Lighting for confined spaces

geebs2006

geebs2006

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I have aSoftbox which I purchased from FITP which is great when combined with my SB900.

I am starting to think however about locations where space is limited or it is not convenient to set up the softbox on the stand due to too many people going around, and it taking up a lot of space etc.

Are these lastolite softboxes that attcach to your flash any good? I have just started out in model photography and do full body portraits so my only concern is that these softboxes aren't that big so may not give a good enough light spread.

Are there any items that I may be better using. All shoots I plan to do are on location if that makes a difference to the things I could use.
 
You'd be hard pushed to do a properly lit full body shot with your FITP softbox, so the clip on diffuser in the link will be even harder pushed to do a decent half body shot - if you use it off camera it'll probably give an ok head/shoulders, but it's going to be pretty bland lighting if the flash is on the hotshoe...
 
£35 for that? :o

I'd imagine that they do as good a job as anything that size has any chance of doing (you can get ebay ones that probably do pretty much the same for about £3 btw), however, at the end of the day, it's still a very small light source in the grand scheme, so you will get much harder light than you would (say) with a fitp softbox close to the model. However, if your camera or flash is really close to the model, then it will still be quite a large light source from their perspective... a sheet of paper, or single sheet from a pillowcase (works great as a diffuser), or similar, gaff taped in a convenient position, or a softbox + superclamp or similar might be a better solution for you. Also, check out the tri-grip things, I've worked with them a couple of times and been impressed... mr flash may be getting some of my money for his ones very soon :P
 
Bigger is always better. You can get some good effects with smaller lights, but the soft look isn't one of them. Smaller diffusers are better than bare flash, but will not do a great deal with full length at all. If you have no choice, think of new lighting techniques rather than trying to replicate a big softbox.

However, if you can create a workaround that makes a softbox practical in a location situation, it always looks really good. Worth the effort if it can be done.
 
Well I find a DIY why for making a good soft light that is not goin to get in anyone way and all you need is to print out this it works a treat.
Oh if you not wish to use velcro on your flash head your a elsatic band
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geebs2006 said:
I have aSoftbox which I purchased from FITP which is great when combined with my SB900.

I am starting to think however about locations where space is limited or it is not convenient to set up the softbox on the stand due to too many people going around, and it taking up a lot of space etc.

Are these lastolite softboxes that attcach to your flash any good? I have just started out in model photography and do full body portraits so my only concern is that these softboxes aren't that big so may not give a good enough light spread.

Are there any items that I may be better using. All shoots I plan to do are on location if that makes a difference to the things I could use.
Click to expand...

If you have an assistant with you then you could mount your softbox on a handle or even a pole, that way it would be more mobile. Another alternative would be one of the minipods with a ballhead adapter or one of the PT-04 receivers with an umbrella adapter built in and a shoot through umbrella, that way you have something that can be set up in seconds and is much easier to transport than a softbox and stand.
 
I was thinking along the same lines as FITP, using one of these Manfrotto extendable flash brackets for £40 http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-manfrotto-mn233b-camera-flash-bracket/p11017 With one of FITP's little ball head adapters on top and a brolly.

Brollies are so cheap and easy, and adaptable and very light - shoot-through or turn it round as a reflector, or try a silver one for more light, big ones or small ones available. Wire it up with one of FITP's cheap dedicated cords and you retain auto-TTL.

I was going to try this for shooting kids on location and on the move, taking some decent light always with you and auto-TTL looking after the exposure when the shooting distance varies all the time.

Also, using brollies outdoors is endlessly entertaining when it's windy :lol:
 
Cheers for the advice guys - will look into it
 
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