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DIY Diffuser Out of a Milk Jug

Flash units for your digital camera allow you to photograph in low light situations or direct additional light on your subject. Too much direct light, though can lead to harsh shadows and overwhelm the subtle details of your subject. Small light boxes or diffusers that attach to flash units soften and spread the light around and give your photograph a subtler, softer look. Avoid the cost of expensive diffusers by creating an effective, inexpensive diffuser from an empty milk jug that is held in place with rubber bands.

Things You'll Need

Dish soap
Scissors
Thick rubber bands

Instructions

- 1
  Empty the jug of any remaining milk. A gallon or half gallon jug made of translucent plastic will provide best results. Wash out the jug thoroughly using warm water and several squirts of dish soap. Rinse out the jug with cool, fresh water and allow it to air dry.
- 2
  Cut off the mouth of the jug using a pair of scissors. The plastic may be tough, so be sure to cut slowly and carefully. When you finish, the sloping top part of the jug should be left mostly intact.
- 3
  Orient the jug so that the hole at the top faces upward. Make two vertical cuts, about 1-inch long, in the top of the jug. The cuts should face each other from across the hole. Avoid making the cuts near the handle of the jug.
- 4
  Slide the head of your flash unit into the opening of the jug. The cuts you made should slide down around the sides of your flash unit.
- 5
  Secure the diffuser to the head of your flash unit using large rubber bands or tape.

Photography