Best diffuser/bounce accessory when in large, dark interiors?

Hey all,

Was just wondering if anyone here would happen to know of any decent bouncer/diffuser accessories for flashguns?

I'm talking about something that could be useful for large, dark church type scenarios, with no low roof or bright coloured walls to bounce off of. Something that can spread light to make it look decent, and also throw a bit of light into the background to add to the (lack of) ambient light.


I've been googling around for a while and there seems to be a million different accessories that all do slightly different things or in slightly different ways.


I have an omnibounce diffuser and find it handy when I'm in an area where the roof is a relatively useful height or there are walls nearby. In larger areas with nothing to bounce from though, I've not seen it being much use. I know some people put the flash facing forward, tilted at a 45 degree angle and use the omnibounce, but when I think of that in my head, I can never quite understand how that helps with anything (surely the light rays are still going in the same direction, with only a small minor bit of light getting pushed forward?).


I bought a big bounce card accessory on eBay, which I hope will help out (and from looking at it, theoretically it should push my flash out a good bit more diffused than just a flash gun on it's own) but I'm unsure if it'll be actually work in practice;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260858127176?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649



Although I then seen this after purchasing it, which seems like it could be pretty good too (though probably not able to produce as wide a spread of light?)


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110565956003?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649



Then of course, there's the usual mentions of the lightsphere and people arguing how great/terrible it is, so I thought I'd turn to boards and ask you guys. What would you imagine is the best diffuser/bounce accessory to get for times when you want to light a scene up decently, or a few people, in a dark place with nowhere to bounce?

peckerhead

If you can get past his mildly irritating voice, this guy has a lot of useful video tutorials that might be of help.

I made myself one for pennies that's pretty much like the first eBay item you linked to (mind you for €6, you might as well just buy it from China!). I used a piece of flexible foam sheet (available at any crafts 'n' hobbies shop) which I attached to the flash head with a 1" loop cut from an old bicycle inner tube. This means I don't have to remove it; the foam just folds down backwards and wraps itself around the flash unit, so it still fits inside its carry pouch and doesn't take up any extra room in the kit bag (plus it has a little extra padding against knocks).

You can download a free template here.

hbr

Deleted User wrote: »

Was just wondering if anyone here would happen to know of any decent bouncer/diffuser accessories for flashguns?

It is hard to beat a sheet of paper and a rubber band. This seems to be
standard equipment for professional photographers.

hbr

peckerhead wrote: »

I used a piece of flexible foam sheet (available at any crafts 'n' hobbies shop) which I attached to the flash head with a 1" loop cut from an old bicycle inner tube......

Thanks for the tip. Lots of inner tubes around at the moment. Three effin' punctures
in the last week!

peckerhead

peckerhead wrote: »

If you can get past his mildly irritating voice, this guy has a lot of useful video tutorials that might be of help.

His extra large bounce card product looks pretty interesting, too. Works out at about €40 though. May take a trip to an art store sometime..