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Whales, Tails and Leprechauns - part 5 of 1 2 3 4 5 6

by Mike McNamee Published 01/06/2007

Ian's bit The Goldfish Bowl releases a Tail by Ian Stewart ARPS ABPPA

In a previous issue of Professional Imagemaker I reviewed a flash diffuser called the 'Lightsphere', design by Gary Fong. This unit has gestated over the years from a very hard, white plastic dome, to a squishy, clear version, called a 'Photo-journalist', then an opaque one, for portraiture, called a 'Cloud'. Then they where given inverted domes in white or amber and the Cloud had its own chrome insert to give it an extra kick of light - the ChromeDome.

And now the latest incarnation of Flash Diffusion is also from the Gary Fong stable and is called the 'WhaleTail', which Gary points out, came as a result of feedback from owners of the Lightsphere, who wanted a more compact unit but, more than anything else, a diffuser that would stay on the flash head without gaffer tape (which was not very professional looking at a wedding).

When I saw it launched and demonstrated by Gary at the WPPI trade show in Vegas in March this year, I was impressed enough to place an order, with show special price and free shipping to the UK - how could I refuse. It arrived a few weeks ago (needless to say I paid the VAT on entry, it was the Parcel Force handling charge that was scandalous - I even had to pick it up at the Liverpool depot). (Try www.bbjimports.com 07812 161795 - they deliver direct, same day despacth. Ed.!)

The unit is called 'The Reporter' and, as you might expect, resembles a whale's tail (mind you on some web forums it's been likened to an up turned gent's urinal). It is, in fact, one of two styles that have the WhaleTail design, a second much larger, whiter model, called the 'Studio' will be launched soon. The moulding material of the Reporter is different to that of the Lightsphere - hard plastic of a milky, opaque appearance which came in a nice box ready assembled with what can be described as two moveable fins/flaps back and front, also a black archival rubber band, two white plastic spacers and instruction leaflet.

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1st Published 01/06/2007
last update 09/12/2022 15:00:18

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