Light Modifiers
by Cory Rice ·Posted
There are countless ways to modify light sources to achieve the exact image you want to create. While softboxes, umbrellas, and beauty dishes (deservedly) get much love from portrait photographers, they are far from the only means of adjusting and shaping light. Scrims and
by Cory Rice ·Posted
Collecting studio lights can become an addictive vice for the adventurous portrait photographer. Once you realize all that can be done with one light, you will soon want to add another, and another, and another. With each additional light come new techniques and creative possibilities. For portrait photographers, one of the most commonly used multi-light setups is three-point lighting. This tried-and-true approach to
by Cory Rice ·Posted
One of the leading trends in digital cameras over the past few years has been the development of advanced video capabilities in mirrorless and DSLR cameras. Features that could once only be found in costly cinema cameras now come standard in still cameras targeted toward hybrid photo-video content creators. Accompanying the interest in cameras able to create high-quality stills and videos has come a demand for lights that can be used for both purposes.
While on-camera flashes and strobes have long been the standard for photographers, the short
Lighting is one of the most important tools a photographer can have, which is why lighting accessories can make excellent gifts for photographers of all skill levels. But if you’re a new photographer or giving a gift to one, knowing what to get can be difficult. We have assembled a list of lighting gifts we'd recommend, especially for newbies, so you can hone your lighting skills with some of our favorite introductory accessories.
The Intro 2-Light Kit
Lighting kits are a great choice for new photographers because they include everything you
by Cory Rice ·Posted
In the world of portraiture, a light is only as good as the tools used to shape it. The three most common types of modifiers used for portraits are umbrellas, softboxes, and beauty dishes. Each of these
by Cory Rice ·Posted
The first thing I noticed when unboxing the Trailblazer T40D Daylight LED Light was how compact Genaray’s newest light is. Slightly larger than a travel mug and weighing just over a pound, it is about as “everyday carry” as a stand-mountable light can be. It comes with a dedicated carrying case, but you can just as easily toss it into a backpack or camera bag to consolidate space if you are hiking or biking to your location.
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Profoto has announced a set of updated light-shaping tools for use with its B10, B10 Plus, and B1X off-camera flashes. The new drop includes barndoors, a snoot, three grids, and 12 gels. Most of the new modifiers are compatible with one another, so you can get exactly the effect that you want out of your flash.
Elinchrom continues to refine its range of lights, adding new features and models to reach larger, more varied audiences. The latest from the respected company are the ELC Monolights, distinctly modern takes that are designed to be ready at all times to let photographers work faster. Made in 125Ws and
636 Views ·Posted
Which light modifier is right for you? In this fourth video, David Flores continues our "Strobe Lighting" Series by demonstrating the different types of light modifiers, such as bounced light, softboxes, umbrellas, beauty dishes, grids, colored gels, and snoots. These strobist photography techniques will take your studio lighting to new dimensions!
Need help picking out a strobe light? Click here.
For more videos from the "Strobe
by Lindsay Finnegan ·Posted
Are you new to food photography or looking to advance your lighting techniques? This article takes you through how to use existing light to your benefit as well as how to create it yourself. Both approaches will yield similar results, but each has its own unique advantages. It’s up to you which path to take.
Natural: Work with Window Light
The simplest way to photograph food is to shape light that already exists
by Cory Rice ·Posted
When Nicéphore Niépce invented the first permanent photographic process in the early 19th century, he named it heliographie—or, sun-writing. Nearly two hundred years later, the sun continues to provide a quality light source to photographers at a fraction of the cost of its competitors. Like any creative decision, using natural light for portraits has its pros and cons. Its popularity stems from the facts that it is free, accessible,
1,925 Views ·Posted
Jake challenges James O'Connor, freelance Director of Photography (DP), to light an interview scene in an office conference room using only a budget lighting setup. Can he do it? Watch to find out!
Whether you’re adjusting your color balance for a warm or cool look or using vibrant colors on your light sources for hair lighting, backgrounds, or edge lighting, filters are the surest way to create a personal style or express creativity. Luckily, as the name indicates, Flashgels is in the business of filters, and this company makes them for various Godox and Flashpoint strobes and speedlights or units of their approximate size. These Color
Traditionally the realm of stage and studio, Aputure’s brand-new Spotlight Mount brings ellipsoidal-type lighting to conventional lighting tools equipped with the common Bowens S-type accessory mount. This device mounts directly on many different types and styles of fixtures and its internal shutter blades and various lens options provide an astounding level of control and precision over how light falls on your scene and subjects.
Users have full
by Cory Rice ·Posted
The eyes might be the windows to the soul for most people, but they also serve as windows to lighting setups for astute portrait photographers. Catchlights reflected in the eyes of a sitter can reveal the size, shape, and placement of light sources in a photo. More importantly, catchlights provide a means of drawing attention to and adding dimension to a sitter’s eyes. Westcott’s Eyelighter 2 Reflective Panel presents a novel means