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The Gary Fong WhaleTail
Flash Diffuser
by
J. Ramon Palacios
username jrp
Nikonian
in Mexico
tell
a friend about this article
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The
Tale of the Tail
Complex
lighting situations requiring light balancing were already
largely solved with the Gary
Fong Lightsphere System II. CLOUD
for warm close-ups; CLEAR for wide spaces,
groups and cooler portraits; CLOUD with CHROME dome for
higher ceilings and further reach; CLOUD with AMBER
dome for tungsten light balancing. No more dark areas,
shadows under the eyes, or red-eye, with pleasing natural
look - no "deer-under-the-headlights" effect
or hot spots. So it was quite a surprise when Gary told
us he
was launching a newer product. What
for? was our first question.
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GaryFong
Lightsphere II Clear, WhaleTail Reporter and Lightsphere
II Cloud |
The
series below was made from a Nikon
D2X set at P program mode (sorry, it was too early
in the morning) and matrix metering. The lens is a 28-70mm
f/2.8D ED AF-S Nikkor.
The speedlight,
a single
SB-800 hotshoe mounted on camera with five fresh Energizer
batteries, set at i-TTL. ISO 100, resulting in 1/60
sec f/4 exposures. White Balance on AUTO. Color
space sRGB (I). No levels nor curves adjustments were made
except for D-Lightening on Nikon Capture 4.4.2. The model,
my elder grandson landing with a tan from a week at
the beach.
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Front and back flaps down |
Front
flap down back flap up |
The two flaps down in front |
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This
flaps combination diffuses direct light into
the subject and
the light bouncing from the ceiling |
While
diffusing direct harsh light into the subject,
increases the light bouncing from the ceiling |
Diffuses,
softens and warms up the light into
the subject while
still bouncing light from the ceiling |
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GF
LightSphere II CLOUD
Upwards with white dome |
GF
LightSphere II CLOUD
Upwards with no dome |
GF
LightSphere II CLOUD
Bounced into the wall
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So
this short session was one of delightful discovery, understanding
Gary Fong's reply to our question: "Flexibility." The
WhaleTail adds flexibility to the intensity and quality
of light,
both to the direct and the indirect bounced light. Nice!
And you can do it with just the flipping up or down of
the flaps in several combinations.
The
WhaleTail renders warmth into the skin, somewhere between
the Lightsphere CLEAR and the Lightsphere CLOUD.
How
the WhaleTail compares to other diffusers is next. |
