Build a DIY bounce reflector for your speedlite and instantly create beautiful soft portraits
The humble Speedlite aka hotshoe flash or on-camera flash is one of the first accessories photographers buy after acquiring their first DSLR or mirrorless camera. To some the Speedlite is a necessary evil as they are relatively low powered compared to portable battery flashes, other photographers have built a whole career lighting with Speedlites because of their size and portability.
A Speedlite is, in effect, a small hard point fresnel lens light source. They are described as hard as the shadows produce a hard edge transition with no softness and are generally dark or dense. Softening the light from a Speedlite is relatively easy by bouncing the light from a white wall or ceiling, creating what is, in effect, a larger light source. If there’s not a handy wall or ceiling nearby, the light can be bounced from a bounce card attached to the flash head. There are many commercially available bounce cards from online and high street stores, some costing up to £75.00 or more.
There is a cheap or cost-effective alternative—the DIY Bounce Card. The design shown in this article has a flat white and a bright silver side and can be shaped for more control. It’s constructed from two sheets of sticky-backed foam from a craft store and flexible wire used by florists.
The only tool you’ll need is a pair of scissors to trim away two corners, as shown in the diagram. As I’m based in the UK, the size of the foam is A4 or 297 x 210mm (11.69 x 8.27 inches). I opted for sticky back as it’s much cleaner than messing with tubs, tubes, or aerosols of glue.
Assembly
Lay one sheet of foam on a flat level surface and then cut three lengths of aluminium florist wire to length as shown on the diagram. I recommend measuring wire length based on the material you intend to use. The diagram is a guide and not an absolute one. If using a self-adhesive sheet, remove the protective backing and lay the wires in place.
Remember, if using a sticky back sheet, only one needs to be sticky-backed. Place the second sheet into place and gently smooth the sheets together using a soft cloth such as a microfibre cleaning cloth. Once the sheets are stuck together, trim two corners 100 mm into the long edge and 30 mm into the short edge at one end to create a taper. This is the end that attaches to the Speedlite head.
Attaching to the Speedlite
As you’ll see in the photos, all you need to hold your DIY bounce card onto your flash is a rubber or elastic band (this one was discarded by a local postal worker). You could also use a length of double sided hook and loop tape, electrical, duct gaffers tape, a cable tie or even a scrunchie hair tie.
In use
Including the flexible wire in this design allows the DIY bounce card to be shaped and remain in shape. By shaping the DIY bounce card, you can control and direct soft light toward your model or subject. It’s worth experimenting if you want to become familiar with the effect of the light in different scenarios. Over the years, I’ve found a simple polystyrene display head painted with water-based paints a useful tool for visualising tonal range and shadow edge transition for portraits, especially when the images are converted to black and white.
The white surface of the DIY bounce card will give a softer light than the silver side, which will give a harder light with more sparkle or specularity.In this real-world example using the DIY bounce card attached to an on-camera Speedlite, the reflected light has created soft and flattering butterfly lighting which is recognised by the distinct butterfly shape shadow under the model’s nose on her upper lip.
The DIY bounce card can be further modified by using fold-back paper clips to hold coloured gels or diffusion media over the bounce surface.
Conclusion
For less than £10 GBP it’s possible to create a very useful Speedlite flash modifier for photographers who use or are thinking of buying a Speedlite anytime soon. There are few photography accessories that are so cheap and effective as the DIY bounce card.
For those of you thinking about buying a Speedlite Flash, watch out for my guide to buying your first Speedlite – it need not break the bank to buy a quality product.
