Umbrella Colors - DPChallenge Forums

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

02/28/2005 10:18:38 AM · #1

Ok, I have changed my mind again, I will be using SB600's for my lighting. I was going to use continous lighting, but I said let just jump right into the hard stuff. So, anyway, this is what I was wondering. I have seen alot of different umbrellas on the web, some white reflectors, some silver, some gold and tungston, and some tranparent. So what is the difference in the lighting for each one, and which type of stands do you reccomend. Thanks for any help.

Travis

Message edited by author 2005-02-28 10:24:19.

Chiqui

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

02/28/2005 10:26:14 AM · #2

Silver gives the strongest effect. Gold gives warm light, white is mostly to shoot through, just like clear and black is well, black.

June

....I think....

Message edited by author 2005-02-28 10:26:54.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

02/28/2005 10:44:32 AM · #3

Silve and gold sounds good, for me.

Plexxoid

Canon EOS-30D

02/28/2005 11:32:13 AM · #4

Silver tends to lighten highlights and raise overall contrast. I reflect off of white.

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

02/28/2005 11:34:12 AM · #5

You might want to consider getting a large softbox for your main light. You will have more control of the light. You will get those nice big catchlights for the eyes. As far as reflectors go, try a reversible white/gold. The transparent ones are good to diffuse the light when you shoot thru them, if you are shooting outside in midday sun, you can use them to block out the harsh shadows while still allowing in some light and as a temp background if you want to isolate a subject such as a flower. I don't have a stand for the reflectors but there are some good ones out there. I sometines use a lightstand with bungie cords and clips for the reflector. The black ones are used to control the light to. If you use backgrond lights to blow out the background, you can block it from bouncing back onto your model and causing a hazy area around him/her. Also If you are doing very high key where the light is soft all around the model and you also have a light background, you can use the black reflectors at each side to create a darker outline around the model. They are good to stop light spills into areas you want dark.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

02/28/2005 11:47:32 AM · #6

Have you had any problems with shawdows using umbrellas. It seems to me tht the bars that open the umbrella and cuse it to spread would cast shawdows on the subject. Do you think I only need one soft box?

Chiqui

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

02/28/2005 12:02:09 PM · #7

Originally posted by Travis99:

No, the bars don't cast a shadow.

June

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

02/28/2005 01:07:59 PM · #8

The frame of the umbrella doesn't cause shadows. If you look at the catchlights in some portraits you will see the lines radiating out. Some people don't mind them, some do.
One softbox will do for awhile. Go to the lighting forum over at dpreview and read a little bit of their posts. Pretty educational.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

02/28/2005 01:08:02 PM · #9

What about a stand for the umbrellas, do the come with an attachment that holds the umbrella or do I have to buy that seperate. Sohuld I use a continious light in the softbox, or should I use a flash in there as well?

Travis

Chiqui

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

02/28/2005 01:21:07 PM · #10

Some sofboxes and umbrellas are not made for continous lighting because the lights get too hot, be careful which ones you get. The umbrella and the softboxes come by themselves, you have to buy a light stand separately and more than likely an attachment so you can actually set your flash on the stand, that will have a hole for the umbrella. I'm not familiar with your lights but softboxes are hooked up to the lights, not hte stand. Hope that helps.

June