As I mentioned a couple of posts before, one of the most common ways to build a DIY grid for small flashes is to use the “glue it straws” way. “The glue it straws” way was cover in this post DIY grid , basically you cut some straws into small tubes and arrange them in a box and glue them together into a box shape, about the size of your flash head, very simple .
There are a couple of advantages to that method –
- It is very cheap to make this diy grid, it will cost you less than a dollar to make one.
- The materials are very handy, a piece of carton and some straws from the local store and you are of to go.
There are some disadvantages too –
- Its a hard task to get those straws pieces the same length and to glue them all in a fixed and aligned together in the same position/direction.
- You are very much fixed to narrow angle grids and if you want a wide one (40 degrees and more), you’ll find it extremely difficult to do, as you’ll need to cut the straws very short.
As I was looking through Ebay for some gel filter holder solution, I entered this store called the strobist corner (visit link at the bottom), among some good value gel filter kits, there was this diy grid material! simple and good stuff. I got the basic kit , it includes 3 different grid material pieces for different effects 15,25 and 45 degrees, it all costs about 10$ (Honl will cost about 30$ for just one piece…). Thats all, you don’t have to cut straws any more. The basic kit comes without grid flash holders, so in the video below you’ll the most easy way to “connect” it to your flash head using handy sticky Velcro .
I’ll also post about my first impressions and photography examples using this kit, as I have an impression its a great way to use grids!!!
diy grid flash holder (youtube video)
