I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get more guesses even though I
really didn't expect any. A guess doesn't cost anything, right?

For those who don't remember the question:

http://www.dyesscreek.com/hidden_pages/diffuser.html

Well, it wasn't a Gary Fong Lightsphere, a business card, a Post-It note
or my Lumiquest Pocket Bouncer. It was a cut-open alcohol bottle that I
"acquired" at a birthday party when I found myself without my usual
stash of Post-It notes. It worked well enough that it now has a velcro
patch on the inside to hold it in place on my 420ex. It works especially
well for product shots inside a small light tent.

The idea of posting such a photo really stemmed from a post a while back
where someone actually suggested that the light transmission properties
of the plastic in the bottle were not as good as Gary Fong's product.
The reason I took this shot next to a window was so that person could
point out, with specificity, the obvious issues with the use of
different temperature light sources . . .

Obviously, Gary Fong's lightsphere works, as does anything that
redirects some of the flash to the ceiling and/or other nearby surfaces.
Some commercial products cost a lot less, including the $10 Gary Fong
knock-offs on Ebay. Some items, like Post-It notes can do the same thing
for  pennies. In fact, I believe I get my individual Post-It notes for
much less than a penny and the alcohol bottle was free (you can get them
for less than two dollars filled in my area). I generally prefer Post-It
notes because of their configurability, packability, compatibility,
availability, price, convenience and the fact that they do not mark up
my flash.

Eric Miller
www.dyesscreek.com