I did a lot of 'foofing' during this reception and I loved the results... would love to see some of your images!

D2X, 50mm @ f1.4, SB-800
The wall to the right where the light bounced off is well over 50 feet away.

Did you have any type of diffuser like a stofen on? Did you have your flash dialed down or up?

Great work. it looks awesome.

Hi Shawn!

No diffuser, this particular photo was taken with no compensation dialed.

WTH is foofing? LOL

i believe it's a term dennis reggie uses. it means that you bounce the flash off the ceiling, wall, or over your shoulder if you're in front of another wall that would help even the light out.

it's a "technical" term that "foofing"

i say Reggie because at WPPI we sat in the Pictage booth and he was telling stories about how he convinced Buisink to shoot Canon and "foof"

.... chriselda

Go to my blog HERE and watch a video of Mr. Reggie explaining it... he coined the phrase.

Thanks Rodolfo. Great job!

Is foofing anything like futzing?

The wall to the right where the light bounced off is well over 50 feet away.

It looks great but your flash is firing at what, around full power? Recycling had to suck between shots. I hope there was no one between your flash and the wall.

everynight before bed, I foof my pillows.......I'd post an image of that, but the ladies........well, they wouldn't take it well..........

if you know what I mean...... *nods*

man you crack me up.

+1

Hi josh!

No full power... I don't know if you're familiar with Nikon flashes? 0EV, no compensation at all. I have a Quantum turbo pack so I can shoot to my heart's content. The combination of the wide aperture, high ISO and slow shutter speed will make the light get in. There were all kinds of obstacles between me and the wall, doesn't matter much... try it out and you'll be surprised at the amount of directional light you can catch.

I totally respect Denis Reggie but I HATE that video. He is talking to people in that room like they are in second grade. I have no desire to see him speak because of that clip. You guys are welcome to show me something to change my mind.

I do "foof' though I like to call it bouncing.

There are always beginners in all conferences... I remember a time (not long ago) when it took my big head some time to catch up with terms like 'wide open'. 80% of the questions right after he spoke were about Canon vs. Nikon or what was his favorite lens...
I like this one -LINK TO VIDEO-... do you?

ahh thank you. much better, I feel like a real person and an smart photographer.

Hehehe... you're funny.

I foof a lot.

I'd mainly be concerned with people. Even with your settings, There's gotta be a lot of light coming from that flash to bounce 50 feet and back. I hope no one got blinded by your flash.

revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night.......................



sorry couldn't resist

*backs out of the thread slowly with arms raised.....*

Here's a couple of foofs from Saturday. Flash turned to bounce off wall behind me, about two feet away.

Click to view attachment Click to view attachment

The only time it is a problem is if someone tall walks right up behind me. I had a drunk groomsman do it three times at a wedding. After the first time, he should have known better. I shoot every reception at 2.8 at 1/20 - 1/30 of a sec. Taking Denis' workshop and learning to "foof" made me a much better photographer!

I started using foofing off ceilings or walls a few years ago and I use it all the time to get a more natural look to my reception images. The trick is to shoot at about ISO 400 or more at 1/50th or below shutter speed and around f/2.8 or f/2.0 or even f/1.4. I like it and it seems to work with a 85mm very well. This is a shot I foofed off a concaved celing that was 30 to 40 feet away at 1/50th at f2.5 with a 50mm lens at a wedding last weekend. I am a FOOFING FANClick to view attachment

Hello my name is Jonathan and I foof A LOT!!

I always foof from a quantum on a stick during receptions and with on camera flash when I am out of its usable area. We have had quite a few uncle bob's ask why my flash is not pointed at them, we try to explain but usually give up quickly.

Here is an example of a first dance shot using the quantum bounced off a wall about 20 feet away from the dance floor.
Click to view attachment

Here is the same quantum pointed up bouncing off the ceiling about 50 feet away from them. I try to avoid bouncing off the ceiling but with this venue it is hard not to.
Click to view attachment

I love foofing and I highly recommend it. Just a couple of wireless units and a light on a stick and off you go!

I don't know whether you're joking or not at this point... I'll answer anyway, maybe it will help others.

If you're concerned about the recycle time you can use two SB-800 in tandem to cut the recycle time in half. This won't increase the intensity of light on the subject because i-TTL will keep the intensity consistent.

This reminds me that I need to finish work on my portable wall this weekend...testing was completed this past weekend.

Stay tuned for details.

Sean

Are you foofers gelling your flash with straw or CTO gels?

I do not use a gel or any covering on the flash, just straight flash.

Brent,
Are there Springsteen fans in New Zealand?!
*heading for the stereo*

Rudy,
Thanks for posting. I've always liked the ambient-looking light of foofed shots. And you've just inspired me to use that method more.

I'm just picking on Anne here, but I get so tickled at this thread because this is what my best friend says when she passes gas!!

She says " 'fart' is crude, 'poot' is silly, hers are dainty and comes out as a 'foof'. "

Sorry if I offend anyone, but 'that's funny....don't care who you are.'

You just need to understand where the best place to foof is to get the shaping and texture that best suits your subject

Absolutely.

-TM

I loathe and despise the word "foofing" with a passion.

What are we all 3rd graders that we cannot use the proper technical term - bouncing? Does it have to be cuted up or dumbed down for us?

ARGH.

You're bouncing your flash. Bouncing.

Foofing is ... well ... something else entirely.

Karen

I see foofing as something a little different than bouncing (even though it's technically the exact same thing.) I see bouncing as a foward direction, where foofing is either backwards, sideways, or a combination of backwards & sideways. I think Denis Reggie came up with the word "foofing" - so if you think it's too 3rd grade, you can take it up with him!!

How are you bouncing if you're going forward?

Sorry, bouncing flash ... off of any surface in any direction ... has been a part of the photographers' techniques for years and years and years before Denis ever came up with the word "foof".

And I have nothing but admiration and respect for Denis - for personal and professional reasons. But I still think the word is ludicrous. We're professionals ... not children.

karen

be happy

As in Don't foofing, be happy? I love that song!

-TM

haha - tzal's playing the thread from the dead game!!!



I'm not normally standing alongside KarenS, but I am on this one....


so how about we all go and get a nice cup of 'shut the foof up'!!

must be all the legal woes

Does that mean I can't say "Blinkies" about the highlight warning on the LCD?

Although I did look up foofing on urbandictionary.com. That's a not nice word.

Are there any nice words at urbandictionary.com?

-TM



You must not believe in karma.

-TM

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=foofing

Are you ever happy about *anything*?

Seriously, it has to suck going through life pissed off and irritated at everything all the time.

Was there a point to that? Or did you just want to be rude?

karen

YOU are accusing someone of being rude?

Actually, yes, there's a point.

Lighten up. You only get to live once and going through life letting ridiculous things piss you off on a consistant basis only makes you miserable. Your constant misery brings down the people around you (us). I don't think I've *ever* heard you say anything positive and your negativity *does* affect the people here. Say something nice for a change I really *don't* mean that to be rude, I really think it has to suck to be so unhappy or irritated all the time, I hope you find a way to be a little bit happier

I love it when people make comments like this. What that really means is that you only pay attention to the negative because it reinforces your narrow opinon ... and you don't bother to register anything else. So try this just for the two most recent.

http://www.opensourcephoto.net/forum/index...&pid=225587
http://www.opensourcephoto.net/forum/index...&pid=225464

But thanks for your armchair psychoanalysis of me. I'll be sure and give it all the consideration it's worth for what it cost me.

karen

foofing.....let's try to stay on topic here.

KThx.

UUmmm...yeah...watch out if you shoot with her and you happen to walk behind her while she is firing away...nothing but stars for a solid minute!

Yes, indeed, "Foofing" was coined by Dennis Reggae! I saw his talk at Pictage Partner Con Chicago. I have been foofing and LOVE THE effects. See my slideshow on my site called CGS which are my church directory pics (fun ones, not boring like most directories...) I bounced the flash mostly from the left of the camer and used the available light from windows behind the subjects. Turns out great!

Shine on!
Claire

I do it all the time too, didn't know there was another word for bouncing lol. I do it off my own shirt sometimes, sometimes off others, off the floor off chairs off anything that'll work! I learned at home in michigan winters, no light and a moving toddler to photograph