Flash diffuser for outdoors photography

[Edward NJ]

I know this may have been debated a while ago but since there are newer flash diffusers in the market, I was wondering if it's still better to use flash exposure compensation or a mini soft box attached to the flash so you don't waste your battery sending light to the outer space :-D

I know, ideally I would use a real soft box or an umbrella with the flash off camera on a light stand, multiple flash guns, HSS, remote triggers, an assistant, etc, etc, but for those times when you don't have the time to do all that what's best?

I have seen a few pro photographers using the Magsphere or the newer version of the Lightsphere in places where there is no chance your flash is bouncing on anything or even worse outside, sometimes using the flash pointing directly at the subject but most of the times with the flash just straight up. Just wondering if these modifiers are actually effective to create softer light outdoors? If so, which flash diffuser would you recommend? Right now I only own the Sto-fens which I only use indoors.

 

[photolando]

The problem is is that your not really creating a bigger light source. That's all a modifier does (in this case). If you look at the total amount of light bouncing off or through your small-ish modifiers, you'll find your not really creating a bigger source. A little, but not a lot. Add to that how far away you are and you may as well just use the speed light directly. Even a softbox placed far away eventually becomes a harder light source.

If your no more than about 10 feet out, you might see some benefit from a clip on modifier. But beyond that it starts to get a little iffy.

Now, something like the pop up boxes like Lastolite EZ box WILL help but again, it has to be pretty close. A general rule of thumb is to have the box no further away then it's widest dimension. So say it's a 24 inch box. Just be sure to place it no further than 24 inches from your subject to get it's "optimal" benefit. This is of course subjective. You may want the light softer. You may want it harder. But again, just a general guideline. But now you DO Have a bigger light source and it WILL make a difference. A sandbag or two and your ok in light winds.

The EZBox is actually designed for speed light usage. Yes, it is a bit more but at least you DO get some REAL usage out of it when shooting outside. Spend $50+ for a tiny modifier that does basically nothing outdoors?

 

[calson]

Outdoors in the sun the light is already harsh so light straight from the flash used for fill is not a problem. In the shade I use bare bulb with my Quantum Qflash or a softbox mounted to the Qflash when a lightstand is practical (no wind).

Easy to test this for yourself. The various modifiers like the Fong devices are rubbish and a complete waste of money and waste of battery charge.

 

[Gato Amarillo]

The problem is is that your not really creating a bigger light source. That's all a modifier does (in this case). If you look at the total amount of light bouncing off or through your small-ish modifiers, you'll find your not really creating a bigger source. A little, but not a lot. Add to that how far away you are and you may as well just use the speed light directly. Even a softbox placed far away eventually becomes a harder light source.

...

Yep -- Just about what I was going to say. Anything you can use camera mounted is too small to make a real difference more than 4 or 5 feet from your subject. Outside that you're just wasting battery power and increasing recycle times.

Working in close I like to use something like a bounce card or mini-softbox to make the catchlights bigger in the subject's eyes, and maybe spread the highlights on the face a bit.

One trick I sometimes use is a remote cord and a camera bracket -- I can use the flash on the bracket -- pretty close to the same as on-camera -- or hold it in my left hand to get some directional feel. It you're in close doing head-and-shoulders portraits add a smallish softbox or umbrella. (I started doing this back in my newspaper days with manual flash and manual focus -- kind of tricky. Today with autofocus and TTL flash it's a piece of cake.)

I never figured out the thing about pointing the flash up outdoors -- seems like you're just blasting most of your light of to outer space. Unless you have some sort of bounce device to deflect light back to your subject. One thing that did work for me: Back in the olden days Vivitar had a bracket to hold an 8x10 inch bounce card at a 45 degree angle in front of the flash -- it was made to work with the white side of a Kodak gray card. That worked pretty well in close, but really didn't do much past about 5 feet out.

Gato

 

[Sailor Blue]

Using a Tupperware diffuser outdoors is self defeating. There are no nearby neutral colored surfaces for the light to bounce off of and soften the hard light that comes directly from the flash. Beyond about 1' to 2' from the subject the Tupperware diffuser is so small relative to the subject that doesn't soften the light, but it reduces the light on the subject by a couple of stops.

The small hot-shoe flash softboxes that fit the flash when it is mounted on the camera are likewise so small with respect to the subject that they won't soften the light beyond a couple of feet. At least they don't reduce the light intensity as much as the Tupperware diffusers.

If you don't mind a little practice you can learn to shoot by holding the camera in one hand and the flash with a small diffuser in the other hand. Using a Westcott ProGrip Speedlite Handle will allow you to use a small softbox like the B&H 24" Impact Quickbox. The B&H Impact Hexi 24 even comes with a handle.

Hand Hold Flash - Big Swifty - How to Hand Hold an Off-Camera Flash from DPReview

Joe McNally - Da Grip - YouTube

B&H - Impact Quikbox Softbox (24 x 24") EBO-0602424

B&H - Westcott Speedlite ProGrip 5140 B&H Photo Video

B&H - Impact Hexi 24 Speedlight Softbox HSS-24 B&H Photo Video

--
Living and loving it in Pattaya, Thailand. Canon 7D - See the gear list for the rest.

 

[photolando]

One thing that did work for me: Back in the olden days Vivitar had a bracket to hold an 8x10 inch bounce card at a 45 degree angle in front of the flash -- it was made to work with the white side of a Kodak gray card. That worked pretty well in close, but really didn't do much past about 5 feet out.

Ha! I had one of those. And a Vivitar 283 (LOVED that flash!) Man, inside with some average ceilings and some walls and you got some pretty nice light. It was big but like they say, bigger is better!

 

[Edward NJ]

I was actually thinking about getting something very similar but from Raya. I wanted something to go on the flash itself on the camera, but I guess that won't make much of a difference outdoors.

Thanks!

 

[Edward NJ]

All great info! Thank you guys.

Edward

 

[Gato Amarillo]

One thing that did work for me: Back in the olden days Vivitar had a bracket to hold an 8x10 inch bounce card at a 45 degree angle in front of the flash -- it was made to work with the white side of a Kodak gray card. That worked pretty well in close, but really didn't do much past about 5 feet out.

Ha! I had one of those. And a Vivitar 283 (LOVED that flash!) Man, inside with some average ceilings and some walls and you got some pretty nice light. It was big but like they say, bigger is better!