![\"how](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_0.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat is a Softbox<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A softbox is a term that describes an enclosure that surrounds a light source on all sides and diffuses the light that escapes from it. Early softboxes were large plywood boxes with an open front and tracks along the top and bottom where various diffusion flats could be slid into place. Today, softboxes contain lightweight materials, come in all sizes, and are very portable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Use a Softbox<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Uses for the softbox fall predominantly into two categories: Key Light<\/a><\/strong>, as the principal light source, and Fill Light<\/strong>, as a secondary light to reduce contrast. Although any style of light source can be used for key or fill applications, the use of a harsh light for fill renders a poor result. Softboxes, on the other hand, are perfect for fill light because they don\u2019t cast harsh shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below, we see a comparison between a direct flash (hard light) and a softbox for a fill light in bright sunlight. In both flash fill shots, the flash is just above the camera, as it would be for most handheld camera shooting at events. The sun is almost directly overhead, which is one of the worst possible natural lighting situations. The direct flash creates an unattractive shadow under the chin, and models the skin poorly. Notice how the medium LiteDome\u00ae provides a natural fill light that minimizes the harsh conditions and hides the texture around the eyes that often accompanies bright outdoor lighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, we see a comparison between a direct flash (hard light) and a softbox being used as a key light in bright sunlight. As before, the flash fill is just above the camera lens. In this series we\u2019ve moved the model so the sun is behind her, careful to keep any direct light from striking her face. The subject\u2019s skin is more attractive way with soft light. In fact, the shot with the softbox flash fill looks as if no artificial lighting has been used at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most every professional photographer uses softboxes. But why? The answer is adaptability. There\u2019s nothing like a softbox when it comes to providing soft light for any style of shooting. Fashion, food, product, portraiture, you name it. Even when they aren\u2019t the key light source, softboxes play an important role for fill, separation and edge lighting. It\u2019s difficult to imagine photography without them. Read on to learn more about what makes the softbox so essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The various sizes of softboxes, and the various distances at which they can be effective, adds up to a lot of possible combinations and choices. In the series of photos below, we see how different sizes of softboxes affect the same subject. Note that the softbox is very close to the subject in all the shots. This helps us to see the differences in performance between the various sizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What can we learn from these photos? The larger the light source, in relation to the subject, the softer the light becomes. Soft light reduces contrast, conceals skin blemishes, and softens the edges of the shadows. Another important distinction between small and large softboxes is the way that large softboxes cover the entire subject with light. This overall coverage is an essential feature for full-length portraiture or wedding photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve ever asked yourself, \u201cWhich softbox should I buy?” If you\u2019re like me, you\u2019ll see the benefit of having a very small one, a very big one, and one in the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Various sizes of softboxes produce a range of different results for product photography too. To illustrate how the size and quality of the reflection varies while photographing a wine bottle, we set up a simple test using five different sized softboxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The comparison shots below show how the size of the highlight on the surface of the glass varies with the size of the softbox. This is an expected result, but closer inspection of the shots also reveals that the quality of the light is softer with larger light sources. The large softbox renders the glass as an object with a smoother surface, which reads as higher quality. The highlight on the side of the bottle and the neck almost join, conveying more information to the viewer about the shape of the bottle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Choosing lighting styles is largely a matter of personal preference, so any size softbox is good for product and still life photography. Most photographers who specialize in still life and product work have small, medium and large softboxes, in addition to many sizes of reflectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reminder: The closer a light source is to the subject, the softer the light and the larger the resulting reflection. However, larger softboxes allow you to maintain a high quality transparent reflection if you desire, as demonstrated by the example on the far right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most commonly, there are square, rectangular and octagonal softboxes (close to circular). Although quite subtle, each shape has its own characteristics. The OctoDome\u00ae softbox, available in four sizes, has taken the umbrella shape and incorporated several aspects to improve upon its efficiency and usefulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The OctoDome\u00ae softboxes are favored by fashion and portrait shooters for their ability to provide very soft output in a relatively shallow profile design. OctoDome\u00ae softboxes produce light that \u201cfalls off\u201d very quickly as it gets further from the source, so backgrounds can remain less affected than if they were lit by an umbrella. Below, we see a full-length bridal shot with a fully illuminated subject, yet the light striking the brick path is not too bright, and there are no harsh shadows to distract the viewer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the close-up of this same bride below, the light is extremely soft and creates no shadows from the veil onto her face. The highlights in the bride\u2019s eyes are large soft octagons, the preferred shape for fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also achieve excellent results with smaller octagon-shaped softboxes. The extra small OctoDome\u00ae is a favorite for portrait, event and editorial photographers because it delivers a similar effect when used close to the subject, and a more defined effect when used further away. In both cases, the light is soft and produces attractive results, which are superior to open flash for most subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Videographers and architectural photographers find the ability to get a directional or an omni-directional output from a single softbox very useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here, you can see two WhiteDomes\u00ae on booms to light a kitchen scene. The omnidirectional nature of the WhiteDome\u00ae is perfect for boosting the overall light level, but maintaining the natural lighting look of the location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can use a softbox just about anywhere. One of the best uses for the softbox, square softboxes in particular, is to mimic the soft light from a north-facing window. Early photographers realized the beauty of north light and virtually every photo studio from 1850 through 1930 had a room with a large window for shooting portraits. In figure 14 we compare a modern photo taken with an extra large LiteDome\u00ae to a window light portrait taken in 1900. The similarities of the lighting quality are unmistakable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because softboxes are easy to disassemble and transport, photographers can produce beautiful north light anywhere they want. That\u2019s why softboxes are used in the studio and on location for all types of still photography, film based motion picture and video images. This widespread use has made the softbox the most popular lighting modifier in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have been teaching photography for 30 years and I always get the question, \u201cShould I buy an umbrella or a softbox<\/a>?\u201d I own a selection of both umbrellas and softboxes because I do a wide variety of shooting, so my answer is that you\u2019ll want to own both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Umbrellas do a good job, but they only do one job, while softboxes have many different designs to achieve a variety of distinctive results. For example, softboxes accept grids to achieve a narrow beam, while retaining the same soft light quality. This feature allows photographers to use softboxes for hair and separation lighting without getting lens flare or spilling stray light onto the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this image, note how the background remains dark, even though the softbox is actually touching it. You can see how a softbox with a Grid can be used in a position above and behind the subject where an umbrella would not work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Softboxes are also preferable to umbrellas for certain angles with front lighting. Below, we see an umbrella placed forward of the camera position and used to achieve a 45-degree key lighting pattern on the subject, also known as Rembrandt lighting. Light from the lamp is getting around the umbrella and striking the lens directly, causing a series of green flares to appear in the image. This setup is probably one of the most common situations in all of portrait photography and it\u2019s easy to see why softboxes replaced umbrellas in most professional studios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the photo below, we\u2019ve recreated the same setup using a softbox. The lens flare has been avoided because the lamp is fully enclosed in the softbox, protecting the camera from stray light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The simple explanation for this problem is that when the umbrella is forward of the camera, the light source is facing toward the lens. A larger umbrella can help avoid the problem, but placement will be restricted because the larger umbrella will encroach on the field of view. The full range of light pattern options will therefore be limited, as shown below, whereas the softbox does not pose a problem from flare, no matter where it\u2019s placed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anytime soft lighting will produce a better image than hard lighting. The examples are too numerous to mention, but they include portraiture, wedding formals, product photography, editorial shooting, and just about any other situation with human subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the images below, we see softboxes with Grids combined with a large OctoDome\u00ae to achieve a striking lighting result for a shot at dusk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the name alludes, a softbox provides a subtle, soft, and natural-looking illumination to your subject. That\u2019s why photographers often rely on a softbox light for portrait<\/a> or product photography<\/a>. Its advantages run the gamut. A softbox light produces flattering and wide illumination, it minimizes those distracting high-contrast shadows, works with both flash and continuous lights, and brings out the subject\u2019s best features. Even better? Softbox setup is quick and easy. You can use it as the main or key light, depending on the shoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Softbox light can be a great option for video, particularly given the pretty, natural glow that promises to make those videos pop. What type of video content works best with a softbox? Enjoy this soft illumination with everything from at-home vlogs to product reviews and cooking shows. The flattering light will make either you or your subject stand out on screen. And, since the light promises wide and flat coverage, you can rest assured you\u2019ll have an even light dispersion across your set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Written by Jeffery Luhn, contributing instructor for PhotoflexLightingSchool.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Image examples by Jeffery Luhn, Ben Clay, Michael Corsentino, and Paul Markow.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jeffery Luhn demonstrates how to get a fresh look at the world’s favorite lighting accessory, the soft box. Some facts will confirm your assumptions, and others may surprise you, but all the information will be helpful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":165,"featured_media":20595,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17772,639,17770,646],"tags":[981,855,761,1764],"class_list":["post-2331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-become-photographer","category-how-to","category-photography","category-tech","tag-lighting-technique-981","tag-soft-box-855","tag-strobe-761","tag-strobism-1764"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"softbox](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_1.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"softbox](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_2.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhy do Photographers use Softboxes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"softbox](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_3.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat Size Softbox is Best<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"softboxes](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_5.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"softbox](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_6.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSoftbox size and size of highlight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"bottle](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_7.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat is the Best Shape for a Softbox<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"octagon](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_8.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"bride](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_9.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"bride](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_10.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSmall Octagon Softbox<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"model](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_11.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"house](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_13.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhere Can You Use Softboxes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"portrait](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_14.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSoftboxes vs. Umbrellas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to light using softboxes vs umbrellas<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"model](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_15.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"model](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_16.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"model](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_17.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"model](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_18.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen Should I Use a Softbox<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"model](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_19.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"model](\"\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/alc_images\/article13275_20.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat is the advantage of softbox?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Is softbox good for video?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n