Bounce box

[Schnauzer]

I love herO's idea of the poster board to bounce the flash . I wanted something I could just grab and set on an aquarium . This is unrefined version #1 of my solution .

I went to home depot and got a 10 foot length of PVC rain gutter for $3.40 .

I cut a piece 1" longer than a 48" tank (49") in case you don't have a calculator handy .
I then took some white 4" packing styrofoam and duck taped it to the bottom of the gutter for more height . You have to be sure you put some tape on the inside at the ends or the styrofoam will fold over .

After that I cutt 3 pieces of welding rod 4 3/4" and put them crosswise to keep the gutter spaced evenly .

Hers what it looked like .

Heres a couple of shot to show the difference . Same settings . First picture with just flash second picture with flash reflecting up into box

I think it worked . Now I have to refine it . More to come .
By the way these weren't ment to be nice shots , just some snaps to show the difference .
In the second shot his tail was right under the flash and didn't get much light .

 

[paradise]

Ron, interesting. The only thing I see so far that bothers me is the fact that this contraption seems to be illuminating the glass, you can see the scratches now.

 

[Schnauzer]

You could always see them Ed . I always took them out as best I could , They are real bad . Plus I had it set on the front edge of the aquarium shining right down the front glass . I think you can see them more in the first picture with the flash and no bounce box . All I did with these was to convert , resize ,Usm and save for web . The whole thing took only a few minutes to make and cost almost nothing . If you saw how bad the tank is scratched you wouldn't think I could get a picture .

 

[hir0]

wow Ron, i'm flattered that you found my technique useful enough to take it to this level. this is something i'd love to do. i wish i could have a spare 90 gallon to use as a work table that's too funny.

btw, your new Jag photos came out very good.

 

[JerseyJay]

Ron,

Sorry to break the bubble but I don't think you are taking full advantage of this approach.

#1 Unless you are using as deep tank as PVC gutter, you are not covering the entire tank with bounced light. You will have different exposure in "bounced" area and "dark" area. I would strongly recommend to cover / bounce light over entire tank

#2 You also not using the correct shape of reflector.

Disregard the % number but having 90 degree angles, you are not bouncing as much light as you could with the correct shape.

Look at the picture:

 

[Schnauzer]

Jay ,
I completely agree with you . That is why I called this version #1 . I talked with a college professor friend about this . He said close to the same thing you did . Yes it should cover the entire tank to get even exposure . Also it should be a continuous curve to put all the light where I want it . Although the shape you showed might work better and when I think about it that might have been what he ment . I should have talked more about it but when he started talking about light being a point and angles I started feeling inadequate and figured I would take it from their . I looked for a length of lite weight large dia. pvc pipe but couldn't find any . The gutter was available and did work well enough ,with the short comings you noted to prove the idea viable . I also noted that raising it considerably higher puts a lot more even light in the tank . Also closing the opposite end puts more light into the tank .
You all have not heard the end of this yet .(Every one is probably saying Oh NO .)

 

[rainmaker69]

Jay ,
I completely agree with you . That is why I called this version #1 . I talked with a college professor friend about this . He said close to the same thing you did . Yes it should cover the entire tank to get even exposure . Also it should be a continuous curve to put all the light where I want it . Although the shape you showed might work better and when I think about it that might have been what he ment . I should have talked more about it but when he started talking about light being a point and angles I started feeling inadequate and figured I would take it from their . I looked for a length of lite weight large dia. pvc pipe but couldn't find any . The gutter was available and did work well enough ,with the short comings you noted to prove the idea viable . I also noted that raising it considerably higher puts a lot more even light in the tank . Also closing the opposite end puts more light into the tank .
You all have not heard the end of this yet .(Every one is probably saying Oh NO .)

Where are you located? I am in southern Alberta and work for an irrigation company that deals a lot in PVC pipe. If you want to pay shipping, I could send you a length, up to 18" diameter.

 

[Schnauzer]

Thank you for your kind offer . I have a couple of other options in mind that I am going to try . If I don't find what I have in mind I just might take you up on your offer . A friend works at a paper mill near by and knows of something shaped like Jay mentioned made of thin stainless steel that I am going to look into .
Again thank you .

 

[Obliviou$]

You've deleted the pictures mate...Now get 'em back! (..that is if you want to)

Thanks,
Alex