May 24, 2013, 02:16:26 PM

Author Topic: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?  (Read 2741 times)

Marsu42

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How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« on: January 05, 2013, 04:43:10 AM »
I've got some flashes and conventional diffusers, i.e. the sto-fen type. But I'm annoyed by the ugly flash reflection in the eyes, so currently I'm looking for a softbox (larger square "studio-like" reflection) and/or some means to produce a circular reflection.

The best I could come up with is this type, does anyone else the conventional rectangle reflection is ugly and has another solution (or something home-made)? http://www.amazon.de/D%C3%B6rr-PRO-4-Diffusor-Canon-580EX/dp/B001BN4T9S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357378741&sr=8-2

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How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« on: January 05, 2013, 04:43:10 AM »

sandymandy

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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2013, 05:12:35 AM »
Try joghurt becher with different colors, plastic bags with different colors....just anything u can find. U dont necessarily have to spend money for a diffusor.
« Last Edit: January 05, 2013, 05:14:26 AM by sandymandy »
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Sporgon

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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2013, 05:15:34 AM »
You're not referring to the effect of using a ring flash are you ?

m

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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2013, 05:32:16 AM »
Maybe you can add some black tape to a rectangular softbox to fake the look of a window cross.

Also, take a look at this:
Understanding Octodomes/Octo Boxes: A Lighting Tutorial Small | Large

sandymandy

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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2013, 05:38:17 AM »
If you mean the ringflash/ringlight effect (see picture) then just get the Walimex Ringleuchte 65W from Amazon.

(ps guy in the foto looks like D soosts brother :D )

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bycostello

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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2013, 05:54:09 AM »
circles for circular catchlights and squares for square ones....

paul13walnut5

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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2013, 06:53:37 AM »
If your camera has a pc socket you can pick up a cheapo msnual ringflash on ebay.

I used a centon mr20.  Dead basic, but gives the desired effect.  Cheap as chips.
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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2013, 06:53:37 AM »

Marsu42

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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2013, 07:09:53 AM »
You're not referring to the effect of using a ring flash are you ?

Nope, but sure looks catchy, but very special and might divert attraction from the overall motive. I do a lot of macro with multiple flashes, and the direct fill flash rectangle is always too much visible in the eyes of animals.

Try joghurt becher with different colors

Thx, that's worth a try, I didn't get the idea myself because I'd suspected the plastic takes too much light away. A plastic bag sounds a bit too much unreliable because it's prone to change form or flatten(?).

Maybe you can add some black tape to a rectangular softbox to fake the look of a window cross.

Oh, well, that's also a good idea - seems I need to bump up my creativity with flash accessories a bit :-)

If your camera has a pc socket you can pick up a cheapo msnual ringflash on ebay.

My 60d hasn't got a socket, and neither has the 6d (thanks, Canon!) that I'll probably buy because it keeps being €1000 cheaper than the 5d3 and hasn't got the af assist bug ... and the pc terminal on the speedlite is incoming only (thanks again, Canon).
« Last Edit: January 05, 2013, 07:15:34 AM by Marsu42 »

crasher8

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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2013, 08:07:46 AM »
Will a Macro ringflash produce a catchlight? I'll have to try that since mine has a steady on function
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agierke

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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2013, 09:05:29 AM »
all strobes produce a catchlight so long as they are positioned in the right place.

Quote
circles for circular catchlights and squares for square ones....

this in a nutshell. if you want circles, the source has to be circular.
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m

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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2013, 09:48:28 AM »
My 60d hasn't got a socket

There are a lot of cheap adapters on ebay.

mustafa

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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2013, 10:23:15 AM »
Will a Macro ringflash produce a catchlight? I'll have to try that since mine has a steady on function

Nothing to do with the steady on function.  Just use the ring flash.

Be warned though, not flattering on skin imperfections.. Use a soft filter, or be prepared to fix it in post.

Marsu42

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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #13 on: January 05, 2013, 10:24:50 AM »
My 60d hasn't got a socket

There are a lot of cheap adapters on ebay.

Thanks, I didn't realize that - though the one I found looks somewhat wobbly when I imagine a speedlite mounted on it next to a manual flash via pc sync: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Neu-TF-321-Canon-E-TTL-Flash-Hot-Shoe-Blitzschuh-zu-PC-Sync-Adapter-/221085648301?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item3379bb45ad

crasher8

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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2013, 10:33:08 AM »
Will a Macro ringflash produce a catchlight? I'll have to try that since mine has a steady on function

Nothing to do with the steady on function.  Just use the ring flash.

Be warned though, not flattering on skin imperfections.. Use a soft filter, or be prepared to fix it in post.

It has a soft adapter and I can always lower the clarity.
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Re: How to produce circular flash reflection in eyes?
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2013, 10:33:08 AM »