Gleni said:@diggit do you have a picture of your homemade diffuser?
This is of course obviously the most rudimentary of devices and serves a basic purpose that need not be elaborate in nature or impressive in looks. Just functional. In this case the plastic is just held on with cellophane tape. You can use a stapler to do the same thing. The lighter weight frame the better (probably a buck or two at the dollar store). 11 x 14 inch has been a pretty good size for my use. Make two or three while you are at it. I am always misplacing one. As I said before, photographers use the commercial types constantly and many added features are available such as colors, stands, and densities.
I use the lighter translucency such as a Walmart bag. You could use a colored bag for a certain effect. The light level you achieve with this is something akin to inside a greenhouse for example. But it definitely takes out the glaring highlights and hotspots you get in the bright sun and lessens the harsh shadows that accompany that.
If you want both hands free for your camera, you can do as I do. Employ one of the grandkids or someone you are comfortable with to have patience with it. A better choice might be to affix the frame to a stand (such as an old music stand) or fashion a stiff heavy gauge wire to it that is capable of being pushed into the dirt at the proper angle to provide the coverage. I have found that the filter will usually find it's best location about two feet above the blossom and will change the light levels as you elevate or lower it. The other option would be to use a tripod for you camera with a remote shutter button . Then you would have a hand free to quickly maneuver the diffuser filter exactly where you want it. If I have forgotten something, let me know. thanks