Don Lashier said:
Eric, I like the one on the right. But I'm confused - the article was a DIY so why did you have to wait for Adorama. Gaffers tape and black mat board is an old trick for spill control, but my Photoflex came with a grid in the kit.
I wasn't just referring to the DIY macro studio, but the whole off camera lighting site. I've always stuck to nature photography before - believe it or not this was my first time to see gaffers tape, much less use it.
I didn't have anything but a camera and a hot-shoe flash, so I needed an assortment of items. I got impatient and bought enough cables to do PC-sync while waiting for delivery, but I waited for the package to arrive with my umbrella. Of course, with my impatience I now just need another flash (and possibly a hot-shoe to PC terminal adapter) and umbrella to have 2 lights.
The one on the left had my 580EX shooting into an umbrella at 1/4 power, which had enough spillover to light my surroundings. The one on the right was the same flash pointed directly at me at 1/128 power.
Today at work I got an extra surprise. When my package arrived yesterday (delayed because the light stand was backordered), one of the PC cords was missing and listed as backordered. Then today I got it in a separate package, in different packaging from the first. Very professional. Makes me wonder why everyone recommends Adorama, especially since I made sure nothing was listed as backordered before I placed my order (I'm impatient like that).