All Images and Content ©Taylor Mathis

Collapsible Diffusers IS0 100

!"#"$%&$'($")'*+,"$-.'-$/01$*'/$.'2"$301(4$ Aperture f/4
/01#&",3$%(5$6-$%&$'$7"'1-%31,$&1((/$'3-"#(00($8%-.9 Shutter Speed 1/500 sec
01-$'$:,014$%($-."$&;/5$<01$8'(-$-0$-';"$'$3"8$
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Harsh Shadows

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 All Images and Content ©Taylor Mathis
!"#$%&#'()%$#(*#$%&#*+,&#-.+"$#/"0&'#0(11/*&0#
.()%$(")2#3*#45/#6+"#*&&#("#$%&#(,+)&#7&.589#$%&#
IS0 100
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+"0#45/'#*/7>&6$2#?5/#8(..#7&#+7.&#$5#*&&#8%&'&#
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5"&E#

Soft Shadows

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 All Images and Content ©Taylor Mathis

1 ! "#$$%&'()$*!+(,,-'*.'!%.*!&#./%)$*0!$(12/!
3*(12/0!%4+!*%'5!/#!-'*6!7*.*!('!2#3!5#-!8%4!
*%'($5!,#$+!-&!5#-.!+(,,-'*.!%4+!/%9*!(/!3(/2!5#-6!

!"#$%&
Hold your open diffuser out and make
sure your camera isn’t in the way.

!"#$%'
2
Grab the right edge of the open diffuser
with your right hand. Grab the left edge
of the diffuser with your left hand. Twist
your hands in opposite directions and col-
lapse the diffuser in on itself. It may take
a little bit of practice, so don’t worry if
you can’t collapse it on the first try.

!"#$%(
3
Your diffuser is now a much smaller and
portable size! This diffuser is 22” when
open. When collapsed, it shrinks down to
a disc that is a little under 8” in diameter.
A collapsible diffuser is something that
I always keep with me when I travel. You
can purchase a collapsible diffuser at
your camera store or online. For anywhere
from $15-75 depending on the size.
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 All Images and Content ©Taylor Mathis

DIFFUSER SHAPES AND SIZES

! "#$$%&'()$*!+(,,-'*.'!%.*!%/%($%)$*!(0!%!1(+*!!
.%02*!#,!'3%&*'!%0+!'(4*'5!"(.6-$%.!+(,,-'*.'!%.*!
WKHPRVWFRPPRQ:KHQ¿JXULQJRXWZKDWGLI7
,-'*.!('!)*'8!,#.!9#-:!83(0;!%)#-8!3#1!$%.2*!9#-.!
'*8!1($$!)*5!<3*!(=%2*'!#0!83*!.(238!'3#1!3#1!%!
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83*!$%.2*.!83*!%.*%!#,!+(,,-'(#05!
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.*6#==*0+!%!&%0*$!$(;*!83*!#0*!)*$#15!<3('!ABC!

22”
D!EFC!&%0*$!6%0!6#/*.!$%.2*!%.*%'!#-8'(+*:!'(8!
LQIURQWRIZLQGRZVRU\RXFDQVKLQHDÀDVKRU
8-02'8*0!$(238!83.#-23!(8G!!

42” X 78”
32”

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42”
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+(,,-'(#0!=%8*.(%$!3##;'!#0!1(83!
*$%'8(6!&(*6*'5!

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 All Images and Content ©Taylor Mathis

MORNING, AFTERNOON AND 1

!"#$%$&
EVENING DAYLIGHT
! "#$%&'(&)!*+$!,-.!%/,$,!/.!*+$!$(,*!(.'!
,$*,!/.!*+$!0$,*1!2-%/.3!*+/,!'(/4&!56-%.$&!(7%6,,!
*+$!,8&)!*+$!,-.!0/44!&/$4'!'/99$%$.*!4/3+*!'/%$7*/6.)!
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/*!0/44!7%$(*$!6.!&6-%!966'1!E6-!7(.<*!=6#$!*+$!
,-.)!,6!*6!7+(.3$!4/3+*/.3!?(**$%.,)!=6#$!&6-%!
7(=$%(1!F.!/=(3$!*06)!&6-!7(.!,$$!*+(*!*+$!,-.!
/,!4/3+*/.3!*+$!'/,+!9%6=!A$+/.'!7(-,/.3!(!+(%,+!
,+('60!*6!9(44!6.!*+$!9%6.*!69!*+$!?4(*$1!F.!/=(3$!
G)!F!(=!-,/.3!(!7644(?,/A4$!'/99-,$%!*6!,69*$.!*+$! With the sun behind the bushes,
the shadows will fall in front of the
OLJKW)OLSWKHSDJHIRUWKH¿QDOVKRW bushes.

2 3
In this example, I am backlighting the plate. If I
wanted side lighting, I would move my camera to the
left or right until the sun is to the right or left side of
the dish.
Notice how the diffuser creates soft light on the plate!

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 All Images and Content ©Taylor Mathis

Camera Settings
Canon 5D Mark II FINAL
ISO: 200 IMAGE
Aperture: f/5
Shutter Speed: 1/200 second
Lens: Canon 100mm Macro f/2.8

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