softening light

[naoki]

If you can change the direction of your flash, then bouncing is the cheapest way. You can direct the light to the side or up, and then hold a large white paper, and bounce back the light to the subject.

Or with available light, you can use north facing window or you could wait for cloudy days to get diffused light.

But I think getting the flash off camera is the 1st thing to improve photography as Rosie suggested. I would go with cheap radio trippers instead of wired remote flash. Then you can use soft boxes, or umbrella (either reflective or shoot-through).

https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/...tudio-umbrella
https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/...tudio-umbrella

For me, umbrella is easier than softboxes to set up.

Here are a couple DIY ideas:
How To Build 24 DIY Softboxes - DIY Photography

Before I got the lighting setup (it improves photography much more than buying a new camera), I also used something like what Ray mentioned. I used a cardboard box, put the aluminum foil inside, and covered one end with thin fabric, and made a hole in the back to stick a flash head into.

If you don't want to go with remote tripper route, you can use high power CFLs in the softbox.

[estación seca]

Are you talking about light for photography, or growing plants?

[Ray]

Experiment with waxed paper layers over the flash, held in place with tape. In a pinch, I've been known to hold a plastic food container over mine, too.

[Ray]

Beautiful photo, Sarah!

[wintergirl]

Really wonderful bloom picture.

[Kevinator]

Well there goes my hopes down the drain. I won't be able to get an off camera flash for some time. I experimented with the paper-over-flash method but the pictures just seemed worse than before. I have to say the only luck I had was with bouncing an LED desk light off of a white wall at close proximity. It was really uncomfortable to take the pictures because of the dimness of the light source but they seemed slightly better than the ones with paper over the flash. If I could get a brighter light, I might be able to pull it off, but then again,I'm not sure if my parents want any more expensive photography equipment in the house.

[tropterrarium]

If cost is an issue for external flash, consider getting the cheapest non-ttl flash, use it in manual mode connected via PC sync. Nikon has a $20 adapter from hot-shoe to PC sync (AS 15), PC sync cables are very cheap, then get some ancient Metz 60 or similar off e-bay or the rummage bin of your local camera store or swap meet. Lots of power but no electronics. Takes a bit of experimentation to get the flash power vs. distance right, but for static flowers with camera on tripod, is sure works. Diffuse by any means available: through cloth, bounce off white surface, use brightening card-board opposite light source. You want a pretty powerful flash, because the softening of the light will reduce intensity quite a bit.

[estación seca]

You want light. A separate flash attachment is convenient for many reasons, but cost can be an issue.

They don't use flash for movies. Get a really bright halogen work light and set it up where you would want to put the flash. Bounce it off walls or ceiling, or filter it through whatever you like.

Don't burn yourself nor your filter, and don't burn your house down. These things get incredibly hot, and stay hot long after they're turned off. You can get a severe burn just touching it for a fraction of a second.

Make sure the electrical circuit can handle an additional 500 Watts - i. e., pretty much nothing else on the circuit.

500-Watt Portable Halogen Light