What’s Your Preference?

yulchick · #1 (**permalink**) 03-11-2011, 04:51 AM

Hi there, I'm now looking into trying out some studio lighting, and I am a total noob at this, so exuse me if some of my questions are plain dumb..

What I am wondering is, what is the differense between the softbox and an umbrella, and what is better to use? (I'm leaning towards the softboxes, as I really want to try and make one myself, and see how everything turns out)

If i am planning on taking some portraits, do I need more than one? at least two?

And I'm also planning on trying to take pictures of my newborn, and wondering on how many softboxes would I need and so on..

any advise on this subject is greatly appreciated

ddr · #2 (**permalink**) 03-11-2011, 05:09 AM

i think someone else posted this link on here but here you go:
zarias.com :: The blog of editorial photographer Zack Arias Shoot Through Umbrella vs. Softbox

zona5101 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-11-2011, 01:04 PM

ddr points you to some great information...
one influencing factor may be what your light source will be...continuous, speedlight or studio lights
for instance, continuous lights run hot so there are special soft boxes designed for high heat, if using a speedlight your going to be limited in how big a softbox you get (or the number of speedlights you put inside the softbox.)

Read up and come back with more questions!

SusanH1970 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-11-2011, 01:42 PM

Agreed with DDR and Bruce, but I just wanted to point out that the learning curve is much easier if you start of with one light and then go from there. For newborns you definitely need only one.

OsmosisStudios · #5 (**permalink**) 03-11-2011, 02:45 PM

I explained this one to my girlfriend recently (when she couldnt understand why I was buying MORE gear).

A bounce-back umbrella is sort of like having a very wide spot spot light. It's soft light, but its fairly large and the light falls away very gradually.

A shoot-through umbrella is a light grenade: when the flash fires it throws light EVERYWHERE.

A softbox is very direct. Its like a soft spot light. The light falls off very quickly. Its very directed and controllable light, but its soft light.

SusanH1970 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-11-2011, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

I explained this one to my girlfriend recently (when she couldnt understand why I was buying MORE gear).

A bounce-back umbrella is sort of like having a very wide spot spot light. It's soft light, but its fairly large and the light falls away very gradually.

A shoot-through umbrella is a light grenade: when the flash fires it throws light EVERYWHERE.

A softbox is very direct. Its like a soft spot light. The light falls off very quickly. Its very directed and controllable light, but its soft light.

Nice explanation, Adam, you spell it out well.

autofocus · #7 (**permalink**) 03-11-2011, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

Agreed with DDR and Bruce, but I just wanted to point out that the learning curve is much easier if you start of with one light and then go from there. For newborns you definitely need only one.

I hold Susan personally responsible for being the one who got us interested in setting up a small studio using lights, and have had absolutely no regrets since she convinced me to do it

We started with one AB800 firing through a fairly large softbox and when needed, use of reflectors opposing it. The problem I've found when shooting newborns, especially when positioned on their belly is that often I cannot get the softbox on it's stand low enough to light the baby well enough other than the top of the baby. (even when we have the baby elevated off the floor on a large beanbag) I've since added my speedlight firing through a small softbox on the opposite side of my main light...that I can get low enough to better fill in the shadow areas that was once a problem with my one light solution.

SusanH1970 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-11-2011, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autofocus

I hold Susan personally responsible for being the one who got us interested in setting up a small studio using lights, and have had absolutely no regrets since she convinced me to do it

We started with one AB800 firing through a fairly large softbox and when needed, use of reflectors opposing it. The problem I've found when shooting newborns, especially when positioned on their belly is that often I cannot get the softbox on it's stand low enough to light the baby well enough other than the top of the baby. (even when we have the baby elevated off the floor on a large beanbag) I've since added my speedlight firing through a small softbox on the opposite side of my main light...that I can get low enough to better fill in the shadow areas that was once a problem with my one light solution.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's all my fault. Blame me for your addiction.