I was about to make a DIY diffuser as shown in other RUclips videos until I came across your video. I literally tried this technique after watching your video and without any practise the results are insane! Thank you so much for sharing this!🙏
Hey, I just wanted to say I tried something like this today. I’m a very very new beginner, lowest of the low 😂 but I was shooting random pictures of my children playing and I found I got much better shots by using the back of my hand as a bounce card. It added a more beige tone, but still the light was more even and less direct.
I stumbled across this video and I’m so glad that I did. I’m new to photography, I know nothing about camera settings and getting the right lighting for pictures. I tried this with the aluminum foil, it worked so great and it wasn’t hard to get the angle right. Thank you for sharing this!
You're so welcome. I'm really happy that it worked for you. :-) It's the simple lighting solutions that are most overlooked, I guess. Also, tell all your friends about this video. ;-)
Hehe, maybe no one use it this very moment, but all tried it at certain point of time. It work only in perfectly white walled room. My refinement is by using white paper tissue. I had to use it not long ago when my son had b-day and I forgot external flach. Instead of book that make defined line above, I used one or two layer of paper tissue which as almost translucent and do two things. Shatter light and bounce light. That way light is wrapped around room plus some of light still goes directly and make some nice catch light and fill light. In years before I had my 1st external flash I used canister from Fuji film that were white translucent and not enlarged ligjtsource by much, but also spread light in all direction and room was better illuminated thus less shadows.
Thanks for the tip! I tried it with a piece of paper and the screen of my phone. Then I thought of something arguably even easier, simply pulling the flash on my Sony a6100 back and holding it there while taking the picture. I haven’t tried it on a person, but it looks basically the same in my testing. I can’t angle the flash as far back as I want though, so it is possible this will create a little “raccoon eyes” effect depending on the angle to the model.
Well now you have seen someone who uses it without finding it from you. I've been using this for 4 years now. Came to my head when I read in a book about tilting your external flash and knew I can't tilt the internal one. I did not try with books and menus though. Only used it with pocket mirrors, credit cards and smartphone screens, generally reflective materials.
I also came up with that technique by myself but I was using my phone screen, but I was actually looking for a video for a diy divice that you wouldn't be ashamed to take out to the streets and use, but I guess I'll have to make it by myself jajaja
You can't do it the way I described. If you have nothing to bounce the flash off of and want similar results, you'd need to invest in an off camera flash and a softbox.
Thank you for the kind words, Marc. Have you worked this technique out yourself as well? BTW if the paper is translucent enough or if the flash hits your forehead, you'll get really nice catchlights in the subjects eyes. Did you know? It's all practice though. 😄
Yeah Alan i worked it out after cutting up a plastic milk carton and using that to diffuse my flash, i soon learned that it just dimmed it rather than diffused, i tried a few other things including A4 paper, it was quite a thick paper though so again losing the power of the flash instead of spreading it, it was then i angled the paper to bounce the flash off the white ceiling and got what i wanted,i didnt want any flash to spill through the paper so started using heavier cardboard, bouncing to the side or different angles rather than off the ceiling is a fun way to learn about lighting subjects, heavier card lasts longer in my bag too lol
A couple of people seem to have come up with it separately but it isn't really being disseminated through RUclips or word of mouth. Similar things are being done on professional sets but it's never shown how this thing works on a small no-budget scale. Did you come up with it yourself or did someone show you?
But no one uses it with bounce flash. That was the whole point. Of course big lights are used with diffusors and bounces, and flags, and negative fill, and so on... Also, light modifiers haven't been used since the outset of photography by everyone. Light modifiers really became big with the dawn of cinematography.
@@AlanRuic The idea to reflect the flash into the room to bounce the light is one of the common techniques used by most photographers and I've even seen people do it over 20 years ago with old cameras which had flash built into the body. These days people either don't use pop-up flash at all, they buy proper flash which can be set at an angle, they use remote flash with a special wrap which reflects the flash or they simply use flash as it is and fail. Matt Granger was one of a more known photographer which was teaching on YT people how to soften the light from the flash by bouncing it around the room and if I remember correctly it was something he taught over 5 years ago. That said people who like to experiment discover this idea on their own and if you didn't saw anyone use this idea that simply means you haven't seen much. Btw... the only people which use popup flash are amateurs so that's why you don't see even hobbyist photographers with pop-flash simply because almost everyone either shoot in good light or they use proper flash which is tilted up to around 45 degrees.
@@jnx4803 It seems we've been talking past each other. :) Of course bouncing light is something photographers (and cinematographers) do. Of course there are plenty of ways to do that (and the cost for all the gear is whatever you're willing/able to spend). However, this video is aimed at people who only have a pop-up flash at their disposal. For example, students who literally have to use up all their allowance for rent and food; like I had to. Please, don't say that only amateurs use pop-up flash. Not only are there uses for straight-on flash (even if you dislike the aesthetic like I do too) but it also discourages budding photographers. So, to be more precise. Have you actually seen beginners (or pros) bounce their pop-up flash or have you helped a beginner make the most of their limited flash equipment? I haven't and I think we should enable each other. Also, using the technique from the video kinda helps get your head around the whole idea of bouncing light without having to invest in gear first. P.S.: The idea of bouncing light is more than 20 years old. Cinematographer Billy Bitzer might have pioneered (if not invented) the use of reflectors in the early 1900s. See here: ruclips.net/video/b3NRvrmKeMA/видео.html
Have you tried this camera hack, yet? How is it working out for you? 📸
this changes my life!!! thank you
Fantastic!!! So glad I could help you. 😄
a trick : you can watch series at Flixzone. I've been using it for watching lots of of movies lately.
I was about to make a DIY diffuser as shown in other RUclips videos until I came across your video. I literally tried this technique after watching your video and without any practise the results are insane! Thank you so much for sharing this!🙏
@@LensAndLoreTheShutteredTales Glad I could help! ☺
I discovered this trick by myself 10 or maybe 15 years ago when I played with my mum"s little camera, it's still very efficient 😁
Hey, I just wanted to say I tried something like this today. I’m a very very new beginner, lowest of the low 😂 but I was shooting random pictures of my children playing and I found I got much better shots by using the back of my hand as a bounce card. It added a more beige tone, but still the light was more even and less direct.
I will be tryin your tip too and I might try make a portable bounce card I can carry with the camera :)
I stumbled across this video and I’m so glad that I did. I’m new to photography, I know nothing about camera settings and getting the right lighting for pictures. I tried this with the aluminum foil, it worked so great and it wasn’t hard to get the angle right. Thank you for sharing this!
You're so welcome. I'm really happy that it worked for you. :-)
It's the simple lighting solutions that are most overlooked, I guess. Also, tell all your friends about this video. ;-)
Definitely going to try this technique. I'm a beginner with using flash (I've been avoiding it for as long as I can). Thanks for the great video!
You're very much welcome. I think this is a great way of getting a feel for flash before you invest into an external flash unit. 😄
Hehe, maybe no one use it this very moment, but all tried it at certain point of time. It work only in perfectly white walled room. My refinement is by using white paper tissue. I had to use it not long ago when my son had b-day and I forgot external flach. Instead of book that make defined line above, I used one or two layer of paper tissue which as almost translucent and do two things. Shatter light and bounce light. That way light is wrapped around room plus some of light still goes directly and make some nice catch light and fill light.
In years before I had my 1st external flash I used canister from Fuji film that were white translucent and not enlarged ligjtsource by much, but also spread light in all direction and room was better illuminated thus less shadows.
Thanks for the tip! I tried it with a piece of paper and the screen of my phone. Then I thought of something arguably even easier, simply pulling the flash on my Sony a6100 back and holding it there while taking the picture. I haven’t tried it on a person, but it looks basically the same in my testing. I can’t angle the flash as far back as I want though, so it is possible this will create a little “raccoon eyes” effect depending on the angle to the model.
Well now you have seen someone who uses it without finding it from you. I've been using this for 4 years now. Came to my head when I read in a book about tilting your external flash and knew I can't tilt the internal one. I did not try with books and menus though. Only used it with pocket mirrors, credit cards and smartphone screens, generally reflective materials.
Cool. I have come up with it the same way. :)
I also came up with that technique by myself but I was using my phone screen, but I was actually looking for a video for a diy divice that you wouldn't be ashamed to take out to the streets and use, but I guess I'll have to make it by myself jajaja
I tried this technique even before wathching this video and it work guys.
If you smoke or know someone who does, the lid from the cigarette pack is a very good instant bounce that's conveniently shaped for the purpose.
Haven't used a pack of cigarettes yet but that might come in handy when at a bar I guess. ☺️
I'll try to make an artifact to create the effect of the book and the ceiling at the same time. Thanks for sharing this idea man.
Good tip. Thanks!
No problem!
Thank you
how to take the picture with flash at the night outside without wall and without ceiling?
You can't do it the way I described. If you have nothing to bounce the flash off of and want similar results, you'd need to invest in an off camera flash and a softbox.
You are a good person you have a good explaining skill you should be regular on youtube buddy
Thank you.
This is dope
Thanks a lot.. I will definitely try this hack.. love from India
You're welcome. I hope you get a lot out of this hack. 😄
What this is a common method for example I have always been using a spoon to reflect the light
I never thought about the spoon, thanks!
What if you're taking photos outdoors 🤔
Great video Alan i always have a couple of sheets of A4 card in my bag just for this reason :-)
Thank you for the kind words, Marc. Have you worked this technique out yourself as well?
BTW if the paper is translucent enough or if the flash hits your forehead, you'll get really nice catchlights in the subjects eyes. Did you know? It's all practice though. 😄
Yeah Alan i worked it out after cutting up a plastic milk carton and using that to diffuse my flash, i soon learned that it just dimmed it rather than diffused, i tried a few other things including A4 paper, it was quite a thick paper though so again losing the power of the flash instead of spreading it, it was then i angled the paper to bounce the flash off the white ceiling and got what i wanted,i didnt want any flash to spill through the paper so started using heavier cardboard, bouncing to the side or different angles rather than off the ceiling is a fun way to learn about lighting subjects, heavier card lasts longer in my bag too lol
Cool. I had the exact same learning experience. 😄
Cool, I'll definitely try this! I did the plastic thing so far, so interested to try!
P.S.: Maybe I'l also put a lense on my camera before ;D
Yeah, definitely use a lens. Oddly I didn't notice mine was missing until I started editing. 😜😜😜
Hey Alan, that was a great video indeed!
I will put that technic to proof and see for myself for the results.
Thanks a lot!!
Glad it was helpful!
Lovely video! Thanks! I'll be torturing my colleagues with my photography experiments in just a bit :D
Go ahead. They'll thank you once they see the photos. ;)
❤
☺
Just high your shutter speed, bouncing light is clearing, not lightning
what abaout the night?
It doesn't matter if it's night. You can use this technique as long as there are some walls or flat surfaces to bounce the flash off of. 👍🏻
You came up with that technique yourself? Ive been doing this for a long time.. this isnt new for 2017 cmon..
A couple of people seem to have come up with it separately but it isn't really being disseminated through RUclips or word of mouth. Similar things are being done on professional sets but it's never shown how this thing works on a small no-budget scale. Did you come up with it yourself or did someone show you?
its not some 'unknown' camera hack'....its called bounce flash and its been around since the dawn of photography
But no one uses it with bounce flash. That was the whole point. Of course big lights are used with diffusors and bounces, and flags, and negative fill, and so on... Also, light modifiers haven't been used since the outset of photography by everyone. Light modifiers really became big with the dawn of cinematography.
Nothing new and this idea has been used many times by many people.
Wow, really? Where have you seen this? Is it where you live? Because I still haven't seen any other photographer use this technique.
@@AlanRuic The idea to reflect the flash into the room to bounce the light is one of the common techniques used by most photographers and I've even seen people do it over 20 years ago with old cameras which had flash built into the body. These days people either don't use pop-up flash at all, they buy proper flash which can be set at an angle, they use remote flash with a special wrap which reflects the flash or they simply use flash as it is and fail. Matt Granger was one of a more known photographer which was teaching on YT people how to soften the light from the flash by bouncing it around the room and if I remember correctly it was something he taught over 5 years ago. That said people who like to experiment discover this idea on their own and if you didn't saw anyone use this idea that simply means you haven't seen much. Btw... the only people which use popup flash are amateurs so that's why you don't see even hobbyist photographers with pop-flash simply because almost everyone either shoot in good light or they use proper flash which is tilted up to around 45 degrees.
@@jnx4803 It seems we've been talking past each other. :)
Of course bouncing light is something photographers (and cinematographers) do. Of course there are plenty of ways to do that (and the cost for all the gear is whatever you're willing/able to spend). However, this video is aimed at people who only have a pop-up flash at their disposal. For example, students who literally have to use up all their allowance for rent and food; like I had to.
Please, don't say that only amateurs use pop-up flash. Not only are there uses for straight-on flash (even if you dislike the aesthetic like I do too) but it also discourages budding photographers.
So, to be more precise. Have you actually seen beginners (or pros) bounce their pop-up flash or have you helped a beginner make the most of their limited flash equipment? I haven't and I think we should enable each other.
Also, using the technique from the video kinda helps get your head around the whole idea of bouncing light without having to invest in gear first.
P.S.: The idea of bouncing light is more than 20 years old. Cinematographer Billy Bitzer might have pioneered (if not invented) the use of reflectors in the early 1900s. See here: ruclips.net/video/b3NRvrmKeMA/видео.html