For most photographers, using light modifiers are crucial for any shoot. Natural light can be unpredictable, especially if you have an outdoor shoot. Using a light modifier gives you the opportunity to create your own light, even if the conditions are not ideal. In today’s post we will discuss three different light modifiers for off camera flash: a Gary Fong diffuser, medium sized disc diffuser, and a reflective umbrella, and how they can be applied to your own photography!
No Flash/No Modifier
First, a photo of the subject, Amy, is taken without any flash or light modifiers. Although this photo was taken during a time of day with ample lighting, Amy’s features do not capture your attention right away. The image just falls flat.
This image was taken with the following settings:
Focal Length: 95
F Number: 4
Exposure Time: 1/200
First, a photo of the subject, Amy, is taken without any flash or light modifiers. Although this photo was taken during a time of day with ample lighting, Amy’s features do not capture your attention right away. The image just falls flat.
This image was taken with the following settings:
Gary Fond Diffuser
This photo was taken with a Gary Fond diffuser. This diffuser softens the light, creating a softer image. Gary Fond diffusers create a more natural lighting, and distributes the light evenly in your image. Amy’s face is lit up from the flash, causing your eyes to be drawn to hers.
Camera settings for this image:
Focal length: 105
F Number: 4
Exposure Time 1/200
This photo was taken with a Gary Fond diffuser. This diffuser softens the light, creating a softer image. Gary Fond diffusers create a more natural lighting, and distributes the light evenly in your image. Amy’s face is lit up from the flash, causing your eyes to be drawn to hers.
Camera settings for this image:
Medium Sized Disc Diffuser
This image was captured with a medium sized disc diffusers. Disc diffusers are great because they can be folded and bent to your will. They also can be used without a flash! A disc diffuser changes the amount of light you want to have on your subject’s face.
Here are the settings for the above image:
Focal Length: 94
F Number: 4
Exposure Time: 1/200
This image was captured with a medium sized disc diffusers. Disc diffusers are great because they can be folded and bent to your will. They also can be used without a flash! A disc diffuser changes the amount of light you want to have on your subject’s face.
Here are the settings for the above image:
Reflective Umbrella
This photo was taken with a reflective umbrella. The reflective umbrella creates depth to your image, and fills in the shadows of your subject’s face, like the above image. When the flash is angled into the umbrella, the amount of light hitting your subject is increased. This gives you more ways to light your subject!
Here are the camera settings for the above image:
Focal Length: 98
F Number: 4
Exposure Time: 1/200
This photo was taken with a reflective umbrella. The reflective umbrella creates depth to your image, and fills in the shadows of your subject’s face, like the above image. When the flash is angled into the umbrella, the amount of light hitting your subject is increased. This gives you more ways to light your subject!
Here are the camera settings for the above image:
This post is derived from a previous event we held- The Learn-a-thon, and was completed by photographer Robin Dayley. This event was filled with photographers who love what they do, and we all left with a tip we could apply to our own photography. Click here to stay informed for the next Learn-a-thon so that you can experience this great time had by all!