On Tue, Jul 23, 2013, Bruce Walker wrote: > On Tue, Jul 23, 2013 at 12:29 AM, Aahz Maruch <a...@pobox.com> wrote: >> On Thu, Jul 11, 2013, Bruce Walker wrote: >>> >>> http://flic.kr/p/f7BHhH Dogwood berries >>> >>> Tried my new 30" octa umbrella softbox for macro work; I like it. >>> Reversed the flash to increase specularity and create more of a >>> spotlight effect. >> >> What do you mean by "reverse the flash"? (Tried quacking but got mostly >> comic book hits. ;-) > > [This is where plain-text breaks down for communicating visuals. I'll > try ... ]
You did fine! Thanks! Side note: despite my fondness for Lynx, I certainly don't object to linking to graphic images for explaining something > With an umbrella softbox you achieve that by installing your flash > near the front diffuser, but pointing inward toward the silvered > insides of the umbrella's central spine. So the light bounces all > around inside and exits through the diffuser (white scrim) nice and > soft and even, doubly diffused. > > For a different look you can "reverse the flash" by setting it near > the umbrella spine, pointing toward the diffuser. Now most of the > light will be concentrated near the center of the diffuser with > fall-off toward the edges and corners. If you meter the surface the > center will be 2-3 stops brighter than the edges. In addition, there > will be some hard specular (directional) light because you no longer > have a double diffusion effect. That's what I would have guessed, but given my functionally zero flash experience I figured asking was better than guessing. This sounds functionally similar to just using a diffuser in front of a flash, is that correct? If yes, is there any advantage to this approach beyond having your umbrella already set up and it's easier to reverse the flash than switch to a different flash setup? -- Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/ <*> <*> <*> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
