Panels can be easily overlooked when we think about modifying light to optimize our shots. Often times, we run to umbrellas or softboxes — which are great — but rarely do we hear of anyone starting off with large panels.
More often than not, these panels (especially this large of a size) are seen as cumbersome and expensive to the casual shooter. But the new reflector panel and sun scrim kit from Glow () eliminates the pressure of a heavy investment into a system that you may not even want to settle into.
Someone who is just starting out in their photography career most likely will be using ambient light, and that lends itself perfectly to the biggest aspect of the versatility to using panels. The beauty of light panels it that you can throw any light source on the other side of them to diffuse the light (to break up hard specular highlights) and it transcends the light on the diffuser material to enlarge the light source. It creates a more even light, allowing for softer gradation of shadows.
In short, this can quickly make any light source big and soft, including sunlight itself. In this particular case, during my shoot, two speed lights turned into a 39″x62″ sized soft light source! Those small, punchy, hard lights you probably already have in your bag are now acting like a big studio light with just one modifier. They allow for individual power control of various zones on the panel. Better yet, any light source can be used with this panel, which is why it’s truly so versatile.
Check out some of the photos taken during this session:
A large soft box this size needs specific mounts for particular lights but here, I can take flash, ambient, and constant light sources of any type to make it work (given they have enough exposure, as this diffuser will eat up 3/4th to 1 stop of light).
Starter kits with clip on 250 to 500 watt bulbs can easily work with this set up. Rigging the extra skin that comes in the kit allows for an almost V-flat type set up. The skin doesn’t need the frame to work, you just need its surface area to bounce back in any residual light.
This may be a less conventional way to use your equipment but it works — and that’s what truly matters.
Flipping this to an overhead setup allows for a large light to cover a large area (like groups of people or a full scene) and look natural rather than harshly lit. It’s so easy to be discouraged by the cost, compatibility, and sheer choice of equipment out there — which leads to missing out on what’s possible with the looks that can be achieved.
Once you get a sense of what the advantages are of the of certain gear, that is when you can take the next steps of how much further you’d like to invest and shift your own style.
