Pixiq

Unless I am working in a cave or a night, I don't use flash outside as a prime light source.  Often  nothing beats natural light for taking flowers and others facets of the natural world; but there are times when shadows need to be in-filled. A big plus point gained by using a reflector is that you can see the effect before releasing the shutter, but on windy days, it can be a liability.

All press photographers and many others love the Sto-Fen Omni-bounce, which I have used for many years to gain catchlights in animal eyes.  Now there are many more options available for diffusing a flash. For my money they are more creative for working outdoors, where there is no convenient ceiling from which to bounce the flash!. 

I discovered the Honl Traveller 8 Softbox last year. It has an 8 inch (20 cm) diameter circular diffuser panel and having used it extensively in the UK, China and South Africa, I would never venture out without it. I use it to in-fill taller erect backlit flowers in a border where there are too many plants to use natural backlighting as the sole light source. Light from the Honl Softbox gives a much wider spread and softer light than the Sto-Fen Omni-bounce and hence casts softer shadows to inner parts of the flower; yet it also adds a certain crispness to floral parts compared to shooting in natural light, which perks up the definition of macro shots. It weighs a mere 3.7oz (105g) and folds flat in my camera photopack.

Lastolite launched the mini square Ezybox Speed-Lite Softbox at Photokina in 2010. Inside the outer 8in (20cm) square diffuser panel is a smaller diffuser, which can be removed. This softbox is almost twice as heavy as the Honl one. It is too bulky for macro shots but would be useful for larger subjects.  However, every gram counts and mountaineers are known for cutting the handle off their toothbrushes to save weight. So, when I plod up mountains I only take gadgets that I can justify lugging any distance and which are speedy to set up. So, I know I shall be sticking with the lighter option. Both softboxes are attached using Velcro strips directly to a speedlight, which can be used on or off the camera.

Some may well argue a Sto-Fen Omni-bouce is hardly a softbox, but nonetheless it does help to diffuse a direct light from a speedlight. This avoids getting a harsh reflection of a naked flash in the curved and highly reflective eye of a bird or other vertebrates.  It is also a lot less obtrusive than a larger softbox, and therefore less likely to disturb wildlife when approaching towards them.

Therefore, I would say it is horses for courses – depending on what you want to shoot, take your pick. I know I shall be using the Honl Softbox a lot this year whilst working on a big project with Kew Gardens looking at and photographing floral structure of plants all over the world.