This was an accidental discovery that adds versatility to your Chimera beauty dish–  and getting more use from the same piece of gear is always a welcome benefit.  The transition of the collapsible beauty dish is shown here on a DynaLite Baja monolight.

The discovery happened during the disassembly of the beauty dish — when I removed 2 poles and then the opposing 2 poles, producing the strip configuration (photo #6).

It ain’t pretty and that’s ok, it produces another shape of light that makes this a versatile tool.

Here’s another solution, using this unit a a beauty dish, I often use the front diffusion on the bottom half only (photo #4)  to feather and reduce the light on the lower area of my subject.  This works great for your portrait subjects. 

I am always looking to create more utility from existing light sources.  This one is a great duality from a single light source.  I hope you find this helpful.  

Please follow Old Tricks For New Dogs for more creative solutions…..

Gear:  DynaLite Baja and Chimera 24″ Beauty Dish.

Having the right tool at the right time doesn’t always happen when on location.  There are the standard tools and then there are those hidden gems.  This is about the later.

> Multi Tools – good to have anytime.

> Small Dog Collars – I use them to hold electronics up off wet floors.

> Multi Clamps – holds small reflectors on set; with a black card, becomes a barn door.

> Fun Tac and Gaffer Tape – I keep some fun tac in the center of a small roll of gaffer tape.  You’ll find a lot of uses for these staples.

> Misc.  Lens brush; black marker; clothes pins; rope and carabiner for suspending items, counterweights, etc.

These are just some of the handy things you can have around for location shoots.