It's no secret that professional photographers have long appreciated the use of softboxes in studio photography. Softbox is nothing more than a light modifier. But what can he do!
Need softboxes
Softbox is considered the main tool for taking pictures with a flash, or rather, with a flash outside the camera. This is a box in a fabric package with one side open and a hole on the other so that you can insert the flash inside. The front side of this light is covered with a translucent material. This special fabric for the inner walls of the lamp. The softbox reflects the light before it exits through the open front side. The entire installation is placed on a special stand. The purpose of lighting using softboxes is to mitigate the quality of light created by an external flash. Soft light - less shadows, better picture.
Size and quality of light produced
What is a softbox and what size is needed? These are logical questions that are asked when you first try to cover them. Softboxes come in many shapes and sizes.
It's all about the quality of light. Larger softboxes cover a wide area with more diffuse light, medium-sized tools provide tougher shadows. Size in this case is a relative term. The distance from the directivity object will also change the effect of illumination. Choose any softbox that you need, but keep in mind that you must consider the size of the studio.
If you are a beginner photographer, already understood what a softbox is, and are planning to purchase one of the models, the choice will depend on whether you use a flash or strobe lights. Worth knowing:
- Stroboscopes are more powerful. They require a larger softbox.
- Flashes produce an intense beam of light, but are less powerful than strobe lights. Some softboxes can hold two flashes.
For high-quality photography, you may need accessories for softboxes - grids that limit the amount of light.
Softbox Form
The shape of the softbox is a very significant factor. This is especially important with portrait photography. What is a softbox and how does its shape affect the final result? Look at the portrait image - undoubtedly, first of all your eyes fell on your eyes. The first thing you notice is the light in those eyes. Ideally, photographers would like to have light similar to natural sunlight. Therefore, octoboxes are an extremely popular choice. They are not perfectly round, but no one will notice this in the final image. The traditional shape of a rectangle or square can be used with the main light source or as fill lighting. The stripbox has an elongated shape. It is great for lighting hair, as well as for growth portraits. The hint which softbox was used when shooting is a form of glare in the eyes of the model. The rectangular softbox creates square highlights that look like light coming from a window.
Oktoboks will create round light flares, which are more like the fact that the light comes from a natural light source (such as the sun).
Mounting system
Softboxes come in different mounting systems. Some of them have their own mounting systems, which are supplied. For others, it is necessary to select installation systems on their own, which increases flexibility and compatibility with various lighting stands. In addition to this, of course, there are various systems designed for strobe lights and flashes (light indicators). Setting the lighting inside the device, a full understanding of what softbox is and how light is distributed are the most important aspects in practice.
Portrait photography can be made using only one light source. This means that only one softbox is needed to get started. The most interesting thing is that the installation with a single light source, located at an angle of 45 ° from the object and at a distance of 1.20 m, is a classic lighting installation. For full-length portrait shots, you need to have more than one softbox to illuminate each side of the body, depending on the desired result. When using two sources, the first of them is key: it illuminates the subject. The second light source is additional softboxes, the number of which depends on the task.