On Wed, 31 Jul 2002 19:40:49 GMT, "JIM" wrote:

>"Neuman - Ruether" wrote in message
>news:3d4be894.4415651@newsstand.cit.cornell.edu...
>
>> If you did a careful "side-by-side" test, with and
>> without the handkerchief, at normal distances, I would
>> be very surprised if you saw ANY difference in the results.
>> The above is a common myth. Flash softness depends on
>> the light source size (relatively unchanged by the
>> handkerchief, as it is also unchanged by the bounce cards
>> you see photojournalists using outdoors...;-), and the
>> light source distance from the subject and background -
>> "diffusion" has nothing to do with it - but size and
>> angles do...

>Probably correct David, in the handkerchief(?) debate; however, you *will
>see* a difference using a Lumiquest product on your flash. The effect of
>something like the Lumiquest ProMax system w/diffuser simulates a larger
>light source.

Yes, increasing the effective light source size does help.

>Shadows are softened/sometimes eliminated, harsh light
>(bambi-in-the-headlights look) is corrected, and hotspots, especially in
>facial features are lessened if not eliminated. Using a bare flash on humans
>should be considered inhuman - unless you are looking for the demon child
>effect.

Uh, methinks you attribute the impossible to a relatively
slight increase in effective light source size (at most
flash distances). You might see the effects you describe
if you are 1' or so from the subject, but the angular
differences are minimized as you approach 10' or so, making
the add-on fairly ineffective... You would need a FAR larger
light source at 10' to show the same effects in the lighting
you describe, and which would probably show at 1'...;-) If
you have a good ceiling/wall to bounce light off of, you can
minimize the direct light (using some helps to light lower
areas with ceiling bounce, and to fill shadows), and get the
"big light source" look. Often best: mix flash bounced and
direct light with available light...
BTW, I used to "rant 'n' rail" here on "diffusion" and
flash, and it is nice to see that now most understand
it - I don't feel now like I'm "swimming upstream"...;-)