Hi fellow DPP, I would like to share some DIY lighting stuff. Use a mic stand to hold a 2X4 styrofoam. Power the flash to 1/8 at around 1 foot from the styro. Subject should be with 3 feet from the styro.


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/135/330049481_0c5b8dd3b5.jpg




http://farm1.static.flickr.com/136/330053184_606f8266cb.jpg

Marty! Nice share Bro.! :)

Good start.

Now try putting the light at the sitter's 11 o'clock, make sure the back is well lit (say around 1.5 stops below your main), and take the photo from the same angle. Then show us what you got. :)

Happy snaps and merry xmas.

Try to also flag the light to ensure that most of the light emitted by the flash hits the styro board. This will also prevent unwanted light spill.

This is a pretty cool DIY tip that I have done in the past and still continue to use occasionally.

Try also experimenting with lining the styro board with aluminum foil (use the dull side) or a similar reflective material and take note of the effect. :D

great ideas! experimenting and will post some shots soon.

Marty, you could try joining two of those boards to form a V-formation giving you a more directed diffused lighting.
Consider also the angle of your flash gun's light spread. The beam of your flash illumination must cover the entire board for maximum diffusion. A foot from the board may not be enough to spread the flash gun's light on to the entire width of the diffusing board. The smaller the board area your flash directly illuminates, the lesser the diffusion effect.
Your board can also be covered with silver or gold foil reflector - two more common colors for reflective surfaces of lighting modifiers such as umbrellas and softboxes.

great ideas! experimenting and will post some shots soon.

Here are the effects of your suggestions. I think I underexposed but I think the light is now more even


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/336035157_e3255e885a_o.jpg

What a vast improvement Marty! Great job!

Watch out for the folds in your backdrop :D

Lighting that is too even makes a subject look flat. A light with good modelling shows a subject's shape and texture (among other things). But its is sometimes hard to show shape and form if shadows are absent in the image.

Shadows are just as important as light :D

But your latest attempt is definitely a lot better.

Now, may I suggest a tighter crop. Get rid of the unnecessary headroom and the box of chocolates(?) in the foreground? :D

hahahah chocolates! hahaha , I wasn't really paying attention to the subject and the chocolate, just the lighting. it's really nice to get to play with light - (and shadows)