Flash Diffusers

[metoo]

With winter approaching here in the NE I wanted to starting working on flash photography. But after looking into flashes (and totally not understanding half of what I was reading ) I decided I want to stick with my original plan buy a nifty fifty. Then waiting until I learn more about flashes to invest in one. In the mean time I would like something to add to my pop up flash, to keep my kids eyes from glowing. I have been eye diffusers on amazon and they look like just what I am looking for. Do these actually help? Do the bounce the flash? I know it is not going to give me professional lighting results and I'm completely cool with that.:0 I'm a mom on a budget, who like to not have her kids eyes glowing in pictures. Can you recommend a particular one? There were several on amazon for about 10-20 each. The lighting in my house is not that great so even with the 1.8 of the nifty fifty I am still going to need a flash come Dec.

Oh and can anyone direct me to a good web site/book about flashes. I am not understanding at all what I'm looking at. Some kind of crash course for dummies.

[metoo]

Amazon.com: Professor Kobre's Lightscoop, Standard Version Bounce Flash Device, Universal Model, fits over the Pop-up Flash of most SLR Cameras (American Photo Editor's Choice 2008): Camera & Photo

would something like this be better?

[RecurrentNerve]

Why not try making one yourself first? I used a plastic milk bottle made from translucent plastic; just cut out a fat 'T' shape, and use poster tack to stick it in place in front of the flash. Cost me, what, 10 cents' worth of tack, and does a decent job. If you don't have plastic milk bottles, you can make a similar thing out of cardboard and baking/tracing paper. Anything that will soften the light a little.

Also, make use of your Flash Compensation settings. The mistake people often make is to simply think 'the room is dark, put the flash on!' and leave it all on auto. The result: over bright shots. Dial back the flash and stick a homemade diffuser on and you're made in the shade, as it were!

[vsa]

Originally Posted by metoo

Amazon.com: Professor Kobre's Lightscoop, Standard Version Bounce Flash Device, Universal Model, fits over the Pop-up Flash of most SLR Cameras (American Photo Editor's Choice 2008): Camera & Photo

would something like this be better?

Never ran into this product. Looks like it bounces the flash to the ceiling which would work fine... but only when shooting in landscape. If you turn the camera to portrait then you'd be bouncing off of a wall which would result in different kind of lighting. And sticking a white business card in 45° angle in front of the flash would bring almost the same result for free.

As RecurrentNerve suggested try sticking something semi see through in front of the flash to diffuse the light. Some people use napkins if nothing else is available. Fold napkin in half to halve the amount of light.

I've read that Gary Fong's Puffer is good but haven't tried it. Lumiquest is a big name too. But I'm sure there are just as good DIY alternatives for tiny fraction of the cost out there even though the $10-20 isn't that much.

[metoo]

Thank you for the suggestions to make something! I used some tin foil to bounce the light with the pop up and I'm very happy with the results so far. I was able to bounce it off the ceiling and wall fairly well. I got a few shots I'm really happy with. I think I might still buy light scoop because it would be easier to have something already made. But now at least I know I will use it. I have a feeling that will hold me over flash wise for a while.