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Old 06-23-2008   #1 (permalink)
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Default DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

So I decided to make this little instruction about how to make a similar light diffuser that Gary Fong is getting rich from

DIY - AG Bouncer II - Revolutionary flash diffuser/bouncer

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Old 06-24-2008   #2 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

dude!

brilliant idea!, i'm gonna source out my local ikea and see what it can provide for me!

i've been looking into a light sphere lately and umming and ahhhing whether to shell out teh monies for one. hopefully this'll do the trick!!!

just one question...what's the colour cast like with this?
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Old 06-24-2008   #3 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

Quote:
Originally Posted by joshman View Post
dude!

brilliant idea!, i'm gonna source out my local ikea and see what it can provide for me!

i've been looking into a light sphere lately and umming and ahhhing whether to shell out teh monies for one. hopefully this'll do the trick!!!

just one question...what's the colour cast like with this?
I have not experience any color cast issues, pretty much the same as direct flash, but little bit warmer.

I'd say give this a shot and see then wether you want to pay for LS.
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Old 06-25-2008   #4 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

i made it up this arvo

worked an absolute treat!
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Old 06-25-2008   #5 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

Great! Now you owe me $50 since you didn't have to purchase LS

Can you show us some results?
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Old 06-25-2008   #6 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

hhaha, no monies for you, but as soon as i convince one of my housemates to model foe me i will post some comparison shots
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Old 06-25-2008   #7 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

Went and made some last night, theyre an absolute treat!! Now I just have to find 9 friends to give the other spare ones I have to.

I'll try and sort some pics out this weekend.

Ant
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Old 06-25-2008   #8 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

well here's a few comparision shots that i could rustle up, neither of my housemates were too keen on the idea ofposing for photos, so i had to use a chair

these two are with the AG bouncer on the flash unit. the first is in bounce mode, with teh flash head pointing at teh ceiling, and the second is with the flash head pointing straight at chair.


and these the same setup as above, but without the AG Bouncer.
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Old 06-25-2008   #9 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

A GF LightSphere, the D-I-Y version, or similar ('Tupperware') diffusors spread the flash gun's light not only to the front, but also to the sides and the rear of the flash gun. That light – 3/4 of the total output – is completely wasted if there is nothing to bounce it off of. A GF LightSphere, the D-I-Y version, or similar ('Tupperware') diffusors is/are therefore only (limited) effective in (en)close(d) quarters, but totally useless in 'open spaces' (more than 10 feet from possible reflecting walls/ceilings), where it will only cut heavily into your flash gun's light output and therefore cut your DoF down to a 1/4 or less...

This one is much more effective as it prevents wasting light to the rear and the sides of the flash gun. It effectively works as a portable softbox and makes much more efficient and effective use of your flash gun's output.
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Old 06-25-2008   #10 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

mmmm, that better bounce card has merit, i'll give it that, but in my tests (yes, i went and made one up just now) i've found it gives a bit too much of the flash effect, i reckon combining a light sphere idea and this bounce card.

it could work!
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Old 06-25-2008   #11 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

Quote:
Originally Posted by joshman View Post
mmmm, that better bounce card has merit, i'll give it that, but in my tests (yes, i went and made one up just now) i've found it gives a bit too much of the flash effect,
Make a bigger one!
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Old 07-02-2008   #12 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

Bookmarked as favorite excellent tutorial great info and nice explication about the photography basics.
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Old 07-04-2008   #13 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

this is a fantastic idea, as i've said before, and between my brother and i, we've managed to improve on it a whole heap!

i'm catching up wth him tomorrow ot run through a few of them, so expect some test shots over the coming days!
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Old 07-29-2008   #14 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

The results of this DIY effort look very nice, but I don't have an IKEA anywhere nearby. Does anyone have any left over material they could send my way? I'd be happy to help out by sending a few $$ via paypal...

Eric
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Old 07-29-2008   #15 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

i have a few that, in true blue peter style, i made earlier. Am happy to send you one. No spare material unfortunately. may take a while depending where you are as i'm in the UK. pm me if interested.
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Old 4 Weeks Ago   #16 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

Swift_wraith - thanks for your gracious offer. For now, I've been playing around with "A Better Bound Card" and like the results very much. Its interesting for all of the gizmos you can buy, one of the most pleasing ones to me turns out to be a piece of paper...
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Old 4 Weeks Ago   #17 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

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Originally Posted by E-Man View Post
Its interesting for all of the gizmos you can buy, one of the most pleasing ones to me turns out to be a piece of paper...
In that case you may appreciate this brilliant macro softbox as well, E-Man:

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Old 4 Weeks Ago   #18 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

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In that case you may appreciate this brilliant macro softbox as well, E-Man:
I think its the text overlays that really "make" this one so effective! Thanks for sharing!
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Old 4 Weeks Ago   #19 (permalink)
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Default Re: DIY - Gary Fong's Lightsphere

Quote:
Originally Posted by joshman View Post
mmmm, that better bounce card has merit, i'll give it that, but in my tests (yes, i went and made one up just now) i've found it gives a bit too much of the flash effect, i reckon combining a light sphere idea and this bounce card.

it could work!
In my test, there was almost no difference. I use a bounce card, no $80 tupperware or empty catsup bottle.

Flash Modifiers - Again!
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