#Gridded softbox how to
#Gridded softbox skin
#Gridded softbox plus

#Gridded softbox plus

I attached a grid to the light set-up above so that it’s a silver-lined softbox with a diffusion panel plus a grid attached on the front of the diffusion panel. Such is the modifying effect of even just one diffuser fabric! Compare the subject’s left eye (on camera right) – the shadow on the left image is stronger and deeper than the one on the right. This difference is noticeable on the sofa the one on the left is a touch sharper and the one on the right darker and even. It comes directly from the silver lining of the softbox not having gone through any diffusion. Look even closer and you see the light without the diffusion is cooler and slightly harsher. #6 Softbox with diffusion panelĬomparing both images above, do you notice the softer quality of the light on the subject’s face on the image with the diffusion ‘on’? It is a subtle difference, but I can see it. The light is flashed away from the subject onto the silver lining of the softbox and bounced from the silver lining towards the subject without having to go through a diffusion panel. Shooting your subject without the diffusion panel is like shooting with a hood, as per example #3 (the hood also has a silver lining), only the softbox is larger. The one on the left is an example without the diffusion panel that covers the softbox.

I switched to a 90 x 60 rectangular softbox for the images above. Left: #5 Softbox Without the Diffusion Panel.

#Gridded softbox skin

Notice how the light quality is gentler on the skin and more evenly spread, with softer shadows on the neck and under the nose. The resulting light quality is softer and more evenly spread due to bouncing and diffusion.Ĭompare this to image #2 that used only the shoot-through umbrella without the bounce. The umbrella is silver-lined which bounces all the light back towards the subject through a diffuser fabric. In the above-right image, I used a deep umbrella softbox allowing me to face both the flash and umbrella away from my subject. Shadows on the face here are still defined, and not as smooth as I’d like it, but it is much better than on #1, where the shadows are much darker and harsher. The light spills only as the light leaves the hood. As it is rather small, it restricts the spread of light a little and focuses it more on the area you are lighting.

#Gridded softbox how to

You can also shoot with one light, of course, see here for a beginner’s tutorial on how to create dramatic portraits with one light.įor the above-left image, I shot using just the electronic flash and the hood that comes with it. studio light modifiers: flash hood, translucent umbrella, umbrella softbox, 90 x 60 softbox, diffuser fabric, grid.a flash on camera right onto which I attached various modifiers.Doing this cut light out and limited it to the subject rather than hitting the wall I also wanted a rather dark, moody lighting, so I covered the flash with a few layers of diffuser fabric. a flash high up on the camera left to give a bit of hair light – I wasn’t after a vast separation from the background as I was using a light colored sofa that separates the background and the subject already.a large silver panel reflector on camera left.My set-up consisted of 2 lights and the following: Let’s start with the lighting diagram as shown below. The studio light modifiers used in this article It also limits or restricts the spill of light onto other areas. A grid restricts the focus of light, making it more directional, allowing the photographer more control.

Grid – usually made from fabric strips of material that are sewn together to form a 3D grid that is attached to the light modifier. A softbox confines the light from the flash and releases it through a diffusion material, thereby allowing more control as to the size and spread of light that reaches your subject. Softbox – a closed chamber usually lined in white or silver fabric, available in various shapes (such as a square, rectangle, umbrella, octagon). Diffusion – a material that scatters light evenly as it passes through, thereby making the light softer and with less glare and harshness.