The Best Light Modifiers For Bounce Flash and Off Camera Lighting

[@Aarzak]

I use the Gary Fong Lightsphere - he needed to lower the power of the flash to obtain a softer light. IMHO the Gary Fong Lightsphere is the best one out there.

[@marileorube24]

What does "power" mean. What setting?

[@Backsword26]

Would have been interesting to see the difference between gary fong and flash disk with the same power (off camera) because the shadows look similar to me.

[@inezEG]

I noticed he never turned down the power for the Lightsphere before going to the disc.

[@jasonbodden8816]

Softness isn't dependent on how strong the light is, only the size of the light source relative to the subject.

[@dlmartin81]

That last image was really nice with the Maggrid. I love the Magmod system

[@fraierom]

More of this type of videos please! Very helpful. Cheers

[@tokyoinpics9346]

I thought it was excellent as well.

[@derinmavi9946]

Bounce flash made the best shot. :)

[@MarjoleinCaljouw]

So helpful! My favourite is the flashdisc! 😍It gives beautiful highlight to the cheekbones, compared to all the others, while also producing medium light in the back. Shadows aren’t so harsh as well. #2 GaryFong: no undereyes, nice background too.

[@originalsuki]

Nice, clear, easy-to-understand examples. Thank you so much!

[@gosman949]

I would like to see you do a complete review of all of the MagMod modifiers.

[@nickslens]

This was extremely helpful! Thanks for taking the time to describe and show everything! Never thought about pointing an on-camera flash back and to the side.

[@JonaszOlszewski]

This is the best video on flash subject. Huge shout out!

[@ibrahimalnuaimi346]

Excellent video on flash techniques.

[@MsKendricks1]

I was waiting for you to try turning the speedlight around facing backward hitting a large white board. I will try that. Thank you for the tutorial.

[@vadimyakus]

I really like the Rogue speed light modifier. Much better light quality than any other ones currently available on the market.

[@aaronmeyers451]

Bounce flash is amazing as long as you know how to work it. Takes trial and error to get it right but the lighting looks very natural and you do not have some big bulky thing on your flash to bump things into. I never use the bounce card but more of facing it 45 degrees to my upper right. Sometimes I fire it behind me or to the left. The reason I favor the right angle is that if I shoot a portrait and rotate my camera counter clockwise my flash would be pointing at the ceiling instead of the flood it it was pointing left.

[@Elkarus]

I'd have liked to see how the Gary Fond Lightsphere worked with less power output compared with the flashdisc.

[@guillandanthony711]

I like the flashdisc, because it looks like a frontal bounce flash with soft shadows. I'm going to buy one! Thanks!

[@jeffjones4071]

So much to learn to take good pictures. Learned a lot from this tutorial vid very good instruction

[@Middle_Rebel]

I honestly love this video.

[@JB-bq5zy]

Interesting you lowered or changed the flash power for the FS diffuser and others but you didn't lower power on the Gary Fong and further commented on the hard shadows. I used the Gary Fong last week for graduation photos outdoors with good results, it can be used a variety of ways.

[@lylecameron5578]

Great video; thanks. So many of the pros have suggested Magmod system, I purchased the Grid, Bounce, and Sphere, put them on light stands (off camera) and triggered with Godox xPro-N trigger and came away with great results. Since I used Nikon speedlights, I have to use Godox receivers too.

[@jktz122]

if you bounce bounce to the halfway point in the ceiling between the flash and the subject and nikon has a built in bounce card hidden behind the wide angle panel

[@Fitflyfellow]

I do a lot of flash photography for work and this was really helpful.

[@ucheucheuche]

I modified Gary Fong light spheres by spraying the dome silver, and spraying the back of the modifier silver. Still got the diffusion, but flash recycle times where much faster and battery lasted longer. I used to try all those bounce techniques, but it was too fiddly run-and-gunning, and colour casts.

[@RoyalMasterpiece]

You are a really good teacher. Thank you.

[@bradwright2787]

this is great for someone who doesn't know anything about flashes

[@darrenweston8085]

Great vid... good to see all the examples together to compare.... thanks FStoppers ..

[@jimwlouavl]

Great examples. Thanks.

[@johncantrell614]

How about doing the bounce thing, with the white flash card up?

[@admireruk]

I use a canon with off camera flash but triggered by the built in flash. The off camera flash will have a flashbender to broaden the light or add a kick when i bounce flash. The onboard flash will also add a little bit of fill light.

[@jaspervanberkel766]

very cool and instructive video, love the image with the mag grid off camera, I need to try this, thanks guys for the inspiration.

[@contemplatively]

Very helpful - Thank you! I'm going to try the Gary Fong with the flash on camera pointing backwards

[@Mike956881]

The grid also makes for a great hair light coming in off of one side or behind. Great vid - thanks.

[@drummerg3331]

Great video! I’d love to see a video on when it’s appropriate to have shadows on the faces and when it’s not. I tend to prefer the look of less shadows from the bounce flash but I can also appreciate the more dramatic look of the shadows from the directional off camera flash.

[@Dedncide]

Better than a college photography course. Thanks, bud!

[@itaylorm]

Very detailed and helpful

[@YongSiri]

I don't have camera, not crazy taking photos but this clip is so great about explaining using Flash

[@vimalneha]

Excellent video, many things to pick up from!

[@nikolaskaratzastv]

best flash demo ever. thank you for the tips

[@EDHBlvd]

nikolas karatzas I liked Zack Arias’ better on DEDPXL.

[@EDHBlvd]

nikolas karatzas kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJSTm3uNeLpnac0

[@nimusworks5475]

you my friend, know how to give a tutorial! Great Job

[@MrModerate_kane]

Great video, i used something like this some yrs ago to choose the gary fong sphere, for a long time served me very well, but tbh since i tried out the selens, which then made me want the magmod( better quality product) so i swapped to that now. its quick and easy to use for me at events, i can switch on and off whatever i want, colour correct quickly, or magsphere grid and colour correct all at same time, for me its just light control, i am no expert at all, just someone using the gear i find the easiest to use, without an assistant. I like the result, i don't think there is a wrong or right, just get the shot and be happy, just be a master of what you do have. I do find though the gary fong needs more power, the magbounce needed much less power and thus in the long run saves me in battery costs and recycle time. good example video though.

[@zackchoy1969]

What happen when you dial down the exposure for the Gary Fong Sphere? since the last two modifier was dial down....

[@leonard187]

Zack Choy if he had done that he’d look like a lier just trying to sell his own modifier. Because that REAL TRUTH IS GARY FONG’S light modifier is the best of them all and if you also noticed he’s never using the Gary Fong light modification at the same power as the others

[@RealRaynedance]

It would probably look the same, just dimmer. The point is though, to get the same AMOUNT of light on the subject, you still have to keep the flash at a higher power. The light is being thrown in every direction, so you need more power to get more forward. The other modifiers are directing most of their light forward, so the flash has to be turned down to prevent overexposure.

[@zackchoy1969]

Thanks cadillacred178, I was thinking why the GF Sphere was not dial down while the disc and magmod was dial down. In addition, I thought the mag-sphere would be more appropriate for on camera flash modifier.

[@zackchoy1969]

Thanks DeltaPhi79, It seems to me subjectively that the GF Sphere was kinda of overexposed. So I would have dial it down with a low reflective ceiling. If I was doing it....

[@leonard187]

Zack Choy yes I totally agree with you and I used a GF lightsphere for a wedding I did and all the photos came out amazing

[@taneliharkonen2463]

asmr of the Gary Fong

[@taneliharkonen2463]

Wow this is the most intuitive light modifier presentation that I have seen!!! Really good gob guys!! :D

[@taneliharkonen2463]

subscribed!!!

[@ekspresija101]

flashdisk off the camera was the best. It produced shadows, but soft, still giving 3D pop out unlike direct flash on camera options that flattened him.

[@tjmperez]

Thought this was awesome Patrick!!!!!!!!!!!! I am just really starting out my professional career in photography and getting into flash and I have been messing around with the flashpoint ad200 and thinking I need to get a couple more speedlights for events!

[@okamivolgan]

I've seen many videos , but this is the only time i find the photographer is more handsome than the model.

[@Shadowandsoulmebabe]

LoL! Totally, and he seems really cool. Would love to have lessons with him. Mmm...

[@TravellLove]

The most handsome photographer!

[@TravellLove]

Also I feel like many photographers are good looking! ;)

[@b991228]

The on on-camera flash disk does thins the face by creating shadows that narrow the face. A little more becoming for most of us who are plus sizes.

[@onefm1]

Thank you for this!

[@crollinsphoto]

A very known pro told me that when you are bouncing off a colored wall then you do a FEC and increase the power to over ride the color and it works. Bounce off a red wall and do a FEC of +2 and I have no red color bouncing off the wall to my subject.

[@elliotchocano9374]

Flash exposure compensation for those of you who dont know

[@thekeywitness]

What do you think of the small soft box on-camera flash modifier?

[@plpno]

Remember folks...Photography is about how you capture light!...All these modifiers do is give you the artistic results that YOU prefer. ✌🏼🤙🏼

[@triciahagerty8410]

You're a great educator!

[@drutgat2]

I think that it's worth saying that another possibility of bouncing flash off a non-white surface is that you might get a colour cast.

[@ivanamaya-navarro9402]

Felicidades! Este video es una joya!

[@JacekAdamczyk]

That's a super solid tutorial! Subscribed!

[@toddlavigne6441]

I use the MagMod system...it's really good, assuming you know enough about lighting and all your technical knowledge. I use their 2 light softeners

[@ariesq5851]

You forgot the bounce flash with a small white bounce card connected inside the flash.

[@JimmyGelhaar]

I was thinking the same thing, because that little card has done amazing things for my bounce photography with that nice front fill it provides. I would have loved to see the comparison with that, too!

[@makemarker]

yep, I used it constantly for small clubs. The venues are pretty dark so I go with a 1/32 - 1/64 power with a flash straight up, bouncing on the sides its a bit difficult since a lot of areas are warped below the ceiling or contain other elements which can create chaos while bouncing light.

[@JudsonHall]

Honestly, I'm digging that Flashdisk portrait on camera :)

[@kamelaouali7144]

In side it's great.... what about in out side ?

[@FStoppers]

This is actually a good idea to revist! -P

[@onefm1]

I'm wondering if the MagGrid would be good for low light music event photography, where you may want to isolate a person, but keep some of the production lighting as ambient light.

[@Yourname3000]

Nicely done.

[@SoundArtsOnline]

Awesome video. So thorough! Thank you so much!

[@arrow0231]

Strange no magbounce or magsphere?

[@greghoyle7610]

Really excellent. Thanks.

[@coolbeyblade5]

I needed this tutorial so bad!!!!!!!!!

[@41northproductions75]

Patrick - Sorry, this may be a stupid question. But, at around 21:24, when talking about using the disc direct off-camera as fill and still capturing the ambient light, what exactly do you mean when you say “drag the shutter”? Thanks, Patrick and Lee, keep it coming!!!

[@phaskellhall]

41 North basically you want a slow shutter speed so that the low ambient light still "burns" into your exposure. So if you are shooting at day ISO 800 and 2.8 but the overall scene is still kind of dark, you might set your shutter speed to 1/20th or 1/60th so the moody light of the venue shows up but then your flash will expose everyone immediately in front of your camera. This way your background is still bright and interesting and your foreground is lit by flash. Maybe I need to make a video on that concept

[@41northproductions75]

I think I got it. Expose for the ambient light, fill with flash? I was just making sure we weren’t talking about a rear-curtain sync or something. Please correct me if I’m wrong. Really enjoying the 30 for 30; I think you guys may be on to something, if it’s economical. Thanks for the reply. Take care!

[@RonLykins]

What about the little pull up flahcard in the strobe? Or for that matter the diffuser that comes with the flash. How can they be used if you do not have an after market modifier?

[@FStoppers]

I'm not a big fan of any bounce card that comes directly from the camera because it always creates flat, harsh light. They will wind up looking a lot like the gary fong lightsphere only slightly worse

[@anandabaamatya4747]

Comprehensive tutorial

[@ivanjacobo6639]

Patrick, why you didn't used the other magmod modifiers, for instance mag bounce and mag dome

[@old4004]

This tip applies only to old guys like me, but you should not use MagMod if you have a pacemaker. Most listing don't mention that, but I saw it on Amazon and contacted MagMod direct. They confirmed that people with pacemakers should not use the products with those magnets.

[@Dustinrhoades]

Helpful. Thank you

[@kingjehosaphat5439]

you are intelligent brother, thankyou

[@jlsc4125]

I use the rogue, great in a pinch when I'm forced to use the speed light.

[@FStoppers]

Yeah the Rogue should be fairly similar to the Flash Disc. You just have to put the second difusser panel over it to prevent the bounce flash element from spilling all over the room otherwise it will look more like the Gary Fong if the light isn't contained.

[@jlsc4125]

Fstoppers the fong will always send light everywhere. The nice thing about the flashbender is being able to shape the light, i can make it a strip box or snoot or use the diffuser. Much more versitile than any of the others

[@joecerda630]

How about the magshere?

[@TheBITELYS]

The side by side comparison is very helpful. Just curious, what lens are you using in this video? I can't remember if you mentioned it or not.

[@AndrewMclean]

This is such a hugely useful tutorial! What would you recommend when trying to light the couple during the first dance where you don’t want to throw light completely across the dance floor destroying the ambient light? I’ve been using a Lastolite Ezybox off camera but wanting a better solution! Thanks Patrick!

[@FStoppers]

I usually put a light on a stand and place it as a backlight. This can give you a strong silhouette and allow the natural ambient light to burn in but because you are lighting them with a strobe everything can still be sharp. I usually bounce flash with the flash set to 105-200mm so the footprint on the ceiling is super small. This usually gives you a nice soft light on the couple without blasting the entire room. It's very rare I use off camera lighting at a wedding unless the ceilings are made of red wood or the event it outside. I bounce probably 80% of the time with some lights on stands acting as dramatic side/back lighting

[@AndrewMclean]

Fstoppers thanks so much for the advice, so do you use the on camera bounce flash to trigger the off camera strobe?

[@FStoppers]

I put a Flash on Camera at all times for weddings because it is the most useful light you can have (bounced primarily). For the reception I then add a pocket wizard plugged into the on camera flash or the camera body (D750 vs D850) and the remote flash is triggered by the pocket wizard. Firing a remote flash by Nikon's Creative Lighting System is too unreliable and using optical sensors at a wedding means all your guests will be firing your flash by accident. Look up our youtube video "How to light a wedding reception" and you will see our setup

[@montygiavelli8125]

Direct Flash and Magmod Grid are very similar. Gary Fong is a good compromise between Direct Flash and Bounce Flash - somewhat directional without the harsh hot spots on the face. I might buy the Gary Fong and give it a try. I've been using a Stofen and bouncing it, but that doesn't work outside. Anyone have any luck with the Gary Fong outside ??

[@fabmartel]

For me i use the GF modifier, and i see now with your test GF is very powerfull, need reduce the power of flash for the same light renderer.. :-) nice for my battery ;-) The second is the price, the magmod are very very expensive.

[@frankthespank]

Take the dome out of the lightspere and most of the light will bounce off the ceiling and some of the spill will light up the lightsphere and throw enough light at your subjects face to get rid of the shadows. Keeping the dome on puts all the power in the lightsphere and looks like direct flash.

[@timothymcdaniel7372]

What are your thoughts on soft-box diffusers like the Westcott Pocket Box and the use of a rotating flash bracket?

[@FStoppers]

I like small softboxes if you can easily use them in tight areas. Sometimes in nightclubs or at wedding receptions, a softbox is still too bulky to really use in a non obtrusive way. Flash brackets....man I hate those things. They are only really useful if you want to use direct flash because they do raise the flash height a few inches which is generally more appealing but 95% of the time I don't like direct flash at events. It's also a huge pain having to carry that bracket, and have the extra TTL cable, and have to rotate the bracket between vertical and horizontal photos....I'm not a fan haha

[@timothymcdaniel7372]

Fstoppers, thank you for the response. I have the Westcott pocket box kit (3 different size/shapes) and after watching your video was wondering if I stick with them or get a Garry Fong or f-stoppers disk.

[@bluesjeon]

Please let me know the photogrophers video lighting setting instead of the models one

[@ludo1632]

If only you would use the Gary Fong lightsphere correctly! Such as no dome when bouncing off ceilings!

[@prashanthbhogaraju2944]

Thanks for the lovely video. Which modifier would you use when you have a ceiling that is about 20-30 feet high and you are shooting an event?

[@plpno]

prashanth bhogaraju You can use ANY...In my opinion.

[@sfcelebnaur]

What does TTL mean?

[@FStoppers]

Through The Lens...it's the self metering mode of flashes -P

[@AGag47]

I felt your comparisons were weak in that you cycled very quickly through your limited options. The one that stuck with me is the MagSphere. I'm surprised you didn't include it as it's an excellent diffuser, and if you shoot with two flashes like I sometimes do at events, the magnetic system is fast and easy allowing to pop the diffuser from one flash to another. The quality of the bounce is consistent and you also get solid diffusion if you shoot straight at your subject thanks to its design.

[@valentinengelland]

Great video!

[@photozen8398]

Excellent informative video...thanks

[@itsMido2]

what a handsome photographer!!😍

[@Chrisdgallego]

someone knows what benro tripod is he using on this video? Thanks, just the tripod... not the head

[@bencorwin]

Great stuff! Thanks!

[@alexanderwest4293]

Any idea what exact Nikon Speedlight that is?

[@FStoppers]

It's an older sb-800

[@SeraphineClarisse]

17:41 it looks like as if it was two different guy.. it is amazing how we perceive others and ourselves on photos and looking it at with different light, angle etc... makes change..

[@TBoneProductionsVB]

Yes a big part of working with models is understanding their facial structures and being able to shape the light so that it makes them look a certain way. You can really reshape their faces as well as convey different moods

[@DiviPhotos]

Great video nice job

[@LilAznKayProductions]

Hi Fstoppers, amazing comparison video! How about the small white bounce card built into the speedlite? Will you use it when shooting the light directly up into the ceiling onto the subject while it's on the camera?

[@FStoppers]

I don't like hard light coming from directly above the camera so I never use those bounce cards. It's the same reason I don't love the Gary fong or any other light modifier attached to an on camera flash. I prefer the bounce only look because it looks more natural.

[@LilAznKayProductions]

Fstoppers Thanks for the reply!

[@gelosoriano]

This is very helpful! Thanks!

[@manish4777]

You would have compared magmod magsphere and magbounce

[@FStoppers]

Yeah, we just used our favorite modifiers that we have in our office. I like how a few of their modifiers actually BLOCK light coming from the front which I think is pretty useful. Bouncing light 270 degrees and excluding the light coming from right above the camera is pretty helpful too.

[@michaelfitzhenry]

bounce while excluding the direct part of the flash: sounds like a job for the "black foamie thing". I haven't used it in any professional setting but I do like the results and bonus points for costing twenty cents

[@PossMcLeod]

Yeah I was going to say the same thing. I've used about every light modifier out there over the past 2 years (including the Flashdisc, Fongies, roguebenders, mag system, mini dishes, grids and a whole bunch of others), and your video title "The Best Light Modifiers For Bounce Flash and Off Camera Lighting" isn't very accurate. If you just used some of your "favorite" ones you had "laying about", PLEASE put that shiz in the title of the Vid! I've used the Flash Disc in clubs and found it to be pretty damn effective, just a little large for that purpose as you state. My faves at the moment are the magbounce first, and the magsphere 2nd. Magbounce is super versatile for singles, groups, and even shows/bands when you need a bit of fill, and when it gets bumped it either stays on or gets knocked off without damaging the speedlite or hotshoe. The only negative is that it gets called names in jest, like Popes Hat, She-Wee, a condom and a bunch of others lol. Love these kinds of vids, but your title is way out of whack, and a review of 'your faves' is a bit of a waste of time. Either give us ALL the good options, or re-title your vid so we don't waste 25 minutes of our busy days :) Love you guys and your channel tho, so don't think I'm having a go at you or trolling, just providing a bit of constructive feedback :)

[@zackchoy1969]

Exactly!

[@CarlosJimenez-ft7ur]

Big B damn, thanks dude!! Im getting the magbounce :D

[@veuxtuetremonami]

that was an awesome class!!!

[@RaviMistry]

And TUPPERWARE???

[@TBoneProductionsVB]

And a simple white balloon.

[@Selfpowered]

I don't understand why you chose the grid to compare instead of the magsphere or magbounce

[@FStoppers]

We don't add the magsphere or bouce and honestly it probably would have looked pretty similar to the Gary Fong modifier. They aren't THAT different in design so the quality of light will be fairly similar. If we had one we would have added it though but also at some point we would have had 10 modifiers which gets confusing. Maybe in a future video we will explore more modifiers

[@MC-hr1py]

I think i like the Gary Fong the best but i've seen people struggle with the velcro. I just bought the mag mod sphere so hopefully that gives me a similar look. Anyone have experience with the mag mod sphere?

[@Cobycom1]

Great video

[@reimonandisuwa]

Nice explanation. Made me learn something new. I've tried the direct flash - off camera (no modifier), but still can't get that blacked out background like you did in the video. i used 1/128 - 1/64 manual on SB-910 + wireless trigger on 1/160 shutter speed but the light from the flash also light up my background. what did i do wrong?

[@xiajing3012]

check your ISO try to lower it in a 200 and put a snoot or a magmon grid in your off flash..