Glow 60" White Parabolic Umbrella with Black Back - Made with optical white viscoelastic polymer fabric material

The Glow 60" White Umbrella gives an even, diffused lighting effect with soft shadow definition. With much attention to detail from fabric to frame ribs, this umbrella sets the standard for portable light control for people and subjects at fantastic value. This simple yet elegantly designed umbrella has a black opaque cover layer, limiting the light loss that naturally occurs through its optical white viscoelastic polymer fabric material.

More on the Glow Product Line

Glow Umbrellas are the direct 'fast path' to light diffusion.
Umbrellas are very affordable, a breeze to work with and easy to transport. Each size and material has a specialty.

The Silver Umbrella provides stronger focused lighting, along with soft shadow definition. It is especially suitable for higher light output, greater reach and bringing out details and creating specular highlights.

The Translucent Umbrella provides diffused lighting around a bright central burst. The lighting and effect can be varied by changing the distance from flashhead to umbrella.

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Umbrellas are like large to giant sized parabolic reflectors. Parabolas are technically 'conic sections'. Take a perfect cone; slice through it down to the base, the edge of the cut is a parabola. This shape is more efficient at feathering light. The important point of the physics of photographically regarding parabolas is they have a focal point. Place light aimed at the focal point and it bounces off the entire umbrella surface at different angles, but when it leaves the umbrella, all the rays are parallel.

A great umbrella design means more controlled light reaches the subject.
To compare, Glow soft boxes were designed to simulate window light, sky light and north light. Umbrellas produce a similar soft light, but with a wider spread and less edge control. Umbrellas are also more compact and quicker to set up than their light bank counterpart to attempt a similar light treatment. These factors make them a favorite of wedding and studio photographers.

Another factor in choosing light modifiers is the shape of catch lights in a subject's eyes and the size of the modifier in relation to the size of the subject. The larger and closer the light is to the subject, the softer the results will be as seen in the transition of the highlight into the shadow. The smaller the size of the light source and the further the distance is from the light to the subject, the harder the effect will appear.