catchlights and flash guns

MagicMynx said:
I'm really stuck guys... I know that diffusing the light will create bigger catchlights, but I can't for the life of me get good catchlights when using the flashgun. :thinking: Any thoughts?
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'Diffusion' is one of those words that marketing folks like to abuse.

If you mean nice big catchlights, then you need a nice big light source - like an umbrella or softbox.
 
A flashgun produces the smallest catch lights as in essence its a small light source.
As hoppy said, the bigger the light source the bigger the catch lights.
 
What are you doing with your flash gun at the moment?
 
On phone atm, but will upload later YV. I like using a mini softbox type diffuser on the flashgun. If that's off, (apologies fir explaination, my words don't work atm) the flash is usually about (guessing) 70ish degrees - not straight up, not straight facing, with the diffuser screen down and the reflector card out. Obviously catchlights are much better with studio kit but...well, I can't take that everywhere :P lol
 
MagicMynx said:
Examples:-

<snip>

is that as good as I'm gonna get? :(
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Yes. Small light source, small catch-lights - and harder shadows too.

Size is relative to distance so if you move a smaller light closer, it becomes bigger, but in this case you'd have to move it so very close it would wreck everything.

Suggest a small portable softbox or brolly, maybe something like this Lastolite Brolly Grip http://www.lastolite.com/brolly-grip.php I use one of these, Gamilight 43cm square, and that's okay from about 3ft http://www.ephotozine.com/article/ukphotodistro-announce-softbox-concept-22607 Very light too, so it can go directly on the flash gun, but has to go off-camera.

Super-portable flash is always a compromise between what's best and what's practical. Lots of stuff about, though this Lumiquest BigBounce is about as big as it gets on-camera http://store.lumiquest.com/lumiquest-big-bounce/
 
MagicMynx said:
Ahh I should probably stop beating myself up then. Lol

Thank you xx
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Keep beating yourself up, now you know what's giving you the bad lighting, you have to fix it, then you can stop beating tyourself up (or you'll find a new problem - something else to beat yourself up about) I still come out of every shoot with ideas and regrets (30 years in :()
 
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