Lighting Tip: Soft light with a “reflector”

March 19, 2010

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This is a quick, down-and-dirty trick I learn at a recent Strobist meet-up. You can soften light from a flash in a number of ways: A soft box, shoot-through umbrella, etc.  Have you ever considered using the white inner ring of a 5-in-1 reflector? I never had, but the results are fantastic.

Try out firing a strobe through the inner ring of a 5-in-1 reflector.

Try out firing a strobe through the inner ring of a 5-in-1 reflector.

The above image was captured using a Nikon SB-900 fired through a white diffuser – the inner translucent ring of a 5-in-1 reflector, held above the model, camera-left.  The flash was triggered with a Phottix Tetra wireless flash trigger.

Using something large, like the inside of a reflector, you get super-soft light. Remember: The larger the light source, the softer the light. In this shot, a voice-activated light stand was used, but this could be easily accomplished using a reflector-holder arm on a light stand, with another light stand holding the strobe.

Links to Phottix products for this set-up:

Phottix Reflector Arm

Phottix 5-in-1 Reflector

Phottix Light Stand

Photog Friday is taking a little break. We’re currently seeking out talented photographers to profile and need a few weeks to set it all up. If you’re interested, please contact us.

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Craig Ferguson (@cfimages) March 19, 2010 at 9:03 am

Another cool little trick that’s related is using the diffuser in front of a softbox. It makes the light really nice.

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Phottix Journal March 19, 2010 at 11:19 am

Great tip, Craig. Thanks for sharing.

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