Bounce Card for Flash Pictures

[jtfrazer]

Hi,

I came across this web site on the FourThirdsPhoto forum:

http://abetterbouncecard.com

I had never used a bounce card before. I would just bounce the flash off the ceiling or wall of the room when shooting indoors. I made a couple of the bounce cards described in the video on this website and found that they work very well! The bounce cards are made from "foam paper" which can be found in art and craft stores. The attached photos show one of these cards attached to my flash. I spent about $4.00 for the materials, which will make about 12 cards. The video describes using rubber bands to attach the card to your flash head but I'm using black Velcro.

Note that the flash head is rotated 90 degrees in the vertical plane. If you're thinking about making one of these, I'd suggest watching the video on the website above. It has several suggestions for how to orient the flash head. One of the things I like is that it's easy to take shots in portrait orientation. All that's required is to tilt the flash head back to zero degrees.

I'll be taking some flash photos at a birthday party this week and will post some of them.

Jim

[Ian]

Re: Bounce Card for Flash Pictures

Hi,

I came across this web site on the FourThirdsPhoto forum:

http://abetterbouncecard.com

I had never used a bounce card before. I would just bounce the flash off the ceiling or wall of the room when shooting indoors. I made a couple of the bounce cards described in the video on this website and found that they work very well! The bounce cards are made from "foam paper" which can be found in art and craft stores. The attached photos show one of these cards attached to my flash. I spent about $4.00 for the materials, which will make about 12 cards. The video describes using rubber bands to attach the card to your flash head but I'm using black Velcro.

Note that the flash head is rotated 90 degrees in the vertical plane. If you're thinking about making one of these, I'd suggest watching the video on the website above. It has several suggestions for how to orient the flash head. One of the things I like is that it's easy to take shots in portrait orientation. All that's required is to tilt the flash head back to zero degrees.

I'll be taking some flash photos at a birthday party this week and will post some of them.

Jim

Thanks Jim - bouncing the flash is something new photographers usually discover with some glee as it really makes a big difference to your pictures. Of course if you have no convenient walls or ceilings nearby, then accessories like the one you have described become very useful

I'd be interested to see how you get on - my main question is whether or not there is sufficient angle to deflect the flash to the subject.

Ian

[jtfrazer]

Re: Bounce Card for Flash Pictures

Hi Ian,

The foam paper can be easily flipped forward a bit if needed, but so far, I've found I get enough light gets deflected toward the subject with the remainder being bounced off the ceiling, a wall, etc. I've had minimal problems with harsh shadows. But so far all I've done is take a few shots around the house and my wife's not keen on being the subject of photos posted on the web . I'll learn more when I get out in the "real world" this week.

There's a thread on FourThirdsForum that has some sample pictures taken with this setup. It's at:

http://www.fourthirdsphoto.com/vbb/s...+better+bounce

Jim

[peter]

Re: Bounce Card for Flash Pictures

Hi everyone, I found this video the other day hope it helps. I must admit its not all bad on you tube ,

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCmuExlHvM"]A Better Bounce Card for your camera - Peter Gregg - YouTube[/ame]

I will say I have been playing about with off camera flash today but what I was hoping for did not work out to well. Oh well maybe tomorrow.

[lumix]

Re: Bounce Card for Flash Pictures

Thanks Jim - bouncing the flash is something new photographers usually discover with some glee as it really makes a big difference to your pictures. Of course if you have no convenient walls or ceilings nearby, then accessories like the one you have described become very useful

I'd be interested to see how you get on - my main question is whether or not there is sufficient angle to deflect the flash to the subject.

Ian

Ian my flashgun came with a flash reflector card that slips into a slot. It works similar to the one described here. I've found it very effective for producing soft defused light. Make a simple one out of white card and try it. I'm sure you will then want to make the real thing.

[jtfrazer]

Re: Bounce Card for Flash Pictures

Hi Peter,

Hi everyone, I found this video the other day hope it helps. I must admit its not all bad on you tube ,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCmuExlHvM

This is the same video that is on the http://www.abetterbouncecard.com website.

Jim

[Stephen]

Re: Bounce Card for Flash Pictures

I tend to have my Stofen on my 580EX almost permanently. This better bounce idea seems like a pretty good idea and quite versatile. I used to use the index card method formany years fastend on with the elastic band, the Stofen though is just that bit more easy to cope with.

Today infact, I had to do some mugshots of some people in an office environment against a white wall. Normally I would have taken a portable studio kit, but on this occasion all I had were my Canon flashguns. I ended up using the 580 with the Stofen, bounced off the ceiling. The camera was held in Landscape mode, to avoid unsightly shadows to one side. The images were then cropped and upsized in Adobe Camera Raw. I felt it gave an adequate result.

[peter]

Re: Bounce Card for Flash Pictures

Sorry Jim I did not look at the link that you had posted . I guess that will teach me. I must admit the pictures you posted did look familiar .

[Pops]

Re: Bounce Card for Flash Pictures

Great idea and thanks to all for the example images.
Now where the heck is my nearest craft shop

[jtfrazer]

Re: Bounce Card for Flash Pictures

Hi,

I took some shots at a birthday party last night using the "better bounce card" (BBC). We have friends who have 6 beautiful children, one of which turned 4 yesterday. Here are some samples. They were taken with an Oly E-500 using the ProMaster 5550DX flash and the BBC.

I'm very happy with the results. The lighting is even, with little or no shadow issues. I used a variety of angles on the flash head setup, in some cases bouncing off the ceiling and in others off side or rear walls. Please let me know if you have comments. If you're wondering, the birthday boy had spaghetti for dinner!

Jim

[lumix]

Re: Bounce Card for Flash Pictures

Hi,

I took some shots at a birthday party last night using the "better bounce card" (BBC). We have friends who have 6 beautiful children, one of which turned 4 yesterday. Here are some samples. They were taken with an Oly E-500 using the ProMaster 5550DX flash and the BBC.

I'm very happy with the results. The lighting is even, with little or no shadow issues. I used a variety of angles on the flash head setup, in some cases bouncing off the ceiling and in others off side or rear walls. Please let me know if you have comments. If you're wondering, the birthday boy had spaghetti for dinner!

Jim

Well Jim that's proof enough. I've been using a similar system which was supplied with my flash. It's a plastic coated type card that fits into a slot on the flash. I never use direct flash from the main head but sometimes do use the second tiny front flash as well as bounce from the main head. I notice that what shadow you have got is well defused and gives a pleasant modeling to the subject. When I get the material for a better bounce flash I will make one and compare it to the supplied one I'm using.