Do you already own a Rogue Flash Bender made by ExpoImaging? If so, then you will definitely want to pick up one of the new Diffusion Screens. These handy screens improve the light from the flash bender by diffusing the light giving it a softer quality, especially when used in close to your subjects.
The Rogue Flash Benders are handy speedlight modifiers that simply velcro on to your flash, and can then be adjusted and formed to better control and shape the light. The new Diffusion Screens simply velcro on to your already existing Flash Bender and help to spread and soften that light. The new Diffusion Screens also come in two sizes, one for the large Flash Bender and another for the smaller one. The large screen creates a 9" by 8" source of light and the smaller one is 9" by 4.5".
To give a frame of reference of the differences between using a bare flash and the Flash Bender with the new Diffusion Screens, check out the images below.
You can see in the photo above and to the left, what a hard shadow a bare speedlight creates, while in the photo to the right you can see how softer the shadows are and how much more diffused the light is by using the Flash Bender and Diffusion Screen. The flash used to light both of these photos was the same distance from the subject and also at the same angle. This modifier also appears to use roughly 2 stops of light. The only post work done to these photos was cropping, and combining them on one frame.
For something a little more useful, check out this portrait of my beautiful model using just a bare speedlight. While this particular model looks good in just about any light source, notice how hard the shadow lines are and how there is a little more texture and detail in the face. Also notice the shadow on the back wall and how sharp it appears.
In this next portrait, I used the large Flash Bender with the Diffusion Screen and right off you notice the better quality of light. The shadow lines appear much softer and the fall off of light on the background is much more subtle and diffused. Its hard to notice in these photos, but also the Flash Bender creates a larger catch light in the eyes, especially when using them in closer to your subject.
Another nice benefit of using these modifiers, is that they are light weight, and fold down so that they can be stuffed in just about any sized gear bag.
To see how the Diffusion Screens attach to your speedlight, check out this short video clip below...
The Diffusion Screens are sold separately from the Flash Benders so if you already own a Rogue Flash Bender (or two), you definitely will want to pick yourself up one of these. Maybe in the future ExpoImaging will come out with a deal for those folks that don't have either, which will include a Flash Bender AND a Diffusion Screen in one package. (hint, hint) :)
The Universal kit comes with 20 tabbed filters and a band to attach the gels to any sized speedlight. The kit includes various dramatic colors for effect, and a set of color correction gels to match your light with just about any available light from tungsten to florescent. A really cool feature of these gels is that each one comes printed with the actual color and the number of stops of light each gel uses. This can be really handy when determining how much light to use. These gels also attach very easily to any speedlight with the included band.
The Rogue Grid kit is designed to be used with the new Rogue Grid and these fit easily in to the Rogue Grid holder. This kit comes with the same tabbed 20 filters as the Universal kit and each gel is also marked with the color and number of stops of light each gel uses (I love this feature). If you already have the Rogue Grid then this is a must have addition, and if you don't have the grid, go out and pick one up, its priced right and easy to use!
Both kits come with their own carrying pouches which if you've used gels at all, you know how cumbersome it can be to keep these organized and stored for quick use. Also, both kits have tabbed dividers inside that tell you what gels it contains and information about each gel ...again this is an awesome feature! ...did I say that already?
I use gels all the time in my photography and you can never have too many. The new Rogue Gel Kits make it easy to have a broad selection of colored gels, organized and ready to use at a moment's notice. I included a short video below that shows you how to attach both sets of gels to your flashes.
This post started out as just an observation: people all around the world paint their faces. In Brazil (bottom left), the Tarino Indians paint their faces so that when they go into the rain forest, the spirits recognize them and protect them, and help them with their hunt.
My point of that post was going to be that people are basically the same all over the planet – and that experiencing different cultures is a fascinating, rewarding and wonderful learning experience.
In looking at the photographs, however, I remembered that they all had something else in common: catch light in the eyes.
Catch light helps to draw our interest to the eyes. It makes the eyes “sparkle.”
We can add catch light with a reflector or a flash – or by carefully positioning the subject so that sunlight catches the eyes.
Now you know why I never leave home without a reflector or flash.
Explore the light,
Rick
See the diffusers, reflectors and other light modification tools in the OPG Store here.
No this is not an April Fool's post! But it is cool enough to be.
When we ran across this video on how Scott Holstein set up a great shot, we just had to post it!
Talk about creative flash placement!–you'll have to watch to see what we mean.
I’ve been using flash modifiers literally since I was a teenager. I’ve made my own and bought just about every conceivable retail modifier made – but as of this year, I’ve dumped almost everything but my HonL stuff. Here’s why…
The HonL system starts with a brilliant device known as the HonLPhoto Speed Strap. This strap is the base of the HonL system and all their other accessories attach to it. Instead of having to attach rubber bands, tape or adhere sticky velcro tape to your flash, you simply use a Speed Strap. This means you can use the strap on any flash you own. You don’t have to buy additional velcro tape and adhere it to each flash.
The system looks like it was designed by a photographer and it was. David Honl certainly knows that controlling light is important.
One other thought – you’ve read the word system twice already. That’s not by accident. This isn’t just a ramshackle group of accessories you can use on your flash. This is indeed a system. Everything is designed to work within a system format and it makes the gear more valuable.
There are snoots, gobos and grids that can work together to everything from diffuse, direct and pump out the light from any traditional camera-mounted flash. There are even gel kits available.
The products are very well made and look like they will stand up to lots of abuse.
I tested the HonL system recently while leading the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop. I found the system extremely flexible, yet very portable. I opened up the 8″ speed snoot and used it as a giant bounce card on the back of the flash. It worked well on the portrait above, especially when combined with some fill.
Upon working with the system for a while I was really shocked to see you could combine parts (two gobo bounce cards) to create barn door effects and the grid spot look coming from my SB-900 after I added the HonL Speed Grids was amazing. I’ve never seen any other light modifier that can do this.
For less than $175 you can buy just about everything HonL makes and consider yourself covered for 95% of the situations you might encounter using portable flash.
At the end of the day I cannot say enough good things about David Honl’s products. They are portable, light weight, easy to pack, effective, easy to use and affordable. Highly recommended.
For more information, check out HonL products at the OPG Store: link
(NOTE: All photos in this review are Copyright Scott Bourne 2009 – All Rights Reserved. All images made with Ray Flash)
There’s only one thing I can say that described the Ray Flash Ring Flash adapter: Cool.
The Ray flash is not a genuine ring flash. Rather, it’s an adapter that turns your speedlight into a ring flash. I tested the Ray Flash on my Nikon SB-900.
The Ray Flash is an un-tethered device that uses a system of internal prisms, reflectors and light-shapers (the company also calls them light channels) to guide the light from your speedlight down and around the lens in an even matter. Note, it’s not as even as it would be were this an actual flash unit itself, but it’s close enough for government work.
it contains no electronics, no flash tubes and requires no batteries or cables.
The advantage of this unit is that it’s lightweight, (weighs just one pound) more portable and less expensive than an actual ring flash. I own other devices like this that work on my studio lights, including one from Bowens. But the Ray Flash is lighter, easier to mount and cheaper to buy.
The simplest application of this device is to throw your subject next to any wall, put the flash in i-TTL (Nikon) E-TTL (Canon), point and shoot. That’s right, you can still use your flash’s automatic and TTL features when employing the Ray Flash.
The light from the unit will be somewhat flat, but you’ll have a cool circular catchlight in the eyes. You might have to experiment with some flash compensation. I typically took off about a half stop, but then again I am very conservative when it comes to flash. I usually just want a kiss of light when I’m the one making the light, i.e., using flash. Your mileage may vary.
The Ray Flash is also great for use in macro and close-up applications. The only thing I’d note is that it seems to lead to lots more red eye than usual, but that can be easily fixed in post.
The un-retouched image below shows off the effect of the unit pretty well. Note the red eye. Also note the slight halo around the subject. This is normal when you use a ring flash. You need to practice with subject-to-background distance to decide how much or little of this halo effect you want.
The unit is plastic but it’s sturdy and feels well made. The company includes a spacer that allows you to make sure the fit on your camera is snug.
The unit shipped to me in a box marked “Fragile” and I don’t want to break it, so the only negative is that it’s not something that will fit easily in your camera bag. I’m keeping it in the original box which I’ll store in my grip bag. It’s a small price to pay to have a simple, go-to light modifier that will really help me if I get into one of those situations where I have to make a perfect shot with less than two minutes prep.
I’m also looking forward to experimenting with it in the future, trying to gel it or take it off camera to see what sort of impact that will have. This is an unconventional accessory and it’s just begging to be used in an unconventional way.
For the $199, you can’t go wrong. Highly recommended.
For more information and to purchase a Ray Flash head to the OPG Store.
For something a little more useful, check out this portrait of my beautiful model using just a bare speedlight. While this particular model looks good in just about any light source, notice how hard the shadow lines are and how there is a little more texture and detail in the face. Also notice the shadow on the back wall and how sharp it appears.
In this next portrait, I used the large Flash Bender with the Diffusion Screen and right off you notice the better quality of light. The shadow lines appear much softer and the fall off of light on the background is much more subtle and diffused. Its hard to notice in these photos, but also the Flash Bender creates a larger catch light in the eyes, especially when using them in closer to your subject.
Copyright Scott Bourne 2009 – All Rights Reserved
