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Homemade Flash Diffuser

Using external flashes opens up a whole new world for photographers who know how to use them. Direct flash can be harsh and make your subjects look washed out. Another challenge with flash photography is the harsh shadows that can result. The easiest way to correct these is to use a diffuser over the flash head. This will lessen the intensity of the flash and create a softer, more natural light. You can buy are a number of commercial diffusers, or you can easily make one at home out of a used plastic milk jug.

Things You'll Need

Used milk jug
Scissors
Strong elastic band

Instructions

- 1
  Rinse out an empty plastic milk jug and cut the bottom out of it.
- 2
  Cut the sides of the jug out so you have a fairly flat piece of translucent plastic.
- 3
  Place the flash in the center of one of the pieces of plastic you have cut out and trace the size of the front of the flash head onto the plastic.
- 4
  Measure 1 inch above, below and to the sides of the tracing of the flash head. Draw a rectangle to connect the points. You should be looking at the plastic and see two rectangles, one representing the flash head and then a larger one to go around the flash head.
- 5
  Cut around the larger rectangle.
- 6
  Place two or three elastic bands around the top of the flash head. Place the top of the plastic diffuser into the elastic band on the top of the flash head.
- 7
  Place the bottom of the plastic into the bottom portion of the elastic band on the flash head.
- 8
  Cut the sides so they bend toward the flash head and can be secured by the elastic band.

Photography