Common Myths and Misconceptions

It is important to keep in mind this obvious, but often overlooked, fact: Any light from your flash that is not either directed at your subject or redirected toward your subject has no impact on the photograph you are making and is therefore wasted. This wasted power represents both minor and major immediate and downstream problems:

• Increased recycle time
• Reduced battery Life
• Negatively impacting operating distances, ISO settings and aperture alternatives
• Additional stress on the flash itself by repetitive high power outputs

Despite popular myths, small diffusion domes such as the LumiQuest UltraBounce and the Stofen Omni Bounce are not softboxes. Since they are not materially larger than the flash head itself, by themselves they have little if any effect on shadow softness. These devices spread the light over 360 degrees making them very effective in small areas where there are nearby walls and ceilings to bounce the light. In the ABSENCE of these nearby bounce surfaces, illuminating 360 degrees while photographing 50 degrees results in a massive loss of light with no real gain.