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Atlanta based editorial photographer, Zack Arias. |
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Sun , March 30th, 2008
A great question was raised today on OSP about choosing a modifier. Lauren (Top 100 WPJA photographer! Congrats!) was asking about the difference between brolly box modifiers and softboxes. I thought I would take a minute to show the difference between the two and why one might be chosen over another in certain shooting situations. I will talk about them with the idea that you would be shooting with one of these modifiers indoors because that is where you really see the difference between modifiers. You can’t feather light off the sky! Also note that my “science” is Myth Busters science. It’s pretty close and has been based on “pretty good” observations from real world shooting. If someone wants to chime in with math equations knock yourself out! Let’s look at the brolly box first. This type of modifier is basically a shoot through umbrella with a cover on the back to keep light from reflecting out of it.
The next image is a medium sized softbox. About 2×3 feet. It is the discontinued Westcott Apollo RL3.
This medium sized softbox is a great modifier for shooting 1 to 2 people. It will cover about 3/4’s of the body and you’ll see a bit of light falling off around the thigh to shin area if you are shooting a full length portrait. Shooting more than 2 people next to each other with this modifier isn’t a good idea. You would have to back it off so far that you lose the quality of light you are looking to achieve by using a softbox in the first place. A softbox produces a beautiful diffused light but is more directional in nature. It is the modifier I choose if I am wanting to keep light on the subject but control the amount of light falling into the environment I’m shooting in. A softbox is much easier to feather light onto or off of a subject or area of environment. Remember that the differences between these two modifers does not make one better than the other. They are just different and you use one over the other based on which one is going to modify light for the specific purpose of the photography you are trying to create. If I wanted to add a large soft light on a subject as well as use that light source to fill the room I’m shooting in, I would choose the shoot through / brollly box option. If I need to keep light falling on the subject more than the environment I would choose the softbox. If I am shooting a large group of people and need that light to cover a large area so everyone is evenly lit, I go to the brolly. The softbox above is not the size you need to shoot 4 or more people. It is very difficult to pick one over the other. If I had to pick just one, I would start with a softbox because they require more of an investment to purchase one. A 60″ shoot through umbrella like the one pictured above can be had for $40 or so bucks so it is easy to add that to your bag of tricks later. If you have any other questions about these two modifiers, just drop ‘em in the comment box! Cheers, PS – Should go without saying… Brollys give you round catch lights in the eyes. Softboxes give you square catch lights. Always watch the catch lights in photos and it will give you a hint as to what type of modifier was used. 39 Responses to “Shoot Through Umbrella vs. Softbox”Leave a Reply |
A brolly box or shoot through umbrella produces very soft light and spreads it throughout the environment you are shooting in. They are great for producing soft light on your subjects. They are also a better option for shooting groups of 4 or more people since they deliver light over a lager area. If your shoot through umbrella or brolly box is in between you and your subject you have to watch out for flare coming into your lens. It’s a large bright light source that can shoot right back into your lens.
Neat demo Z. I need to get myself a softbox someday!
Great write-up! I find myself in Gap & Gap Kids stores standing about 2 feet away from the wall staring at the gallery wrap images. The conversation usually goes like this:
Store help: ‘Can I help you?’
Me: ‘Not really. I’m just trying to see how this person was lit.’
This is awesome! I hope to see more of these types of posts. It really helps clarify things, and the diagrams are stellar in making it all sink in.
I’ve had “Westcott Apollo” saved as an ebay search and I get an e-mail alerting me each time a new one pops up. So far, the last RL3 that popped up was the one you snagged. All that really ever shows up is the micro which is garbo, and an occasional 28″. The 28″ always sell for enough to warrant just buying a brand new one.
Oh yeah…I love looking at the posters in stores like Gap. That’s always fun.
Slick. Nice demo shots, Zack.
Target has some clean in-store marketing photography as well.
Cheers,
Zack
this is awesome!
in the line above the brolly-box diagram you mentioned that it is “a shoot-through umbrella with a cover on the back to keep light from reflecting out of it”
where is the cover on the back in the diagram?
Hi Ragat,
The product in the photo above is just a 60″ shoot through umbrella. Click the “brolly box” link at the top of the post to see a photo with the cover on it.
Westcott makes a similar product called the Halo. You can see it here…
http://tinyurl.com/229cbr
Cheers,
Zack
Awesome post! Thanks for posting it on OSP too cuz that’s how I found this.
Is there a big difference between a 45″ and a 60″ umbrella? I want to get the 28″ softbox but it’s only available in the package with a 45″ umbrella. My only concern is that the 45″ will be too small and almost useless.
Hi John&Lauren,
You can get the 28″ alone here…
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/62245-REG/Westcott_2334_Apollo_Mono_Softbox_with.html
There isn’t a MASSIVE difference between the 45 and 60. The 60 is larger thus giving you a softer light. If I had to choose between the 2, I’ll take the 60 any day.
Cheers,
Zack
[...] is to to hear multiple people give their views. Recently both David Hobby (the Strobist) and Zack Arias (Mr. OneLight) have written posts on the use of umbrellas with off camera lights. Share and [...]
I like the combination- a Photek softlighter 2 umbrella that is shoot through, or white reflector with black back on, or with the black back and installation of the diffuser becomes a circular,bounced soft box with gold (or silver) reflectors wonderful to be inserted to add warmth. If needed, when using the diffuser, spill can be controlled with bookends or flags. Nice 10 sided circular catchlights. With removable half of shaft off, can position within a foot or so of subject in that mode. 52 inches of sweet, soft, diffused, warmed light inches from subject.
Thanks for being so generous with your knowledge…it is inspiring! This is just the first page I have read and can’t wait for more! Cheers!
I need to get my set up resolved for shooting groups at weddings. Would you reccommend a Q flash and a Brolly type set up?
Hope your visit with your family goes well and gives great memories.
Zack – love the ideas they really help as I’m trying to set up lighting without spending a $M. I recently tested my Adorama 2 piece umbrella (removable black/reflective cover)over white shoot through. I took the reflective cover and mounted it on the brolly support pole with the reflector facing into the white umbrella. I then mounted my strobe inside facing the reflector and ended up with a very nice soft-box effect with no hot-spots.
Awesome mod Jim! Good job. I’ll have to try that!
Cheers,
Zack
Fantastic info! Thanks for taking the time to illustrate this.
Good post! I like your blog and web site. I got the link on Strobist. Congratulations!
Cheers for sharing your knowledge and for the great site in general, have learnt a lot from your Myth busters approach. Keep up the great work.
Do these brolly boxes and softboxes as shown in your illustration also include the internal reflectors in front of the flash head, especially for the square softbox?
I like it and the background and colors make it easy to read\
Id love to see a shoot-thru vs. reflective umbrella comparison.
This is super amazingly useful. I’ve never tried shoot-through, umbrellas or box in anyway and you made me cross the small distance that was seperating me from studio stuff. Here I am now at my first studio attempt today with 3 strobes, 2 umbrellas and a softbox and hell this is fun.
i keep seeing this subject discussed in various places, but never as well, nor as well illustrated, as this.
thanks!
There is a thing called umbrella softbox. It looks like the brolly box by reversed in the black and white areas. You can have a look at it here…
http://sgstrobist.blogspot.com/2009/03/umbrella-softbox.html
This is really the budget softbox, at only SGD$33/-
Zac,
if you were just setting up a studio, and had money to spend on 2 softboxes, and you shoot toddlers whith their parents, what would you choose? Thanks also for sharing so much info with us all… really inspires me, and keeps me thinking….
Im looking to light stainless steel items from 6′ to 16′ long. What would you suggest? Umbrella?
Im looking at buying a whole studio kit for photographing our huge products.
Also i have some small items under 3′ that i set up a light box for. What would be the best lighting for that? Softbox?
[...] I have an old post on the blog about umbrellas and softboxes. You can read it here. [...]
[...] Samenstellen strobistsetje met 580exII en 580ex http://www.zarias.com/?p=27 __________________ Discussie Manager – een nonconformist op een nonconformistische wijze – *** [...]
I think this site is great,this is interesting but I wondered about softbox vs umbrella box,,,the light being pushed through 2 lots diffuser,,,whats the difference,,,cheers,,,keep on posting more info for portraiture,,how about low-mid key classic portraits
[...] Here’s a simple headshot I took about an hour ago. I took it in the basement car park of our apartment complex using a Canon 580EX and a 43″ reflective Westcott Umbrella. I quite like the 43″ but it just doesn’t give out light as soft as I want so I ordered a 60″ (as recommended). [...]
[...] [...]
i love how practical you are zack. some one asks a question about what one is better and you produce two straight forward factual images to show them. great work.
Hi Zack I was wondering what is the model of your 50 inch softbox? thanks lots!!!
is it this one? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/62236-REG/Westcott_2348_Apollo_JS_Softbox_with.html
That’s the one!
nice job on your tutorial
[...] It all depends on the light you're wanting to throw on your subject. Each is going to show a different light. Here's a great article that Zach Arias wrote about the differences…with pictures lol Zack Arias – Atlanta based editorial music photographer Shoot Through Umbrella vs. Softbox [...]
Am I missing something, this is a great write up about shoot though v softbox. However not a brolly box, the “box” portion is missing on brolly – the back prevents those hot spots shown and puts more light forward. It is a different modifier.