Ultra Image FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is it about direct flash that makes it so unflattering?
• How does bouncing the light soften the shadow?
• What is the advantage of a LumiQuest® product over direct flash?
• How do LumiQuest® accessories attach to my flash?
• Are my automatic or TTL features still operational when using a LumiQuest® product?
• What is the most popular LumiQuest® product?
• What is the purpose of the LumiQuest® product with the holes (80-20)?
• I've been using the Pocket Bouncer with great results for years tell me about the ProMax System.
• What is the purpose of the cutout front on the SoftBox ? Also, why is there additional diffusion material in the center of the SoftBox?
• How much light will I use?
• I shoot weddings; what is the best LumiQuest® model for me?
• Often I go on an assignment not knowing what my lighting or environment/situation will be. Is there a LumiQuest® product that can adapt for different situations?
• I shoot mainly portraits and close-up shots. Which LumiQuest® product is right for my application?
• Do you have any products for the bare bulb flashes such as the Quantum Q Flash?
• What is the coverage of these products?
• I have multiple flashes. Do I need to buy a different LumiQuest® product to fit my different flashes?
• When would I use the LumiQuest® Snoot?
• I'm a press photographer and interested in something small and compact to soften the harshness of direct flash. What product would you suggest?
• My test shot with a Pocket Bouncer resulted in underexposed pictures; what did I do wrong?
• Can I use a SoftBox II on my SB24?
• I'm interested in buying your Pocket Bouncer. However, I have a question regarding shooting "sideways" with a 35mm camera. I want to know what effect shooting "sideways" (the camera is rotated 90 degrees, the upright flash is now pointing to the left of the shooter) has on the light that reaches the subject.
• How did you determine which colors to include in the LumiQuest® FX?

Question:
What is it about direct flash that makes it so unflattering?

Answer:
Unfortunately, the very characteristics that make flash unflattering are the same characteristics that make it useful ... small, powerful, portable.

Any small, intense light source will create harsh shadows due to the discrepancy between the fully illuminated area and the adjacent deep shadow area. As the light source becomes larger, more and more of it reaches the deep shadow area, creating a more gradual transition between the fully illuminated area and the deep shadow area. This transition area "softens" the edges of the shadows, effectively softening the overall quality of the light illuminating the subject. With regard to portability being both an asset and a liability, it is the portability that creates unnatural light directionality. No where in nature is the observer of the scene also the light source. Moving the light source off-camera or bouncing the light source off another surface can help give a more natural look to the directionality of the light. The added benefit of bouncing the light off another surface is that it becomes the new larger (and therefore, softer) light source.

In short, and in general, virtually anything you can do to enlarge the light source and have it coming from a more natural direction will make it more flattering.

Answer:
Essentially, the larger the light source, the "softer" the shadow, given the same lighting source to subject distance. The larger light source makes the transition between the area which is fully illuminated and the area in deep shadow more gradual or "softer". By using a LumiQuest® device, or any bounce surface for that matter, you are making that surface the new light source, thereby increasing the size of the light source.

Question:
What is the advantage of a LumiQuest® product over direct flash?

Answer:
Virtually every light in your home or the typical photographic studio is manipulated in some way before it reaches the subject which it is illuminating. LumiQuest® products allow the photographer to generally soften, more evenly distribute and control the light from a hand-held flash unit.

Question:
How do LumiQuest® accessories and diffusers attach to my flash?

Answer:
Each accessory comes with self-adhesive hook and loop fasteners. However, if you prefer not to attach the adhesive to you flash, the Cinch Strap is available to temporarily attach the loop material to your flash.

Answer:
LumiQuest® accessories (with the exception of the Snoot) do not interfere with the automatic features on most flashes, however, maximum operating distances are reduced.

Answer:
The Pocket Bouncer is not only the most popular LumiQuest® product, it is the most popular bounce device in the world.

Answer:
The 80-20 allows the photographer to utilize ceiling bounce techniques while filling the shadows cast by the ceiling bounce with 20% of the light bouncing into the subject off the device.

Answer:
The ProMax System is a six-piece system that enables the photographer to deal with a variety of situations on location. The basic 80-20 allows for ceiling bounce with 20% of the light reflecting forward to fill the shadows cast by the ceiling bounce. Gold, silver and white bounce surfaces can be attached to the 80-20 in situations where no neutral ceiling is available. The diffusion screen can be attached for additional softness for close-ups.

Question:
What is the purpose of the cutout front on the SoftBox ? Also, why is there additional diffusion material in the center of the SoftBox?

Answer:
The notched out portion of the SoftBox enables it to be used without interfering with the automatic functions of most flashes. The additional diffusion material helps eliminate the hot spot and provides for more even illumination.

Question:
How much light will I use?

Answer:
Depending on the device selected, you can expect a light loss of from 1 to 3 stops. Since the devices are most needed and most effective when you are 10 - 12 feet from the subject or closer, about the distance at which the light loss becomes an issue, the devices are not very effective. And conversely, when you are within the effective range of the devices, the light loss is less of a factor.

Answer:
Many wedding photographers use a Pocket Bouncer under conditions in which there is no low neutral ceiling to bounce off of and an 80-20 when there is a ceiling available. A silver insert is also useful to add a more specular look to highlights when photographing a bride.

Answer:
The ProMax System is a kit which serves the purpose of the three most popular LumiQuest® devices and then some. The 80-20, which allows 80% of the light to bounce off the ceiling and 20% to fill the shadows cast by the ceiling bounce, serves as the frame to support gold, silver and white inserts and an optional diffusion screen for close-ups.

Question:
I shoot mainly portraits and close-up shots. Which LumiQuest® product is right for my application?

Answer:
Either the Softbox, the Ultrasoft or the Big Bounce, depending on the degree of softness required and acceptable level of light loss.

Question:
Do you have any products for the bare bulb flashes such as the Quantum Q Flash?

Answer:
The SoftBox II was designed for circular reflector/bare bulb flashes such as the Lumedyne, the Sunpak 120J and the Quantum Q Flash.

Answer:
LumiQuest® products are designed to cover approximately 85 degrees which will cover a 24mm lens on a 35mm camera.

Answer:
No, LumiQuest® products will fit a wide range of flash head sizes.

The only exception is the SoftBox II which was designed for the circular reflector/bare bulb flashes such as the Lumedyne, the Sunpak 120J and the Quantum Q Flash.

Answer:
To isolate the light to a very specific area such as for an accent light or hair light. The Snoot covers approximately 10 degrees.

Answer:
The Mini SoftBox will fold up to go in your coat or shirt pocket. Of course, it does not produce a light as soft as the larger SoftBoxes, but it is softer than direct flash.

Answer:
The Pocket Bouncer does not interfere with the automatic features of most flashes, however, maximum operating distances will be reduced. Check to be sure that the confirmation light is working and that the device is attached at a 45 degree angle to the flash. Also, substantially greater light loss will be experienced if a portion of the light misses the bounce surface.

Answer:
The SoftBox II was designed for circular reflector/bare bulb flashes such as the Lumedyne, the Sunpak 120J and the Quantum Q Flash. It can be attached to the Nikon SB24, however, since it blocks the sensor in the flash it must be used in TTL or manual modes.

Answer:
With regards to your question about "sideways" or vertical shooting with a 35mm camera, it will create a shadow behind the opposite side of the subject. In fact, since the flash is always at least some distance from the lens, it will always cast a shadow. The degree to which that shadow is visible or objectionable is determined by (among other things) whether or not the lens can see the shadow. If an object in the frame, including the subject, is blocking the lens from "seeing" the shadow or there is nothing within the frame upon which to cast the shadow, then the shadow will not be visible. Since most subjects are connected in some way to the floor, a flash location above the camera is often preferable if an objective is to reduce shadows. With the flash in this location, the bulk of the shadows are behind and below the subject and, therefore, cannot be "seen" by the lens.

Answer:
The five colored gels do not correspond to any standard or color temperature value. Color selection was based simply on what colors might be most useful and, obviously, any other color gel can be cut for use in the holder. Over the years, I have periodically found the need to colorize the light for some special effect and this product is the result of that need. Should there be a demand for other specific colors, we are prepared to put together additional kits incorporating those colors.