99p Fondue Set

The 99p fondue set isn't what this post is about as it has been maybe 5 years since the wondrous charity shop find that was my fondue set. I though it was important to bring attention to it because I'm still chuffed about it.

This post isn't really even about fondue, although it was delicious. It's about a new diffuser I bought for my flash by Gary Fong.

So on my reading up I heard mixed reviews about the Lightsphere Collapsible especially reviews about how it showed a lack of skill to use one instead of utilising other flash techniques however one thing that I've found frustrating doing weddings and portraits is when I find myself in a situation where things go a little bit wrong.

I was taking photos for a couple for their wedding invites in a park recently and felt I was all kitted out for the occasion. I had an off camera flash kit which is a white umbrella over my flash on a stand which allows me to have the light come from any direction I fancy instead of having a harsh flash right on the couple. I used this because I had nothing to bounce flash off out in this park with an open sky and orange brick walls. 

And it failed me. 

for some strange reason my flash fell off the stand and the batteries were knocked out and I was foolish enough to have not brought backup batteries. 

I ended up having to try my best with my flash being on my camera but I was so disappointed with the harshness of the light and my lack of control over the situation. So I decided I don't care if people think it is due to lack of skill I'm not being caught out again.

So the day the lightsphere arrived I tested it out on my lovely Brophy family who had come over for dinner and really didn't want to be tested out on (thank goodness for Colin who is now resigned to his fate). Now you may not think these pictures are anything great but I rubbed my hands together with glee at these images. These pictures were taken in my living room at night with a small light on which would usually produce a grainy, often not as sharp as I would like, image but with this flash I could get the details in and that wonderful sharpness which comes with using a lovely diffused flash.

I can now use this bad boy at weddings where I'm stuck for a light source or a convenient wall to bounce light off and it means the off camera light kit can be used for formal group shots or specific lighting situations and I can focus more on getting the shots. 

This makes me very happy. 

And so does chocolate fondue. Full circle.