It's amazing what a big difference the cheap budget shoot through umbrella makes to portraits as opposed to direct flash. A definite step up in terms of quality! The diffuse light falls off much more gently, and gives a nicer, more natural look. One day I want to step up to more powerful studio lights, but until then my existing flash units look like they can handle these smaller jobs.
IMO much better :)
ReplyDeleteFrom time I bought chinese radio transmitters I'm using two or three remote flashlights with umbrellas or some diy addons. Two flashes and umbrellas - best mobile portrait studio ever :D
I think that's a good point, the mobility of flash units and umbrellas. With a set of proper studio lights things can get heavy and a pain to move very quickly, but my flash stays small and the umbrella folds up really small.
ReplyDeleteI've never got into studio or portraits, only done street shots, but I can see what you mean about the umbrella; lot better than direct or bounce flash.
ReplyDeleteFlashlight torch is burried deep inside the body - with umbrella too close to face it may still produce too much straight light. To diffuse even more, I'm often using stofen-alike plastic diffuser + white-transparent umbrella.
ReplyDeleteIt's great if you have an ultra-mobile mini umbrellas about only 50cm diameter :)) they are awesome because of the short central pin - you may pack it into backpack easily :)
To diffuse before umbrella you may use something like:
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Gary-Fong-Lightsphere/
much lighter than Lightsphere and much more mobile :) (takes less place in backpack :D)
Effects of one small umbrella + plastic + flashlight carried in hand:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs075.snc4/35125_139676389389860_100000424984038_279072_3962278_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs209.snc4/38804_139677892723043_100000424984038_279073_6362662_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs103.ash2/38505_139651286059037_100000424984038_279021_3320867_n.jpg
Impossible without flash, too harsh with naked flashgun :)
Cool! Thanks for the info, and your pics look great too.
ReplyDeleteFastest mobile studio?
ReplyDelete- two clips like this:
http://www.eltec.alpha.pl/produkt.php?id=2286
- two umbrella holders like this:
http://www.eltec.alpha.pl/produkt.php?id=1803
- two doors / chairs / anything else to use as tripods ;)))
- two manual flashguns + remote trigger
And you can have studio anywhere :D
I like the idea of the clip with a mount attached. Should be easy enough to make myself... if I wasn't so lazy! Ha!
ReplyDeleteI actually attached my umbrella to an old tripod I have had from some years and it works ok but is a little too short. It really needs to be high enough to be above tallish people that are standing. As it is now my subjects have to sit down on a stool. The clips could solve that problem, if I could find something high enough to clip them onto.
Doors - about 2m height when opened and clipped from top :) or PVC pipe hanged under ceiling :)
ReplyDeleteToo clever! Well done!
ReplyDeleteNecessity is the mother of invention. Or in my case, lack of funds makes me have to put my brain to actual creative use!
;-)
Men, I have a lot of DIYs:
ReplyDelete- honeycombs from black drink straws
- softboxes from cardboards + alufoil + tissue-papers ;)
- bubble-foils
- 'barndoors' from black cardboard
- ringflash from plastic bowl + alu foil + semi-transparent material :)
- color filters from LEE sample filter pack to colorize backgrounds or to make my flash tungsten :)
All of them are with velcro to put on/off fast. All of them are very cheap and handmade without much effort :)
It's worth trying (for these cheap), effects may be stunning :))
Beautiful woman and photography : natural.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards.
. PHILIPPE .
Direct flash, a photo killer through and through... Your setup is much more portable than any reflectors setup. But those can also give amazing results... I like what you get with that "cheap" system. Let's not be snub, only the result is important IMHO.
ReplyDeleteRoger