Wrapped Lunch: made a sort of diffuser used the flash.

[JBW]

I set the flash to TTL, put a diffuser over the flash and played with the flash compensation. If nothing else it's an improvement.

[xpatUSA]

I set the flash to TTL, put a diffuser over the flash and played with the flash compensation. If nothing else it's an improvement.

Well done Brian.

Soon, you'll be down to my standards:

[Geoff F]

Remember with TTL shooting, Brian, that your camera measures the light level before the actual shot so adding a diffuser tends to register as a darker scene; so if you aren't careful you end up 'chasing your own tail' with exposure compensation.

[JBW]

Remember with TTL shooting, Brian, that your camera measures the light level before the actual shot so adding a diffuser tends to register as a darker scene; so if you aren't careful you end up 'chasing your own tail' with exposure compensation.

I tried the shot at -2. 0, +2 and found 0 worked the best. And yes it was darker.

[JBW]

make that up to your standards.

[Shadowman]

Nice shot.

[JBW]

Nice shot.

getting there

[DanK]

Remember with TTL shooting, Brian, that your camera measures the light level before the actual shot so adding a diffuser tends to register as a darker scene; so if you aren't careful you end up 'chasing your own tail' with exposure compensation.

I think I missed something here. I don't understand this. I routinely use TTL with diffused flash, both in macro work and in doing candids of people (different forms of diffusion, obviously) and almost never need to use either EC or FEC with it. I think what happens is that the presence of diffusion is no different from greater distance--the preflash is registered as weaker, so the camera exposes more.

[rpcrowe]

Brian,

This looks interesting. Danae Wolfe has a bunch of really nice macro shots using the reverse lens technique and her on-camera flash...

https://petapixel.com/2015/05/01/sho...reversed-lens/

I wonder if this three dollar on-camera flash diffuser might not help you.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/White-Amber...kAAOSwtZJY-BjX

Here's anther...
https://www.amazon.com/Movo-SB4-Univ...lash+diffusers

This one would provide a really soft light source using your on-camera flash but, might just cut down the light too much. OTOH, your subject will probably be no more than a foot away from the flash...
https://www.amazon.com/Interfit-Stro...lash+diffusers

[JBW]

Brian,

This looks interesting. Danae Wolfe has a bunch of really nice macro shots using the reverse lens technique and her on-camera flash...

https://petapixel.com/2015/05/01/sho...reversed-lens/

I wonder if this three dollar on-camera flash diffuser might not help you.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/White-Amber...kAAOSwtZJY-BjX

Here's anther...
https://www.amazon.com/Movo-SB4-Univ...lash+diffusers

This one would provide a really soft light source using your on-camera flash but, might just cut down the light too much. OTOH, your subject will probably be no more than a foot away from the flash...
https://www.amazon.com/Interfit-Stro...lash+diffusers

the diffuser is pretty close to what I made for the shot in this thread. I've seen her work before. It's impressive. Especally as it is hand held.

[xpatUSA]

the diffuser is pretty close to what I made for the shot in this thread. I've seen her work before. It's impressive. Especally as it is hand held.

I'm following this thread with great interest, not that I've ever used these small on-camera diffuser accessories.

I use A4 85gm tracing paper for benchtop work, with LED floodlights.

For a particular distance of lights from the subject - and by sliding the diffusing sheet back and forth between them, I can change the subject lighting from a true Lambertian surface (max diffusion) to approaching a point source (sheet hard up against the lamp).

http://kronometric.org/phot/lighting...20handbook.pdf

The principle may be less easy to apply with a small diffuser on a camera-mounted flash, of course.

[JBW]

I'm following this thread with great interest, not that I've ever used these small on-camera diffuser accessories.

I use A4 85gm tracing paper for benchtop work, with LED floodlights.

For a particular distance of lights from the subject - and by sliding the diffusing sheet back and forth between them, I can change the subject lighting from a true Lambertian surface (max diffusion) to approaching a point source (sheet hard up against the lamp).

http://kronometric.org/phot/lighting...20handbook.pdf

The principle may be less easy to apply with a small diffuser on a camera-mounted flash, of course.

I am fairly certain it would be difficult to apply to a live critter that you don't want to scare

[xpatUSA]

I am fairly certain it would be difficult to apply to a live critter that you don't want to scare

Then I am fairly certain that whatever size of diffuser that is placed over the flash at whatever relative distances will work well enough for your good self, Brian.

[JBW]

Then I am fairly certain that whatever size of diffuser that is placed over the flash at whatever relative distances will work well enough for your good self, Brian.

Strangely, in my perhaps saner moments I wonder if I really want to go down the path of artificial illumination. Flashes do open up the window of opportunity for shooting. But I really enjoy the challenges and restrictions of natural light. And an 18s. exposure on a Robber fly does give one a certain amount of bragging rights

[xpatUSA]

Strangely, in my perhaps saner moments I wonder if I really want to go down the path of artificial illumination. Flashes do open up the window of opportunity for shooting. But I really enjoy the challenges and restrictions of natural light. And an 18s. exposure on a Robber fly does give one a certain amount of bragging rights

Indeed, Brian. I rarely use flash for anything; the exception being for work-in-progress in the barn where it is mostly quite dark photography-wise.

As you may remember, I do have artificial lighting permanently setup on the bench, mainly for eBay sales and watches. In that situation, artificial lighting is definitely advantageous - now that I've learned to stop the seconds hand before shooting!

Your naturally-lit shots are quite admirable, I reckon.

[JBW]

Indeed, Brian. I rarely use flash for anything; the exception being for work-in-progress in the barn where it is mostly quite dark photography-wise.

As you may remember, I do have artificial lighting permanently setup on the bench, mainly for eBay sales and watches. In that situation, artificial lighting is definitely advantageous - now that I've learned to stop the seconds hand before shooting!

Your naturally-lit shots are quite admirable, I reckon.

you being the expert I'll ask a silly question (it's my thread) is it a second hand or a secondS hand?

I like to think they are. And I'm sure there is lots of room for improvement

[xpatUSA]

you being the expert I'll ask a silly question (it's my thread) is it a second hand or a secondS hand?

A quick web search tells me that "second hand" is probably mo' correct. Plenty of hits for the other, though.

I've always said/written "seconds" - maybe to do with growing up in sarf-east London in the 50's, who knows?

Back on wrapped lunches: