a soft shadow but it's not to bad at all. If you have a flash bracket, you'll get none.

Was there a ceiling overhead for this one? ... my question was without the ceiling, are you getting good results as well... sorry if I wasn't clear.

Daniel Diaz said:

wupeide said:

looks good, but what about a subject with a wall directly behind
them? Thats the issue for me the horrible shadows I usually get.

Click to expand...

Here's one of my son right against the wall, no shadow



In portrait mode you will still get a soft shadow but it's not to
bad at all. If you have a flash bracket, you'll get none.

Click to expand...

--
Peter Waldvogel

Nikon D80
Nikon D70
Nikon 20mm f/2.8
Nikon 50mm f/1.8
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
Nikon 18-70mm (Kit Lens)
Nikon SB600
Sekonic L-508 Zoom Master

Hank Wolfe said:

Is that Peter's mother standing by the bar in the background of the
first photo?

Click to expand...

LOL!

Hank Wolfe said:

Seriously, what kind of event was this? The women look like
they're made up for a photo shoot. Is the good lighting partly
accomplished by bounced flash off the ceiling?

Click to expand...

It was in a nightclub, No Ceiling here at all, (out door patio)

Hank Wolfe said:

If not, you're just using the foam as a diffuser if you have it in front of the flash
or a reflector if it's behind. Surely a Sto-fen would be better
for a situation like this.

Click to expand...

The foam is behind and acts as a reflector while softening the light. IMHO it does a better overall job than the Sto-fen, light-sphere, ect.

Hank Wolfe said:

Also, you wouldn't have to look like a
dweeb in front of the beautiful women ith a big old paper cone
sticking out of your camera

Click to expand...

I don't mind looking like a dweeb if I get the results I need.

Sorry Peter, yes there was a ceiling on this one, (my kitchen). I do still get excellent results without a ceiling.

wupeide said:

Daniel Diaz said:

wupeide said:

looks good, but what about a subject with a wall directly behind
them? Thats the issue for me the horrible shadows I usually get.

Click to expand...

Here's one of my son right against the wall, no shadow



In portrait mode you will still get a soft shadow but it's not to
bad at all. If you have a flash bracket, you'll get none.

Click to expand...

--
Peter Waldvogel

Nikon D80
Nikon D70
Nikon 20mm f/2.8
Nikon 50mm f/1.8
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
Nikon 18-70mm (Kit Lens)
Nikon SB600
Sekonic L-508 Zoom Master

Click to expand...

--
Visit my website at
http://www.danielsdiaz.com
or my Gallery at
http://www.betterphoto.com?daniel_diaz

Daniel Diaz said:

Even with
no ceiling you'll get results like this.
Trust me, with the foam I find it the best product out of all I've
tried.

Click to expand...

Daniel,

When there is no (or very high) ceilings, do you tilt the bounce card forward some?

I'm preparing to take some flash shots in an office next week with lofted ceilings (25 feet high). I made my betterbounce cards and they work great in my house. But, I thought I might have to go with the diffuser route for those office photos. After looking at your work, I'm thinking that the betterbouce card is the way to go.

Your pictures are awesome!

Glenn

GLP said:

Tom: They have the stryopaper at Hobby Lobby, Michaels and WalMart.

Click to expand...

Where at Wal*mart? I've tried the stationary section, and the craft section. Employees are clueless, but I asked about "fun foam." Boy, you should see the looks I got.

This was at one of the largest (if not still the largest) Wal*mart Supercenters in the US.

Thanks,
--

• Arved

'Take only pictures. Leave only footprints.' - Photographer's creed

gnagel said:

Daniel Diaz said:

Even with
no ceiling you'll get results like this.
Trust me, with the foam I find it the best product out of all I've
tried.

Click to expand...

Daniel,

When there is no (or very high) ceilings, do you tilt the bounce
card forward some?

Click to expand...

Yes, I always have it slighty facing forward

gnagel said:

I'm preparing to take some flash shots in an office next week with
lofted ceilings (25 feet high). I made my betterbounce cards and
they work great in my house. But, I thought I might have to go
with the diffuser route for those office photos. After looking at
your work, I'm thinking that the betterbouce card is the way to go.

Your pictures are awesome!

Glenn

Click to expand...

Thanks Glenn, It really does work great. Here are my general settings that I find work best. IS0 400, SS 1/60, F/5, Spot meter (always on a face). Flash Exposure comp -3 to -7
--
Visit my website at
http://www.danielsdiaz.com
or my Gallery at
http://www.betterphoto.com?daniel_diaz

Daniel,

What macro lens do you use for the photos in your gallery?

The ability to use it with no ceilings for bounce is one of the reasons I like the Flip-it. The hinged approach is what makes it so adjustable. I have the Big Flip-it and recently bought the clear diffuser but haven't tested it yet. I think it will soften the flash even more.

The Big Flip-it with the clear diffuser is bundled together as the DFD Pro - $29.95

http://www.dembflashdiffusers.com/

I made abbc and I always get a shadow under the chin which gives it away that I used flash how do I not get that shadow? I bounce straight up and put the card on back of the flash.