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How to Make a Reflector Dish for Flash

A reflector dish is commonly referred to as a ̶0;beauty dish̶1; because it uses softer light to enhance the beauty of the subject. The reflector dish is mounted onto the flash and light from the flash then diffuses outward around the subject, illuminating the area evenly, rather than directing the light at a particular location on the subject. This helps to eliminate shadows and is a great way to de-emphasize blemishes and other imperfections.

Things You'll Need

Large, shallow bowl
Aluminum tape (or white, silver or gold paint)
Large wall door stopper
Bottom gutter downspout
Epoxy adhesive
Small ̶0;L̶1; brackets (optional)
Rotary tool
Bolts
Large ̶0;L̶1; bracket

Instructions

- 1
  Place the large, shallow bowl on your work surface and cover the inside of the bowl with aluminum tape. This creates a reflective surface. Apply the tape as smoothly as possible. You do not want any wrinkles in the tape. You can alternatively paint the inside of the bowl a metallic silver instead. For a softer light, paint the inside of the bowl with a flat white paint or gold paint.
- 2
  Lay the large wall door stopper on your work surface. Place the gutter downspout on top of the stopper, as centered as possible. Trace around the downspout and then take it off the stopper. Cut out the vent shape, just inside of the tracing.
- 3
  Apply epoxy adhesive around the flat edge of the downspout and press it against the stopper to cover the new hole. If the downspout does not have a flat edge, use small "L" brackets to attach it instead.
- 4
  Place the opposite edge of the downspout on the top center of the large bowl. Trace around the shape and cut out the shape with a rotary tool.
- 5
  Slide the downspout through the new hole from the inside of the bowl. The stopper sits inside the bowl, pressed against the bottom.
- 6
  Drill through the stopper and the bowl and insert bolts to hold the pieces together.
- 7
  Hold the large "L" bracket against the underside of the bowl, just beneath the downspout. Drill through the bowl and use bolts to secure the bracket.
- 8
  Secure the bracket to a light stand and insert the flash into the downspout. The flash should rest on the bottom of the ̶0;L̶1; bracket.

Photography