This was a shot without a flash. Dark, isn't it?

This is a shot of the same spot with the flash pointing straight on.

Same shot. Flash pointing towards the ceiling.

Last shot. Flash still pointing at the ceiling but now with the CD case bounce card.


Frankly, I kinda like the last shot. What do you think?

It's not the best of photos, but it will do for now. This was given to me by Albert Yan a couple of years back.

It's an early Zenobia C I. It is a 6x4 folding camera. It was made around 1952. And Albert is going to kill me for not using it as much as he expects me to. (Sowwee!!!)

But today I took it out from it's plastic wrapping (See?! I still took great care of it!). From the time I got this I had promised myself to have the lenses cleaned. I still haven't done that. But it doesn't look like the glass was any cloudier than before.

And yes, it still works. And yes there's still film inside it.

I took it out for two reasons. One is that I got envious of Gen's newly acquired Yashica TLR. That's when I decided that maybe we could hook up and shoot stuff. Oh yeah that would be super!

Secondly, I decided to try out my new flash. I was talking to Elwin earlier and he suggested using those CD envelopes from CD-R King. I tried it out and... I think I just made myself a better bounce card. Haha! If you're going to try this, get two CD envelopes, remove the plastic, use the soft white material and slap them onto your flash with a rubber band from the side of the flash.

After buying the flash yesterday, I found myself in an event with Art Ilano.  Nevermind that I wasn't dressed for the ocassion.  But at least I had my camera with me.  I left the flash in the car though since I still had no idea how to effectively use it.  That said, I took a few shots and soon put my camera back in the bag.  I was getting insecure with all those photographers in the area with their big bad flash guns. Haha!

Note:  I'm lousy in event photography.  Hence you won't see photos of the event.  Well... maybe.

Anyway, I also met Hans Villarica, Art's editorial assistant.  Turns out he's into photography as well and was suggesting I buy a stofen or a lightsphere.

Me:  "You do know how much that thing costs, right?"
Hans:  "Yes. I bought one myself."

Ah. Lucky him.  But I'm a hobbyist, thus I can't really afford buying a diffuser which I just might rarely use.  And again... do you know how much a sto-fen or a lightsphere costs?

Which brings me back to economics and physics.  Heck, it's light after all.  So I really just need something to diffuse the light with.  What would be good cheap alternatives?  Try wrapping your flash with tracing paper.  Try a DIY bounce card using a stiff white business card.  Or take a tip from strobist and get a cheap translucent plastic container to fit on your flash.

Fred Miranda's site has instructions for a home-made soft box.

Then there's a video for a better bounce card over here.  I might try this one out. Have to check the craft shops for some nice white felt cloth/paper to use.