Do Plastic Flash Diffusers Really Work?
If your Speedlites or hot shoe flashes were not supplied with a white plastic flash diffuser there are plenty of after market examples available. But do they really work and if so how? I'll not go into too much detail as David Bergman on Adorama TV has the best explaination. Basically: They reduce light output decreasing battery life. They are useless outdoors or where there are no surfaces close by to reflect light. They are still a small light source relative to the subject so any direct light will have a hard shadow edge the same as the bare flash tube. They're fine pointing up indoors where there's a ceiling that is not too high and wall close by to bounce light back into the shadows. This is fine providing the walls are white or a very pale tint. Stronger colour will reflect and contaminate the shadows. My favourite use of the little white plastic box diffuser is to spread the light inside umbrella and other light modifiers. If it's softer light you're
