How To Use A Flash Diffuser With Your SLR

As a budding photographer, you definitely own at least one digital SLR, along with several lenses. Although you probably take most of your pictures during the daytime, you do, or will eventually, take some in low-light scenarios, like bars and lounges. Because of this, using an Olympus Flash with your Olympus camera is important, as is learning how to use it properly. Although some of the most artistic pictures are taken without flash, most low-light pictures require one, thus making it an important addition to your equipment..

The problem arises when you start using your on-camera flash. On my Olympus E-510, the on-camera flash is not strong. So I bought an Olympus Flash FL-50, which has greatly improved my photography technique.

Unfortunately, this Olympus flash FL-50R is still too harsh and creates dark shadows, which does not result in pictures I like looking at. For example, if you take a picture of a person standing up on a wall, the flash can create a dark shadow on the wall, which makes the person look bigger than they actually are. It was time to get a flash diffuser, and my sto-fen omnibounce is now always stuck to my Olympus flash. It’s a little white box that is ideal for spreading the light all over.

Flash Diffuser will save you!

Before I bought a diffuser, although my Olympus Flash Fl-50 gave me a lot of creative freedom in taking the pictures I wanted in almost any lighting conditions I faced, it still was too harsh. It created glares on shiny surfaces, resulting in shadows, and sometimes didn’t act properly when it came to fill lighting.

What the flash diffuser does is “diffuse” the light. It spreads the flash light around so that it doesn’t hit your subject directly. By softening the light, it also creates a more natural feel, which is something great to have when using flash lighting. Furthermore, it allows you to give your image a softer look without dialing down the flash power. This helps with any fill lighting problems you may have previously had.

Buying a Flash Diffuser

As I previously mentioned, I used a Sto-fen Omnibounce diffuser, which does a better job than the diffuser that comes with my Olympus FL-50. There are also larger diffusers available, such as those from Gary Fong. However, I have not tried it, since it is slightly more expensive.

Still on the fence? Make your own Diffuser

If you’re not sure you want to invest 30$ on a flash diffuser, then you can still make your own. I did, when I wanted to see if things are different. One way to do this is to simply tape some tissue to your Olympus flash. Although it can easily get torn, it will filter and spread the light, acting as a diffuser will. It isn’t ideal, but it is good enough. The second approach you can use is to place an index card at 40 degrees to your Olympus flash. Although it isn’t exactly a diffuser, it is a quick way of letting the light bound off the card. This spreads the light around the room, with effects similar to those obtained with a diffuser.

Of course, as always, have fun with your camera!

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July 21st, 2010