The Shell

<p>I have been trying to decide on a Hot-Shoe flash light modifier that might make it easier for me when I'm shooting weddings, or events. I thought about the very popular Gary Fong system, but something about bouncing flash of the ceiling turned me off. Plus the Gary Fong system is not exactly cheap. After reading Cuck Gardners tutorial on lighting <a href="http://super.nova.org/DPR/">http://super.nova.org/DPR/</a> Chuck proposed building a light modifier/diffuser from materials purchased at a local art store. After various attempts at building this diffuser I gave up, it just did not look very professional. The other day I saw an add for "The Shell" which was selling at Adorama and was very similar to the Diffuser Chuck explained in his Tutorial. For $35 I figure I give it a shot. <a href="http://www.adorama.com/FASFA.html">http://www.adorama.com/FASFA.html</a> It came in the mail today, so I figured I give it a test run. This diffuser does as advertised. The shadows a reduced, but not totally eliminated, the light is softer and more even and the color balance is warmer. I have other portable light modifiers such as Lumiquest, but the differnces are not as dramatic as with this one. Actually, I often had to squint to see the differences with the Lumiquest modifers. This one seems to the job and you don't have to look like The Man From Space. </p>

<p>Here is a sample of two photos one taken with and the other without The Shell.</p><div></div>

<p>It's a modest improvement on straight flash, but not a great one. You'll find that the larger the light source, the more diffuse the shadows, and an 8x10 bounce card does a pretty good job of diffusing the shadows and providing more even illumination. You can buy them, but personally I use one I cobbled up from foamboard and Velcro available at WalMart for cheap. I like my pictures to look professional, but I don't much care how I look. ;-) Be sure to get their foamboard glue--the other kinds don't seem to stick as well.<br>

It's also a good thing to be able to get the flash off the camera, raising it high above the lens with one hand and depressing your shutter with the other, and to feather it, aiming it so the center of illumination falls far back in your picture and the periphery illuminates your foreground. Old newshound's trick, from the days of Rolleis and potato mashers.</p>

<p>Bouncing from the ceiling or walls is very convenient provided that the interior supports that. It will definitely give good light when used correctly.</p>