Canon Flash Diffuser

      Flash diffusers, in one form or another, have been used by photographers on flashes just about as long as speedlights have been available. From the first speedlight introduced, photographers have realized that the light a flash produces is harsh, and usually an unattractive color. Not to mention that the light comes from directly above the lens, which flattens depth and creates an overall unflattering light source.

      It is our intent to provide useful information about what a flash diffuser is capable of, and what it is not. Regardless of the specific flash diffuser design used, a flash diffuser by nature has limitations to what it can do. Although just about any flash diffuser is going to be somewhat better than direct flash, a photographer should not expect a flash diffuser to be as effective as a large studio soft box. However, using a large studio type soft box on camera simply isn't practical for on- location shoots.

      A balance between size and effectiveness must be designed into a flash diffuser. Some manufacturers of flash diffusers have claimed that the light produced by their flash diffuser is even better than that of two studio umbrellas. Those of us who have used flash diffusers, know that this is simply hype marketing. No flash diffuser can produce anything remotely close to studio quality light. If this were true, studio owners would be using flash diffusers instead of their bulky soft boxes and umbrellas.

A strategy for producing pleasing on location light includes:

• Using a flash diffuser that makes effective use of light.
• Using a high ISO to balance the foreground and background
  light, to reduce the amount of light needed to supplement
  the available light.
• Using slow shutter speeds coupled with wide apertures to
  reduce the amount of light needed to supplement
  the available light.
• Changing the direction of the light by using a suitable surface
  (such as a white wall) to bounce light from onto the subject.

      The fact is, flash diffusers are a necessary evil for those photographers who shoot on location, and do not have complete control over the lighting environments in which they find themselves. The key in general, is to reduce one's dependence of on-camera flash as much as possible. Of course, it should be mentioned that photography is an art form, and one artist's opinion about what is unattractive is another artist's style. However, the vast majority of photographers agree that on-camera, direct flash is unpleasing and should be avoided. When a well designed flash diffuser is used properly, it is possible to reduce the unpleasing effect of both harsh light, and the unflattering look of direct flash.

About the ProFusion Flash Diffuser - Function over form
      What sets the ProFusion apart is its ability to throw light much farther than other diffusers, and it’s ability to fight light fall-off to an unmatched degree. This breakthrough frees the photographer to concentrate on other aspects of their craft, while being assured that their light output is not just diffused, but also the expected output.

      The ProFusion was designed by Brad Walters, and internationally acclaimed wedding and commercial photographer who saw a need for a totally new flash diffuser.  Almost two years of designing, prototyping, testing, re-prototyping, and re-testing, went into the creation of the ProFusion flash diffuser.  Designed with the cooperation and inputs of both a physicist and a product engineer, and of multiple talented photographers, a new flash diffuser was designed that was uniquely versatile, highly effective, portable and more importantly, did not succumb to premature flash fall-off caused by diffusers. The idea behind the ProFusion’s design is that light must be bounced multiple times within a 4-inch by 7-inch area directly above the speedlight, before having to be thrown in one direction. Flash diffusers that make use a softbox approach, wherein the light is expected to make it’s way out of a semi-opaque diffuser, then sent 360 degrees in all directions, has proven to be too much for a speedlight to handle in anything but ideal lighting conditions.  The perfect balance is to bounce the light as many times as possible in the small area above the flash, and then to send that light in one direction. This is the formula for a well-designed, effective, function-over-form flash diffuser.