DIY : Poor’s man ring flash

I’ve previously discussed here a a do it yourself methods to build a ring flash but this one is by far the cheapest :)

It is not exactly a ring flash but rather a flash diffuser done with milk-jug, so it is practically free

First here is what a milk-jug looks like

Picture by Duncan

And here is the dissection in pictures (Photos by James Harrison)


Results ???
well check this picture of Duncan.
Picture not reproduced here for copyright reasons

No related posts.

  • http://photographyvoter.com/story.php?id=2744 photographyVoter.com

    DIY: Poor Man’s Ring Flash

    Very cool (and basically free) DIY ring flash that you can use for macro work. I’ve got to give this thing a try!

  • http://www.diyphotography.net Udi Tirosh

    Very nice,
    Not sure it is a ringflash, more of an diffuser kinda thing. yet a great DIY project.
    You can also use a filter to make sure it does not fall off.
    - udi

  • http://www.adidap.com Antoine Khater

    Hi udi
    Yes indeed it is a diffuser (and I mentioned this in the article) however Poor’s man ring-flash is a more attractive title :evil:

  • Sami

    what about the cheap dude macro lens ?

  • http://www.adidap.com Antoine Khater

    Hi Sami:
    If you have something you can share with us please feel free to contact me :)

  • http://alick.ru/2007/12/21/p559 Тут Хумора.NET

    [...] жить. Масс-медиа изменились не в пользу репортажа. Poor’s man ring flash. ассеиватель для вспышки для очень бедных владельцев [...]

  • http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/12/22/link-roundup-12-22-2007/ Link Roundup 12-22-2007

    [...] DIY : Poor Man’s Ring Flash ADIDAP Very cool (and basically free) DIY ring flash that you can use for macro work. I’ve got to give this thing a try! [...]

  • http://www.adidap.com/2008/01/01/adidap-a-look-back-to-2007/ ADIDAP a look back to 2007 at All Day I Dream About Photography

    [...] DIY : Poor’s man ring flash [...]

  • http://www.photographybay.com/2008/01/20/diy-ringflash/ DIY Ringflash | Photography Bay

    [...] All Day I Dream About Photography [...]

  • http://www.adidap.com/2008/01/21/what-is-a-ring-flash-and-do-i-need-one/ What is a ring flash and do I need one ? at All Day I Dream About Photography

    [...] modifications to build their own for cheap and I have blogged about a couple before here at ADIDAP here and [...]

  • http://chappysmom.com/2008/02/02/satisfying-saturday/ Chappysmom » Satisfying Saturday

    [...] tips for flash and lighting things you can do yourself. Personally, I’m enamored of the diffuser/ring flash made from an old milk carton. For that matter, here’s a page of “best tips” which are darn good all on their [...]

  • darkmerlin

    Cool. Glad someone has finally shown the world what that Gary Fong dude has been charging so much money for!

  • Ken Pork

    Hi, I need to photograph my ring. Will this work? I guess I will probably need a mirror so see my ring before I photograph it. Don’t ask why I need to photograph my ring. The man at the library said he would give me free books if I do it. Hey! If there’s free books involved then I’ll photography my ring!!!I love to read. Mainly romance and Finnish political history. Anyone here like that?

  • http://www.adidap.com Antoine Khater

    @ken I’m not good in product shooting but this should work. Also try a search here on adidap for diy softbox it will give you other ideas

  • http://lucia.toplovestories.com/ringflash.html ringflash

    [...] poor s man ring flashhttp://www.adidap.com/2007/12/20/diy-poors-man-ring-flash/Ringflash Adapter by Short Images ReviewThe web&aposs most comprehensive site devoted to the art of [...]

  • http://madebytess.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/sale-on-my-etsy-shop/ Sale on my etsy shop! « Made by Tess

    [...] situation before I can do that, unfortunately. On the bright side, there are all sort of great tutorials for diy lighting setups so I’m going to try that out for [...]

  • http://phototwist.com/diy-lighting-hacks-for-digital-photographers/ Photography News, Digital Camera Reviews and more » DIY Lighting Hacks for Digital Photographers

    [...] The result is that you’ll have a Poor Mans Ring Flash. [...]

  • http://www.awesomeblogs.com/2009/01/27/diy-lighting-hacks-for-digital-photographers/ DIY Lighting Hacks for Digital Photographers : www.awesomeblogs.info

    [...] The termination is that you’ll hit a Poor Mans Ring Flash. [...]

  • http://www.photographermentors.com/2009/01/diy-lighting-hacks-for-digital-photographers/ DIY Lighting Hacks for Digital Photographers | Photographer Mentors

    [...] The result is that you’ll have a Poor Mans Ring Flash. [...]

  • http://digitalphotohelp.info/?p=16 DIY Lighting Hacks for Digital Photographers – Digital Photo Help

    [...] The result is that you’ll have a Poor Mans Ring Flash. [...]

  • http://www.fotogal.no/2009/lag-studioutstyret-selv/ Fotogal » Blog Archive » Lag studioutstyret selv!

    [...] du for eksempel lærer å lage superbillig ringblitz, lystelt eller reflektorer som en beauty [...]

  • http://www.digitalphotography911.com/diy-lighting-hacks-for-digital-photographers Digital Photography 911

    [...] The result is that you’ll have a Poor Mans Ring Flash. [...]

  • http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/photography-techniques/47446-cheap-adaptions-flash.html#post419341 Cheap adaptions for Flash – Wildlife and Environment Forums

    [...] for the link, Hobjob. I’ve recently made my own Macro lens and was thinking about a ring-flash. DIY : Poor’s man ring flash | All Day I Dream About Photography Will try it and report back… __________________ ‘It is not only fine feathers that make fine [...]

  • http://allenmowery.com/?p=23 Allen Mowery » DIY Digital Lighting Studio

    [...] The result is that you’ll have a Poor Mans Ring Flash. [...]

  • http://notreallypeople.com/sun-yet-san-bamboo/ Sun Yet San – Bamboo | notreallypeople.com

    [...] And it did. Brilliantly. It was a starbucks napkin, a bit yellow…a white one would have been ideal. (edit: here’s a very cool DIY way to make the same effect) [...]

  • http://photoshop-textures.blogspot.com photoshop textures

    great post! But how do you make it stick on the lens without tilting over?

  • http://www.almostprofoto.com/4-great-diy-lighting-and-flash-tutorials/ Almost Pro Foto | You Don’t Have to be Pro to Take Great Pictures!

    [...] It gives a nice effect in a subjects eyes as well as spreading the light out nice and evenly.  This tutorial is awesome, I have used this exact method and I love the results I get from it.  And it is free, assuming [...]

  • Joseph

    @photoshop textures, keept the hole just large enough to fit over the lens. I made the lens opening just slightly smaller that the lens – I need to press it on to get it on the lens. Once on – it doesn’t move – at all.

  • http://www.CheesyMovieNight.com WolfZombie

    Very cool. I’m new to modifying lighting when taking pictures and did this in about 5 minutes today. I’m amazed at how red eye is completely gone when photographing people.

  • http://texasmalephotography.com/2009/10/diffuser-ring-flash-trick/ Diffuser “Ring Flash” Test – Texas Male Photography

    [...] See the original post of a “Poor Man’s Ring Flash” [...]

  • http://texasmalephotography.com PatrickMark

    Great trick! Did this morning with an empty water jug (easier to clean than a milk jug).

    You can make 2 out of one jug if you slip up on the first one. When making the hole, I used inside of the detachable focus ring to stencil the hole and cut just a little inside of it.

    I then cut four little snips – one in each ‘corner’ of the hole. I found this made it easier to slip’n'grip over the lens. Since I use auto focus some times, the diffuser will move with the focus ring moves which could put it out of center – but the ‘snips’ make it easier to slide it back to the center. I move it just a bit in the opposite direction of the focus ring’s movement so when the focus adjusts the diffuser should be close to center.

    No, this isn’t exactly identical to the effect of a real ring flash but for the cost of a water jug what do you expect. It does however diffuse the flash and soften shadows beautifully.

    You can see some test shots: http://texasmalephotography.com/2009/10/diffuser-ring-flash-trick/

  • http://www.darkmansdarkroom.com Darkmans Darkroom

    @darkmerlin, so much money? 50bucks? thast not much money now adays, yet it is. but what are you complaining about? are you serious?

  • danny

    Another cheap DIY diffuser is to just cut a hole in a white/clear film canister and pop it over your pop-up flash. And it works!

  • http://diyphotos.blogspot.com/ Daniele

    Hi!Really nice share!!
    If anyone is interested, i did some other “poor’s man” diffusers that you can find there on my blog:
    http://diyphotos.blogspot.com/2009/12/making-cheap-flash-diffuser.html

  • http://fotoclausen.se/blog/?p=335 DIY Lighting Hacks for Digital Photographers

    [...] [...]

  • http://www.boobielion.com ryan

    Haha..nice trick. This tip suits me well :) (since i have very tight budget:)

  • http://www.photography-colleges.org/101-hacks-for-both-the-amateur-and-expert-photographer/ 101 Hacks for Both the Amateur and Expert Photographer – Photography Colleges

    [...] Poor man's ring flash: This ring flash is made out of a milk jug. [...]

  • Doc675k

    “Jessica Alba Naked” is a more attractive title but it would have been just as wrong and misleading. Maybe sticking to proper descriptions would give more credibility instead of people thinking you don't know what you're talking about.

  • Cumulo_Quimpus

    I am convinced that this is worth my time for the experiment. This sort of diffuser could be very useful on my Lumix, to say nothing of diverse Nikon lenses that I have on the old cameras.

  • G.G

    Cunt.

  • http://www.aboutcamerafilters.com Aboutcamerafilters

    Very very nice result. Would be good if there is comparison between a more pro diffuser.

  • Tyszko

    cunt.

  • From Russia With Love

    i agree with doc.

  • http://blog.snapsort.com/2011/09/03/diy-lighting/ 5 Awesome Lighting Hacks | SnapBlog – Snapsort and LensHero

    [...] Complete DIY instructions here. [...]

  • http://photoprofits.com/diy-lighting-hacks-for-digital-photographers/ DIY Lighting Hacks for Digital Photographers |

    [...] The outcome is that you’ll have a Poor Mans Ring Flash. [...]

  • Ceil Mills

    Your results were very impressive!

  • Gdfgds

    do you guys like have some tips to scavenge good food from garbage ?