BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

WHAT IS THE BEST UMBRELLA FOR DIGITAL?

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June 28, 2002

What are you photographing?

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June 28, 2002

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June 29, 2002

I would suggest using 1 hotlight setup with a softbox and a reflector. The advantages of using a hotlight are, It's alot cheaper than a flash and what you see is what you get. The dissadvantages are that they are hot, very hot, and for people it can get somewhat uncomfortable, but if your going to photographing animals (I'm assuming pets-dogs, cats, ect..) a flash is going to freak them out.
You can add an in-line switch and turn the light off as you set up poses to give your model (human and animal) a break (and risk burning your house down).

You can use a reflector to bounce light back at your model to fill or highlight. White foamcore works great for this, or even a piece of cardboard with aluminum foil over it. You can also buy one for about $25. Reflecting the light is also alot cooler than using a couple of softboxes.

If you use the softbox without the diffuser and are shooting color film make sure to use a photo corrected bulb (GE makes them) or the apropriate filter, or make the color correction in processing/post prosessing.

As for make, stay away from "no-name" brands, they fall apart or catch on fire. As for size a 24x30 is fine (32x32 is great).

Your umbrella questions:

White is to diffuse (shoot light through). Silver is to reflect or bounce the light and so is gold (gold gives the subject a "golden" cast).

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June 29, 2002