Lite Genius flash modifiers

Recent flash question on another group with our answer . . . “Is there any way to make on camera flash look better? I have a v1 that I would rather use tonight as a just in case for an outdoor shoot. If I had an assistant tonight I would bring my ad400 and do off camera for the best look but if there’s a way to make the v1 on camera look better and not so 80s disposable camera looking I’d love to hear some ideas!”

There are two things to consider in the answer to your question . . . direction of the light source and the quality (softness) of the light source. Off camera light sources are obviously best, but not always practical, especially in event photography.
Bounce flash can replicate off camera light, but is so dependent on the characteristics of the room, (color of walls, size of room, height and color of ceiling, etc.) and the position of the subject, that again in event photography becomes unreliable as well as unduplicatable under different situations.
Depending on the weight of your equipment and your ability to hold and fire your camera in one hand . . it can be very effective to connect the flash via a flash cord and hold the camera in one hand and the flash in the other, resulting in the flash being a fair distance from the camera for an off camera effect and the advantage of more control of the light’s direction for each and every shot. On a head shot you can change from broad to short lighting with a swing of the flash holding hand.
As for the quality of light . . an absolute must for flash is a quality modifier because the small flash element produces undesirablely harsh light. There are many to choose from, some great while others fail to do more than throw away light. The Lite-Scoop from Light Genius not only softens the light, wastes less light power than most, and unlike the others is effective in both landscape and portrait modes.
A combination of the above suggestions can produce superior results with a little practice. Hope that helps.

INDOOR BALANCING OF FLASH AND AMBIENT LIGHT

When using flash indoors there are two sets of exposures happening at the same time. First the exposure of the ambient light, and then the exposure of the light from the flash.
Because the flash duration is so much shorter than the fastest sync speed of your camera’s shutter, the shutter speed you use will not affect the exposure of the light from the flash. This fact is what allows us to control the two exposures separately.
The TTL setting on your flash will handle the exposure from the flash for you, and generally with a small tweak on the FEC (Flash Exposure Compensation) will produce consistent exposure in a given area with like subjects. For an event I have found that my camera setting of 1/200th shutter – F/4.5 – 400 ISO, will produce excellent results in a range of about 6 to 25 feet. The reason for the 1/200th sec. shutter, which is my fastest sync speed, is to reduce any chances of unwanted camera/subject movement which can be recorded from the ambient light.
Next . . the background being lit by ambient light may,, or may not be very important to the images composition and story. Unfortunately there is not a fixed group of settings to magically and properly set the camera to expose for the background. Either light meter readings or a few test shots should help you with that.
The proper approach to get the necessary settings needed for an important background, for me, would be to establish what changes to my “standard” set of settings will have to be. If I change the ISO it could absolutely give control of the exposure of the background . . . BUT . . . it will also change the exposure of the light from the flash . . . not the best approach. If I change the Aperture that will also change the exposure of the background . . . BUT . . . again also change the exposure of the light from the flash.
Changing the shutter speed is the only setting that will let you change the exposure of the ambient light (background) without affecting the exposure of the light from the flash.
To make a long story short . . . Nobody can give you a setting for your background because they are all different, and will give you very different effects which are subjective.
Hope that helps . . .

All new strap system for all Lite-Scoop models.
The development of the Lite-Scoop Flash Modifiers has been a work in progress for over 18 years. Once the shape of the reflective area itself was established (early in the game) it has not changed and continues to produce the most effective combination of soft and efficient lighting for people pictures. While a larger soft box or brollie produces softer light for portraits, they are not practical or portable for journalistic photography on the move. Event photographers have little or no time for lighting set-ups in most cases, and depend on reliable and consistent lighting on the move . . . thus the success of the Lite-Scoop series.
The necessity for a light weight accessory to effectively distribute light, while easily attaching to equipment, then removing it for different lighting needs, presented many production challenges along the way.
The most significant challenge was the strap system which had to be useable on a wide variety of flash models . . . interchangeable from one size and shape of a flash unit, to another, while being non-destructive to expensive equipment. (Early models used adhesive-back Velcro attached to the flash unit, that made them almost impossible to re-sell)
New round head flash units appeared not long ago and have become the rage. That motivated us to re-think our strap design and after a number of up-grades to longer (for the round-heads), stronger, anti-slip materials that are now triple secured to the Scoops, we now have our most durable models to date.
Same great light! Same light weight! Same low price! . . . but now tougher all around.
You’re going to love them!