They come in all shapes and sizes, from dome, to balls, to squares, to octagons... but I have no idea why one would choose one shape over another. Please help!
I have a set of three I ordered from b&h--two rectangles of differnt sizes and one round. I also have a small square one. These are like soft boxes for your flash gun. I use the round one the most. I shoot mostly flowers and aquariums, the round seems to be OK. However, I am going another technique at the aquarium my next time there and one of rectangles may work best then.
@aquaina Oh, the diffusers that fit over the flash. I got a set of 3, but have never used them. I don't like using my flash anyway because I don't know that much (read, nothing) about it. ;)
The shape is really only useful for catchlights. For instance when you take a portrait, the flash should reflect in their eyes. What shape that reflection takes on will depend on the light shape.
@juliedduncan I am going to purchase an external flash, because the built in flash is generally crap. I've read that the diffuser can really help. I think an external flash is going to make a huge difference for me. If you google image search both "external flash vs built in" and "before and after flash diffuser" you can get a lot of comparison photos, and see what a HUGE difference it can make. I'm new to flashes as well, but I think it will be worth learning. :)
I recently 'engeneered' myself a flash diffuser for my pop-up flash out of a white piece of paper. Works like a charm. Unless I'm far away of course. I have no experience with commercial flash diffusers.
I own and like the Rogue Flashbender too. I have the long rectangle one that can act as a stripbox too. Bigger than most speedlite attachments, it is handy for softening light when your subject is five to ten feet away. Because of its size, it can be a tad bulky to carry around, especially in a crowd.
Speedlights (i.e. external camera flashes) are a great tool but they become really versatile when you take them off the camera and use a long wire or wireless trigger system to set them off. Stobist ( http://strobist.blogspot.ca/ to learn ) is a great resource to learn more about off-camera flash techniques.
@juliedduncan Color is important if you are shooting in mixed light situations and going for the "slow synch" effect of getting the background into play. Flash is typically a "cool" color, incandescent warm, and fluorescents, well, simply green, garish and sort of sickly looking. The color of the diffuser should match the color of the ambient light, so that a single white balance adjustment will work across the frame
I've got one that slots onto my flash and is an opaque open ended box and I have just got a rogue flash bender, which is fab for directing flash light very specifically.........wouldn't be without either
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Speedlights (i.e. external camera flashes) are a great tool but they become really versatile when you take them off the camera and use a long wire or wireless trigger system to set them off. Stobist ( http://strobist.blogspot.ca/ to learn ) is a great resource to learn more about off-camera flash techniques.