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A Guide to Studio Light Shapers
Kamera Express
We explain everything about lightshapers
Shaping light is important when taking beautiful and high-quality photos. Those who master the light will go far. George Eastman, the inventor of lightweight cameras, already said: “Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all your are worth, and you will know the key to photography.”
In the studio, in addition to flashes, you can also use light shapers to create soft light. By using these light shapers, you can control the light effectively. Almost all studio photographers use light shapers. Just notice: sometimes you see them reflected in the models' eyes.
The light shapers photographers use are very personal. Some use softboxes and strip lights, while others only place reflectors. It depends on your style, your subject, the setting, your experience, your dexterity, and the assignment. It is always good to know what options are available. That is why we highlight a few light shapers here.
These are the different types of light shapers:
1. Flash umbrellas
There are different types of flash umbrellas , such as transparent and reflective flash umbrellas. With a transparent flash umbrella, you flash through it. You place this umbrella close to your model to make the light as soft as possible.
With the help of the reflective flash umbrella, you can spread the light well throughout the room. You flash into the umbrella, and the light bounces back towards the subject.
2. Reflection screens
You can balance the lightusingreflector screens . It can be useful to use foldable light screens. These screens are compact and user-friendly. They often have a white, silver, gold, or black surface. You can use them all in different ways; with a black screen, for example, you can block out light.
3. Softbox
A softbox provides you with soft light. You can use small and large softboxes. The larger the softbox, the softer the light becomes. You can use this to create a stripe along the body and shoulders. A subcategory is the Striplight Softbox. These softboxes divide the light into an elongated beam, allowing you to illuminate someone from head to toe.
4. Octabox
An octabox is a softbox with eight sides. The eight sides of the box make it possible to cast a flash light around the object. An octabox is the same as a softbox in terms of light and how it wraps around something. The only difference between an octabox and a softbox is that an octabox creates round catchlights in the model's eyes. You can then use this intentionally.
5. Beauty Dish
If you are looking for something in between—light that is neither too harsh nor too soft—then a Beauty Dish is a good choice. The light you get using a Beauty Dish is harsher than the light from a softbox but still reasonably soft. The diffuse light falls off sooner due to the softer shadows, creating fall-off. This is ideal for portraits, as it allows you to highlight the most important parts of a face.
6. Snoot and grid
Attach a snoot and grid to your flash, and you will have complete control over your light. You can focus the light even more precisely and directly. Create a spot of approximately fifteen degrees with a snoot. This will give you a hard shadow effect. In short: with a snoot and grid, the possibilities are endless. You will notice that you feel free and will enjoy playing with the light. What image creations will you make using this equipment?
7. Open reflector
An open reflector is cool for photographers who actually work with hard shadows. You can create hard shadows with an open reflector because your flash tube shines directly onto the subject.
8. Barndoor
A barn door has adjustable flaps. You can use them to create dramatic lighting and shadows, but also to obscure or highlight specific parts of the subject.
After studying this page, you may have an idea of where to start your search for your ideal lighting. It is also interesting to look at how others work. Some like raw and bright lighting, while others prefer dreamy and very soft lighting.
Do you also have a lighting preference, or do you still need to discover yours? Have fun trying out all the light shapers!
