Demb Flash Diffuser Pro Vs Lightsphere Cloud

I am a big fan of Gary Fong's lightsphere product, but I am searching for an alternative diffuser with better versatile that works in different situations (ceiling or no ceiling) and use less power.

I heard a lot of good things about Demb Flash Diffuser Pro and like to compare it with Gary Fong's Lightsphere Cloud.

Test photos are shot with D700 SB-900 manual and manual flash mode.

First Test: bounce with a 30 ft ceiling.





Second Test: bounce with a 10 ft ceiling.





I think Demb Flash Diffuser Pro does a better job on saving flash/battery power and offers more versatile in your camera bag. However, if location has a low ceiling then lightsphere will do a better job.

Happy Shooting.

In Search for a Better Diffuser (Part 1)

For years, I been a hardcore Gary Fong's Lightsphere users. I have the original cloud, Clear Lightsphere II, and Universal. I was happy with it, but after upgraded to Nikon SB-900, none of it fit even the universal. It draws too much power from the flash, and it is hard to carrry. None of it can fit it my camera bag.

So here I am searching for the best diffuser/reflector that I can easily pack and use it with or without a ceiling....

Here is some I found which is extremely useful (as good as lightsphere) and cost just a few penny.

The bubble wrap packaging solution!











I just purchased Demb Flash Diffuser Pro, I heard a lot of good things with it. So please just back for review.

Enjoy Shooting!

Miracle Does Exist

It was a tough week for expected parents that your OB Dr. told you that your baby would be 99% miscarriage and told us to hope for a miracle.

The hCG level was abnormal and it didn’t rises normally after a three blood tests. We were told by the OB Dr. that the chance of miscarriage would be 99%. There was a bunch of why questions but nothing got answered. We were confused and I was scared. It was going to be the second time of miscarriage and I started to have doubt in my manhood or Is it something wrong with me or Carrie. I never been that confused and scared and my anxiety weren’t helping Carrie at all. Neither that I was being not supportive nor facing this issue with Carrie. I was running away from the problem and feeling worthless. It was hurting our relationship but I know soon it will be recovered.

The real deal happened last night. Carrie had a bad cramps and abdominal pain when we were watching TV around 11pm. We were rushed to ER and I expected we would had a D&C perform that day. My anxiety was gone because I knew after this miscarriage we will start to rebuild our relationship and new hope. Most importantly Carrie will be safe in ER. I pray after she checked in and I asked GOD to give Carrie the courage and give us a safe journey in this process. I didn’t hope for a miracle to happen, I just don’t want to hope too much and be more disappointed.

After 3 hours or wait we finally got an official ultra sound done. I was watching the monitor and I did see something beating. Could it be our baby’s heart? I can’t hope too much because I don’t believe in “Miracle” nor miracle could happen to us.

The ER Dr (Chin) finally showed up and we told him the story that the OB Dr told us. Dr. Chin told us he has a different story (a good story) and he said there is a baby and it is a living baby.
The joy was indescribable and it was a truly miracle happened. Tears were in our eyes and it was and relieve.

This was a life experience and what a lesson to learn on how I did wrong and how to handle the situation better.

God, please let our baby be healthy and give me wisdom on how to comfort my wife and be a supportive husband.

Carrie:

"You are not alone, together we stand"
"I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand"
"And it feels like the end, there's no place to go"
"You know I won't give in"

"Keep holding on, cause you know we'll make it through, just stay strong"

Photoshop Eyeshadow & Eyelashes

I found some brushes for eyelash and eyeshadow. It is a very usually tools for edit head shot.
http://www.brushes.obsidiandawn.com/people.htm


Before:

After:

Photoshop Tutorial: Eye Make-up

This tutorial will show you how to add eyeshadow and eyeliner to your picture.


Step 1: Create a new layer then choose "color" as the blending mode for eyeliner

Step 2: Select a brush, for this tutorial I'm using Size 17 with Color "4c4912" for the eyeliner.

Step 3: Start a new layer then choose "Soft Light" as the blending mode for eyeshadow

Step 4: Select a brush, for this step I'm using Size 65 with Color "88952e" for the eyeshadow.

And the final result...

Short Lighting

Carrie #1, originally uploaded by snaperture.

Short light is type of studio lighting setup, where the face side which is further from the camera gets the main light. see the diagram for details. In this type of lighting setup, the side of the face which is toward the camera gets less light then the side facing away form the camera.

32" x 40" Softbox
20 Degree Honey Comb Grid
42" White Circular Reflector

ISO 200, 1/80 F7.1

Here is the diagram:

Photoshop Tutorial: Smooth Skin Foundation

Before



After


Here are the steps to smooth skin / apply foundation:

Create a new layer.
Use Filter Highpass and set 9.0 (Filter, Other)
Use Filter Gaussian Blur 3.0
Invert the Image (Image, Adjustment)
Change the blending mode to Overlay.
Add layer mask fill with black.
Select skin use Magic Wand Tool and fill it with White.
(you can also use brush and paint the mask white on the skin area)

Make sure don't select hair, lip, and eyes beacause you want those area to be sharp.