Getting Started with the Gary Fong Lightsphere

[GrandpaBambu]

Your interviewer has a very sexy voice... adds a nice touch to the vid...

[rafasilva1]

I do social photography, wich it's better for it the cloud or the clear?

[xypressvideo]

I LOSTED MY INTRUCTIONS paper the same day. Somebody can help me How to use de ligtsphere universal cloud about the position with the flash. Please

[powerFamosa]

I just bought his kit for 159 after the coupon which is GFPATRON on his website.... Let me just say that I feel like i ROBBED Gary Fong... this piece of equipment is, for lack of a better word... FUCKING amazing. Obviously he has a newer one out, it's just a great piece of equipment.

[rick4him]

I take a lot of indoor pictures of my newborn. Hanging out in the swing, the crib, the play mat, etc.

I use alot of 2.8-5 f stops, and I just bought the cloud. I take many of these shots very close up (almost 1-3 feet away)...did I make the correct choice? any suggestions? cap on, cap off, pointed toward the baby, or straight up, or somewhere in between?

thanks!

[socalcamerapro]

Set your ISO low: 100-200 ISO.

The position of the LS is determined by what you are trying to bounce off of. Also, the closer you are to your subject, the greater the chance of perspective distortion. If you are shooting a baby, from one foot, my guess is that you have not selected the proper lens. In general, I would use a longer lens, and back up to get the same crop, but reduce perspective problems, and not have the light so close. If you haven't already, iget the flash off the camera.

[rick4him]

@socalcamerapro Thanks so much. I'm going to do that. I have the kit lens 18-55 and the 55-200 (I have a d40). I have been using a 35 mm 1.8 prime lens that I bought. I have gotten a ton of great shots with that. I have just had the sb-600 (the flash I use) on the hot shoe, you are saying I need to take it off the camera? (I'm just learning by the way) ...the d40 is entry level, I hope I can take it off and still use it.

Here are some sample photos I have been taking -

[rick4him]

@socalcamerapro flickr.com/photos/ricklovestiv­o/sets/72157625758346482/ - I'm open to any suggestoins

[RIASSL888]

I bought an original one, but after 6 shootings the rubber band was broken. this is shit!!! i thought i´d bought quality stuff:-(

[socalcamerapro]

Don't know what to tell you. I don't make them, and I don't sell them, but you are upset over a broken rubber band?? Just go to the office supply store and get a few. FYI - there was no rubber band on the "original one'. Neither was there one on the second version, so you must have the 'universal'.

[ValueMSW]

how much does it cost? the model gary demonstrated...

i have a nikon d90 w/SB 600 and i need one to diffuse the light.

[RyanTheTuber]

Hey, can you help me here? Which lightsphere should I get?

Lightsphere-Universal Cloud

Lightsphere-Universal 1/2 Cloud

Lightsphere-2 CLEAR

Which is more an all-around diffuser? Please reply...

[socalcamerapro]

Ryan -- without knowing exactly what you are using it for, I would say the Universal 1/2 cloud. For very close work, the cloud is softer. The clear is more specular -- but if you are mostly beyond 10-12 feet, then the clear is better. If you only have one, the 1/2 cloud seems like the best choice. I have a dozen different ones. but I mostly shoot with multiple, off-camera flashes, so I need a greater choice.

[RyanTheTuber]

I'm planning on getting the 430EX II(or a 580EX II, I wish). I guess I'll just stick to the 1/2 cloud and I'll just get an inverted dome to go with it;)

thanks for the help:D

[socalcamerapro]

You're welcome -- oh, the inverted dome is included -- or they used to be.  Check on that - no need to buy it, unless you misplace it.

[RyanTheTuber]

Oh ok, thanks again :D

[socalcamerapro]

Just to be clear, Joe McNally, in his book, "The Hot Shoe Diaries", page 164, says "...you could also use the Gary Fong dome diffusers, which produce a nice, soft light..."

RE: " I bet only beginners buys this." I have used them for about 200 weddings, and hundreds of other jobs. Not sure if you'd consider me a 'beginner' -- I shot my first wedding in 1972.

[hockysa]

lol I understand.

The way he markets it makes it sound better than it really is. But it does do something.

When I first saw him I thought he looked more filo than chinese

[hockysa]

coz its not practical to carry them around in public.

the gf light spheres are the least compact out of all the available diffusers or bounce cards

[HankJMH]

I use a Lightsphere and find it very practical to carry in public. Much easier than using a bounce card.

[mitoshthewarrior]

I meant, if you are using a LS2 and a slide out diffuser is available on your flash, would you use it or would you shoot it without the difusser on a 580EX II type of flash?

[socalcamerapro]

Sorry - I misunderstood. "slide out diffuser" Do you mean the wide-angle adapter? The diamond shaped piece of plastic? It probably won't hurt to use it, but it's purpose is spread the light wider, when using a wide-angle lens. (24mm or equivalent framing). Of course, with a LS, you are spreading the light 360 degrees, so the pull-out diffuser is not absolutely necessary, but I don't see how it could hurt, either. As in anything, experiment and see what works for your purposes.

[mitoshthewarrior]

Yes, the the wide-angle adapter, I noticed one of Gary's videos he mentioned using it, but it wasn't clear if he expected you to use it 24/7 when you use the LS if it is available or only one some types of shots.

[socalcamerapro]

Actually, he says, "either way is fine". It is a wide-angle adapter, but if you rotate the flash, sideways, as Gary recommends, you are loosing the wide coverage that it is intended to provide - but that is normally okay, because of the way the LS diffuses the light. You have to experiment to learn what works best in your situation. For example, if I am zooming my flash out to 200mm (SB-900), then I would be foolish to use the wide-angle adapter, in any circumstance.

[mitoshthewarrior]

Thanks.

[mitoshthewarrior]

If you have a Canon 580EX II with a slide out diffuser, do you recommend using this 100% of the time with a LS2 Cloud?

[socalcamerapro]

I wouldn't recommend anything 100% of the time :-) About 99.9% of the time, a diffuser is better than nothing. A Cloud is the perfect portrait diffuser. I generally prefer Clear when I have the light more than 10-12FT. from the subject. It depends on the ambient conditions and if I am using multiple, off-camera flashes. Closer than that, I use the Cloud.

[GETonMYlevel323]

i need help finding a lense for model photography or portraits etc

whats a good L serires lense for that

[socalcamerapro]

24-70mm f/2.8 L and the 70-200. If you are shooting on a full frame camera, get both -- if you have smaller sensor, then the multiplication factor allows the 24-70 to do most of what you need.

I shoot Nikon and most of my model/portrait work is done with a 24-120mm, 3.5-5.6.

A good way to decide what you prefer is to rent a couple of lenses for a few jobs, then decide what fits your style. Most larger camera store have rentals.

Hope this helps -- but remember, it's just my opinion.

[GETonMYlevel323]

is a 24-105 good enough or does it have to have a low f stop

[socalcamerapro]

Well, as I say, I shoot with a 24-120, f3.5-5.6 and it does most of what I need, so the 24-104, f4 fits right in there -- BUT I would normally encourage you to buy the fastest lens you can afford. Still, if you are, primarily, working with flash, f4 will do the job.

[GETonMYlevel323]

why canon over nikon

[socalcamerapro]

Why Ford over Chevy, blondes over redheads?? :-) All personal choices - nothing more. Gary shoots Canon and Fuji. I shoot Nikon. Makes no difference, at all.

[rago]

Very helpful