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02/27/2007 10:28:59 AM · #1 |
To all the lighting gurus out there...If anyone can help me with trying to decide on what type of lighting I can start out with, I would be so appreciative. What are the main differences in soft box and umbrella (other than the obvious) and whether to go with strobe lighting or continuous. I would love some direction since I want to take my photography to the next level. Oh and if there are any good guide books or website you can direct me to...that would be wonderful!!
thanks and peace,
g
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02/27/2007 11:16:22 AM · #2 |
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02/27/2007 11:19:12 AM · #3 |
| depending on the type of strobe you get you can have a softbox or an umbrella.on my alien bees i can put a soft box on it or either type of umbrella. i would go with a strobe over continuous if you can afford it. |
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02/27/2007 11:19:31 AM · #4 |
| if you do a site search on lighting you will find a multitude of posts with your exact questions answered already. |
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02/27/2007 11:28:48 AM · #5 |
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02/27/2007 11:30:40 AM · #6 |
soft boxes give 'softer' shadows
umbrellas give harder edges is the short of it.
So it really depends from shot to shot which effect you would prefer.
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02/27/2007 11:35:32 AM · #7 |
Continuous lighting tends to be very hot, and uncomfortable for your subjects. It could make them sweat, depending on the environment. Strobes are simple to work with, and some offer modelling lamps that closely match the end result. I switched to Alien Bees flash units and modifiers, and they're excellent.
The softbox will indeed give a softer larger shadow and an interesting catchlight in the eyes. The umbrella's shadow may or may not be noticeably edgier to you, but still gives an overall soft effect, plus classic round bright catchlights. It could also be easier to work with and store, versus a large softbox. Think about honeycomb grids to add dramatic soft shadows as well, though noticabley harder than the umbrella. |
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02/27/2007 12:27:15 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by ellamay:
soft boxes give 'softer' shadows
umbrellas give harder edges is the short of it.
So it really depends from shot to shot which effect you would prefer. |
well I don't want to step on anyone's toes here but...
this is a common misconception. a soft box and an umbrella used correctly there really isn't much difference. when you put the umbrella in the strobe you should look at the light coming out of it and move it around until you lose that hard edge. usually you can look at the celling to see it. don't want to make anyone feel stupid or anything, not my intention at all. As far as the way of difference is the shape of the catch lights and the amount of unseen secondary bouncing around the room. with soft box you have light enclosed and with and umbrella you don't. some light is going to bounce back on a shoot through or go through on a bounce umbrella. this is going to cause some amount of uncontrolled light bouncing around the room. now is it much...not really, but it can be at times. umbrellas can be the cheaper way out, and can be easier to use at time too. At my studio we have both, and I really do use both, it just depends on the size of the subject. if it's a small child I use the soft box, b/c it's bigger and easier on the scare factor for a child (think the only time some kids leave the house is to go to the doctor) but if I'm doing a senior or an older child I use the umbrella because I can soft light their face but not their entire body b/c of size. Also when you watch photographers on tv like americas next top model they use umbrella lights so your clients will regard them as more "professional". image is everything in this business...in more ways then one.
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02/27/2007 12:55:53 PM · #9 |
[quote]
well I don't want to step on anyone's toes here but...
this is a common misconception. a soft box and an umbrella used correctly there really isn't much difference. when you put the umbrella in the strobe you should look at the light coming out of it and move it around until you lose that hard edge. usually you can look at the celling to see it. don't want to make anyone feel stupid or anything, not my intention at all. As far as the way of difference is the shape of the catch lights and the amount of unseen secondary bouncing around the room. with soft box you have light enclosed and with and umbrella you don't. some light is going to bounce back on a shoot through or go through on a bounce umbrella. this is going to cause some amount of uncontrolled light bouncing around the room. now is it much...not really, but it can be at times. umbrellas can be the cheaper way out, and can be easier to use at time too. At my studio we have both, and I really do use both, it just depends on the size of the subject. if it's a small child I use the soft box, b/c it's bigger and easier on the scare factor for a child (think the only time some kids leave the house is to go to the doctor) but if I'm doing a senior or an older child I use the umbrella because I can soft light their face but not their entire body b/c of size. Also when you watch photographers on tv like americas next top model they use umbrella lights so your clients will regard them as more "professional". image is everything in this business...in more ways then one. [/quote]
Great reply. Answered a lot of questions that i didn't know i had
Kev
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02/27/2007 01:05:15 PM · #10 |
I have both Umbrellas and softboxes... not an expensive option to have both. Umbrellas are a lot easier to setup and transport, but softboxes do give a bit softer shadows.
Personally, I prefer the silver reflective type umbrella over the white shoot-through type.
Strobes are your better choice over hot lights for many reasons - the biggest one being heat. You get a lot more light output from modest strobes than hot lights too. Ofcourse, you can always just shoot with the modeling lights (on the strobes) if you need hot lights for a project.
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02/27/2007 01:09:54 PM · #11 |
I like umbrella lights , the white umbrellas with the multi level stobe lighting , change it up and add some color papers to make things interesting......
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02/27/2007 01:25:31 PM · #12 |
I'm sorry I missed half of your question
in short strobes over hotlights. I think hot lights may be the way of the future and in 10 years you will find an industry split on this question, but for now strobes. I think hotlights as we know them are changing, there are people out there developing hot lights that don't get hot, and the levers on the back are based on stops, but they are so overpriced right now. Wait for them to come down and maybe consider them. I think the new face of hot lights are based on led's maybe, though don't quote me on that. I'm doing the research right now actually.
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02/27/2007 07:19:52 PM · #13 |
It's an apples to oranges comparison with softboxes vs umbrellas, as they have noticeably different light characteristics. They'll fluctuate with make, size, and diffusion, but with an umbrella you'll have a hot center and feathering as you approach the edges. You'll get a fair amount of spill as the light isn't strongly focused. As far as a softbox goes, think of it as window light. Coverage is fairly even and flat from edge to edge, and there isn't as much spill compared to an umbrella.
It's inaccurate to simplify it as one being better than the other because it's up to you to match light characteristics to what you want to accomplish with your lighting.
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02/27/2007 07:42:52 PM · #14 |
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