iainisbald: It took a while to get used to, but now that I’ve been using the technique consistently for nearly a year, it’s second nature, and I hardly even notice I’m carrying it. It’s like an extension of me, just like the camera. Just another tool in my arsenal. I also frequently strap strobes to lighting trusses and monitor stands, but this is my primary lighting weapon at the parties. =)

jeremysalejr: haha!

jim: built-in pop-up commander my d80. Usually in manual. That diffuser sucks about 3 stops! (tiny drawback) I shoot at half power for close shots, and full power if the flash is more than about 8-12 feet from the subject. Of course, that varies depending on the other lighting conditions. I usually have my ISO set in the 100 - 260 range, and exposures are relatively long, because the flash is able to freeze most of the action if it’s overpowering the ambient on the subject, and the long exposures let the background lights saturate the frame and create some really rich colors.

People ask me all the time what sort of camera I’m using because my photos look “detailed”, “high res” and “way colorful”. At a recent party somebody wanted to take my picture, and my lights were set up for something else, so I flipped it to auto, slipped the strap over his neck, and the result looked like it came from a $100 p&s.

We all know this, but it bears repeating. It’s not the camera!

- Eric

Have you had any problems with it being unwieldly?

Like accidentally hitting someone with it?

Or, missing shots because you haven’t got it ready?

As for the Gary Fong diffuser, I have one as well. They do in fact work as you say!