{"id":2618,"date":"2013-03-03T16:09:45","date_gmt":"2013-03-03T16:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2618"},"modified":"2023-07-02T13:53:31","modified_gmt":"2023-07-02T13:53:31","slug":"strobist-flash-bender-accessory-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/strobist-flash-bender-accessory-test\/%20","title":{"rendered":"Flash Accessory Test"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flash Bender Accessories – New Toys!<\/h1>\n

Always on the look out for new “light modifiers” of “flash accessories” to advance my off camera flash photography – I’d seen these flash benders around before, so thought I’d take the plunge and get a couple.<\/p>\n

I took them up to Temple Newsham with trombonist Chris Colbran and had a look at what they can do.<\/p>\n

What are they?<\/h2>\n

First off, here’s\u00a0Chris\u00a0altering one – you can see that they strap on to the front of the flash with velcro and have a pretty large white area off which to bend your light. Inside the plastic are 3 metal rods which easily deform into any shape you like – including a “snoot”, or tube, which creates a spot light.<\/p>\n

They’re really light compared to metal snoots, so no worries about breaking the flash with the extra weight.<\/p>\n

The one in the shot is fitted side on, so you can use it as a “gobo” – a light blocker, a bit like one part of a Barn Door flash accessory… handy for stopping light spills on rim lights.<\/p>\n

\"_MG_1561\"<\/a><\/p>\n

On this next shot we can see the flash in action – the front one is camera<\/a> right lighting Chris’ face – the rear creating a rim. I’ve for the flash pointing vertically and the bender curved towards Chris.<\/p>\n

The surface is a bit rippled, so you get more spread of light than bouncing of a flash reflector would do.<\/p>\n

\"_MG_1529\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A bit closer in with this shot, you can see the bent reflector<\/p>\n

\"_MG_1526\"<\/a><\/p>\n

They’re not that big and don’t seem to catch the wind in the same way a brolly would do – or a softbox for that matter. Was on a hiding to nothing with this particular setup – but you get another shot of the bender in action… impaling a passing mother!<\/p>\n

\"_MG_1497\"<\/a><\/p>\n

So to some completed shots. Here’s my favourite from the shoot – used a 3-stop ND grad to kill the sky, ISO50 and 1\/250th sec also helped. The front flash was incredibly close to Chris to light his face through the ND grad.<\/p>\n

The back light\u00a0subtly adds some sheen to the back of his jacket – the Bender was acting like a snoot at this point – needed the power of direct flash on this one.<\/p>\n

\"_MG_1530\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This had 2 snooted flashes pointing directly at Chris – with Chris standing exactly 1\/2 way between them Note how small the lit area is – the snoots really do create a small pool of light so you need to direct them accurately and make sure your model dosn’t move far!<\/p>\n

\"_MG_1575\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Another with cross lighting – this time with chris playing almost straight into the light source. The bender softens the light quite a lot.<\/p>\n

\"_MG_1535\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Back light probably a little too powerful on this one, nice on his jacket, but causing a bright patch on his neck. The front light is really smooth, creating a shadowless effect.<\/p>\n

\"_MG_1514\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Pretty cool effect here too – lights in the same position as the last shot, just a better angle for the back light to do its thing<\/p>\n

\"_MG_1504\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And finally, that epic sky look…<\/p>\n

\"_MG_1509\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Would I recommend them???<\/h1>\n

So they cost about \u00a315 each from China… money well spent as they do seem to create a decent light, they are very convenient to carry around and double up as back-light gobos.<\/p>\n

Well worth the money – will be showing them off at workshops in the future.<\/p>\n