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09/09/2008 02:33:03 PM · #1 |
Does anybody here have any experience with the concept of an umbrella softbox (basically a shoot through umbrella with a cover to avoid spilling light into the room)?
I have a nice AB folding softbox in my studio, but right now I am really like the light I'm getting on location from a shoot through umbrella. There is less control on the edges, but I like way the light falls off. My problem is that a shoot through in the studio sends light bouncing off the walls and ceilings. It seems that a covered shoot through, similar to this one from AB, would avoid the issue, but it's possible that the cover also changes the characteristics of the light.
Thanks in advance,
Dave
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09/09/2008 02:55:54 PM · #2 |
I have the large and small brolly boxes from AB. I am not really sure what you are trying to accomplish. If you want to keep stray light from the back then yes the brolly will do that. The problem I have with the brolly is its very hard to control light spill forward. Its nice soft light, you just cant control where it goes once it leaves forward. It will still bounce the ceiling, and what ever direction it can from the front. Thats one reason I went with two medium softboxes. I still have bounce umbrellas, brollies, and shoot throughs. But in my small space I can control the light better with softboxes.
Matt
The light spilled on the background in this [thumb]706899[/thumb] shot is from the brolly on camera right.
Message edited by author 2008-09-09 14:57:46.
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09/09/2008 03:01:24 PM · #3 |
Thanks Matt!
I had not considered the possible issues with light spilling forward and up from the umbrella. Outside it just goes away, but that could be an issue in the studio.
As to what I'm trying to accomplish. The shoot through seems to have a nice gradual falloff of light and I like the transition from light to shadow. I have not found the same look from the softbox yet. With the softbox I have great control of the edges of the light, but the transitions from light to smooth don't have the same characteristics.
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09/09/2008 03:04:12 PM · #4 |
Are you using the inner diffuser as well as the outer one? I have found I get much softer light by doing so.
Matt
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09/09/2008 03:18:54 PM · #5 |
I'm not sure if I need softer, so let me try to describe.
When working in a window I can sometimes get nice directional light that also has nice soft transitions from light to shadow. I can get almost the same affect from a shoot through used fairly close to the subject, probably because the light is just sloppy enough to fall off the way I like. The softbox is so directional that I don't get the cool falloff. I've added the additional diffusion panel and I've gone without. I've added and removed the grid as well. I can keep playing, but I thought maybe the shoot through umbrella with the cover would match what I have achieve outdoors.
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