BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Studio, Still, & Personal Portraiture Photography

Photography Question 

Graham Jones
 

Can One Make a Sun Diffuser?


The sun in my part of the world is particularly harsh. Often I'd like to shoot outdoors but need something to act as a diffuser (key shifting). Can anyone recommend a good material for a DIY project? Subject is portraiture. Thanks in advance.


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December 03, 2004

 

Bob Cammarata
  Those beaded plastic diffusers made for fluorescent fixtures, sold at any home-improvement-type store, work well to scatter the light from a harsh sun. You can build a simple frame out of cheap wood to keep it rigid, and get an assistant to hold it in place for your portraiture.
I've built smaller, home-made diffusers with this material for shooting nature in bright sunshine, and it has worked great.


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December 03, 2004

 

Mark O'Brien
  Go to the fabric store and buy a bunch of white ripstop nylon or whatever white gauzy type fabric available. Tape it or sew it to a frame of your choice. It will work great.


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December 07, 2004

 

RJ Baynum
  You can also use a clear shower curtain, or a reg white sheet, streched in a PVC frame. Have an asst. help you.

R.J. Baynum
Envision Imaging
Crump TN.
free class at Yahoogroups.com
"Basic_Film_Photography".


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December 07, 2004

 

Graham Jones
  Many thanks guys. I have an old flexible frame from a beach mat that folds up much like the popular reflectors do these days. I'll give the white ripstop nylon a try as that is pretty robust stuff and can handle the occasional wash without much fuss.

Your responses appreciated.

regards, Graham


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December 08, 2004

 
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