I finally found some time to do quick test of the ring flash attachment. As I expected, it loses 1 to 1.5 stops of light, so I had to dial +1.5EV on my flash. The light is very smooth and even and catchlights are perfectly round 
Verdict - definitely worth hundred bucks spent.
Thanks to Strobist, DIY ring flash attachments to on-camera strobes became very popular among amateur photographers. The ring flash creates soft and uniform yet shadow-less light, almost like wrapped around your subject. I made my own version about a year ago, from the pair of plastic salad bowls sold in Ikea for a couple of bucks and a piece of plastic pipe connector. It worked for me pretty well; however, it’s too bulky and the major problem is that I had to hold the flash with the attachment in one hand and the heavy camera with lens attached in the second hand. I was very excited when Ray Flash was announced, but a) it’s not available for my flash+camera combination (5D + 550EX) and b) they want $300 for a nice piece of black and translucent plastic. Instead, I picked a cheap knock-off on eBay for $90 + free s/h. It has no brand name so I called it DDIY - Don’t Do It Yourself
Next week I will test it and post some results here.
Ever wanted to attend any major event for free? Bring your camera and shoot pictures? How about getting access to the media pit, sitting next to pros and shoot your favorite band?
Shutterstock has a new program called RedCarpet. You don’t have to be a pro photographer and no previous experience required - simply become a Shutterstock submitter, read the rules, complete the form, send it out - and enjoy your free media pass!
With Shutterstock help, I received my media credentials for two big airshows, California International Airshow and Aviation Nation.
My old blog was hijacked and I didn’t post anything here for a while. But today I decided to reviisit the old thing, give it a little bit of a facelift and bring it back online. Welcome the new blog!
