Here's some photo with my cheap umbrella i mod. I can say i'm pretty happy with the result
#1
![Michelle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/3333242156_622c927f0d.jpg)
#2
![Michelle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3563/3333238304_e639a676cb.jpg)
#3
![Michelle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3319/3330291409_f110b04076.jpg)
#4
![Michelle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/3331133786_f401dce02f.jpg)
#5
![Michelle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/3330298607_70b97b909f.jpg)
I found a cheap translucent at Ikea recently that looks very similar to the umbrella i have which is 'design for photography'. However, this one cost only U$4 while my 'design for photography' one costed U$18. With some mod which took me less than an hour, I have manage to transform it to be used on tripod.
#1 - Top is my U$18 'design for photography' umbrella. And below is the cheap U$4 umbrella
![Umbrellas](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3493/3281847790_742192c8fd.jpg)
#2 - The size are similar, but you can see the left 'design for photography' has a more shinny surface
![Almost the same size](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/3281848958_0cefe7c16f.jpg)
#3 - The mod were simple, cut the top and enforce the bottom
![Cut the top](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3281849958_765d41d026.jpg)
#4 - I enforce the bottom by using a B4 pencil. The bottom shaft is starting to get out of shape after first mounted on the tripod
![Pencil mod](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3647/3281030591_7bd9652abd.jpg)
#5 - Well the most important is the result. The cheap umbrella allows more light. That said, it produced a more harsh shadow. However, given 1/4 the price, I won't complain on that. I would conclude that I'm pretty happy with the result.
![Comparison](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/3281827712_208d4d3d18.jpg)
Click on the image to view full size
#6 - A comparison without umbrella with bare flash. Harsh shadow and colour abit washed out. I suppose I need to tune down 2-3 steps, which I didn't
![bare flash without umbrella](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/3280917861_dafd85c34d.jpg)