Different Types of Softboxes and Their Use in Photo Studios
Direct flash light is rarely a good choice for lighting the subjects for photography. Therefore, you need to modify the light and decrease its harshness. There are number of methods available for diffusing and redirecting the original light source into a pleasing, broader light source which is suited for creating controllable light for photography. Softboxes are one of the most commonly used light modifiers. These tools soften and diffuse the light by spreading its beam for creating a larger light source. They can be used with different types of lights, such as extra camera flashes, powerful studio flashes, and others.
All softboxes are not the same!
Though all brands of this photography equipment perform the task of creating soft and wraparound lighting, but all are not the same. Some brands provide a choice to the buyers to have silver or white interiors. The silver interiors reflect more light and thus are more efficient than white interiors. However, they have a disadvantage. The light is less diffused and harsher than that provided by white interiors.
The softboxes also differ from each other on the basis of size. Larger ones have a bigger diffusion panel and therefore, spread it more widely to produce softer light whereas, the smaller ones produce harsh light, as it has a smaller diffusion panel. For clicking full body photos or group photos, large softboxes are a better option to obtain even and soft lighting. The general rule is use the softbox whose size matches with that of the size of the subject. The big studios use different softboxes of different sizes to suit subject matter. However, if you have limited space or budget, you can have just 1 or 2. The best idea is to use biggest one. Place this lighting equipment close to the subject to get a very soft light and little further away from the subject to get harsher light.
These are available in different shapes like square, rectangular, octagonal, round, parabolic and hexagonal to alter the light's quality. More commonly used photography softboxes are those available in square, octagonal and rectangle shapes. Different shaped softboxes are applied to specific subjects. Sometimes, two or more of different types of softboxes are combined for a subject to create desired lighting effect.
In a nutshell, softboxes are a way to soften the light quality from a bare flash bulb or any other flash light source. It is good for replicating window light. It produces flattering light which is suited well for clicking wedding photos.
All softboxes are not the same!
Though all brands of this photography equipment perform the task of creating soft and wraparound lighting, but all are not the same. Some brands provide a choice to the buyers to have silver or white interiors. The silver interiors reflect more light and thus are more efficient than white interiors. However, they have a disadvantage. The light is less diffused and harsher than that provided by white interiors.
The softboxes also differ from each other on the basis of size. Larger ones have a bigger diffusion panel and therefore, spread it more widely to produce softer light whereas, the smaller ones produce harsh light, as it has a smaller diffusion panel. For clicking full body photos or group photos, large softboxes are a better option to obtain even and soft lighting. The general rule is use the softbox whose size matches with that of the size of the subject. The big studios use different softboxes of different sizes to suit subject matter. However, if you have limited space or budget, you can have just 1 or 2. The best idea is to use biggest one. Place this lighting equipment close to the subject to get a very soft light and little further away from the subject to get harsher light.
These are available in different shapes like square, rectangular, octagonal, round, parabolic and hexagonal to alter the light's quality. More commonly used photography softboxes are those available in square, octagonal and rectangle shapes. Different shaped softboxes are applied to specific subjects. Sometimes, two or more of different types of softboxes are combined for a subject to create desired lighting effect.
In a nutshell, softboxes are a way to soften the light quality from a bare flash bulb or any other flash light source. It is good for replicating window light. It produces flattering light which is suited well for clicking wedding photos.