Nikon manual David Busch’s Nikon D7000 Guide to Digital SLR Photography

434David Busch’s Nikon D7000 Guide to Digital SLR Photography

■Bounce the light. External electronic flash units mounted on the D7000 usually have a swivel that allows them to be pointed up at a ceiling for a bounce light effect. You can also bounce the light off a wall. You’ll want the ceiling or wall to be white or have a neutral color to avoid a color cast.

■Use reflectors. Another way to bounce the light is to use reflectors or umbrellas that you can position yourself to provide a greater degree of control over the quan- tity and direction of the bounced light. Good reflectors can be pieces of foamboard, Mylar, or a reflective disk held in place by a clamp and stand. Although some expen- sive umbrellas and reflectors are available, spending a lot isn’t necessary. A simple piece of white foamboard does the job beautifully. Umbrellas have the advantage of being compact and foldable, while providing a soft, even kind of light. They’re rel- atively cheap, too, with a good 40-inch umbrella available for as little as $20. I pur- chased some collapsible round aluminized reflectors used to block an automobile’s windshield from the rays of the sun—at a remarkable two for $7.98.

■Use diffusers. Nikon supplies a Sto-Fen-style diffuser dome with the SB-900 and SB-700 flash. You can purchase a similar diffuser for the SB-600 from Nikon, Sto- Fen, and some other vendors that offer clip-on diffusers. The two examples shown in Figures 10.21 and 10.22 fit over your electronic flash head and provide a soft, flattering light. These add-ons are more portable than umbrellas and other reflec- tors, yet provide a nice diffuse lighting effect.

Figure 12.21 This diffuser dome is provided by Nikon with the SB-900, and softens the light of an external flash unit.

Figure 12.22 Soft boxes use Velcro strips to attach them to just about any shoe-mount flash unit.