I'd like to see this thing in action....
I guess it probably does give a closer to ring light effect looking again at the second bowl
If you could some how create a concave reflector (looking at my beauty dish) it might make a softer light ... But than maybe not the desired effect ... And I don't 100% know how these things work, just guessing from looking at my kit...
One way or another, it's a damn fine bit of DIY, and doesn't look "Heath Robinson" at all

Originally Posted by Paul Lange

Maybe we could do some RPF home build project videos in the style of Blue Peter. I have an idea for a ring light / beauty dish, infact here's one I made earlier!

You have suggested now, so I'm expecting you to follow through with the idea

I think you are right that it is more of a beauty dish but with a slightly larger central reflector. Hope to try to fine tune it's use tonight. I am also going to make an adapter so it will fit to my studio flashes. However I think I prefer speedlights sometimes as I don't really have a space large enough for large lights. Even fully turned down reflections from the walls and ceilings can be an issue.

Let's go for "Paul Lange special modifier" ... My dish, as I said has a very shallow concave reflector in the middle ... They might not all be like that though I guess ...

.... Speed lights are just a bit directional for my liking ...
Even diffused I often can't get a look I like ...
I realised this when comparing shots taken in a light tent from both... The studio kit had a clear advantage ...
That said I know a lot of people like the "strobist" way...

Can we have a step-by-step into making this great beauty dish?

To be honest I don't really have the time to do anything in detail. I have also slowly been improving it and it looks quite different now. When I get a chance I will take a couple more photographs of it in it's current incarnation. You will need some tools and to buy these could add up to the same as a cheap beauty dish if you have to buy them. You might be able to find other things that allow you to make your own without the need for all the tools however.