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A
flash diffuser
Something
almost as pretty as the plastic bag trick.
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| The
light produced by flashbulbs has to be softened because it is too harsh
for many purposes. A common way to achieve this is shortening the flash-to-subject
distance; as the lightning surface becomes proportionally wider than the
subject, the shadows are reduced. An alternative approach is enlarging the
lightning surface - without moving the flash location. |
| There
are several home solutions to do this, such as taping to the flash an inflated
white plastic bag, which makes an excellent diffuser. Unfortunately when
I was told about this grocery trick it was too late, as I had already built
my own diffuser. Since it might be of interest for someone else, I am illustrating
here the building procedure for a device that works with all Metz 40MZ series
flashes. It might well be suited, however, to other brands, but I did not
test it. |
| You
have to download this file to build your
diffuser. Open it with a graphic software, print two copies and use it as
a pattern to draw and cut all 4 basic items. Beware: be careful that
your software is not resizing the graphic before printing! I have included
a 3.5-centimeter scale on the figure to control this. The four basic
pads are cut from a semi-rigid, white plastic sheet (can be cannibalized
from stationery items) and will do for the 4 lateral pieces of the lightbox.
The light window will be cut from another translucent plastic sheet (verifying
its colour rendition to be reasonably neutral). All these materials can
be found in a bookshop or stationery shop, at a ridiculous cost. |
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Then, follow
these directives step by step:
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a)
Cut all 4 pieces on the white sheet (2 each A and B).
b)
Cut the window from the translucent plastic sheet at 115 x 175 mm.
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c)
Put together all 5 elements over a flat surface (see figure).
d)
Use white tape along internal junctions to stick all 4 white lateral pieces
to the front window; then, do the same from the external side. The tape
might be of good quality as it will allow for all future movements.
e)
Bend the new joints to their natural position and close the diffuser to
test for misalignements. Keep it closed fo the next step.
f)
Cut small pieces of autoadhesive Velcro and glue the hard half by groups
of 2 on both edges of each lateral piece (see figure). The whole structure
will keep its shape thanks to longer Velcro segments that will act as
bridges once the diffuser is extended.
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g)
Cut larger Velcro pieces and glue one the hard half inside the base of
the diffuser; this is, the opposite to the light window and where the
flash head will be introduced.
h)
Glue the Velcro counterparts to the sides and top of the 40MZ flash head.
Be careful, as natural movements of the head must be kept.
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| OK,
that's all. The whole thing can be unfolded, mounted on the flash and easily
used - it cannot get broken. Once the work is finished, it is kept in a
totally flat, folded configuration. It is even possible to build single-use
disposal diffusers, e.g. with white cardboard that could be directly printed
and cut, and glued or stapled. Nice, uh? |
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