I’m all the time in search of new and artistic methods to play with gentle. After I had the possibility to check out the Vello Octa Softbox for Moveable Flash (Giant, 12″), I knew that it was transportable sufficient that I may get some fascinating angles and views with it.
Whereas preparing for an off-camera lighting workshop, I made a decision to mess around with utilizing the softbox to supply edge lighting on a topic in opposition to a black background. The setup was fairly easy, with my Nissin i60A flash mounted on a lightweight stand, with the softbox connected. I additionally used a Nissin Air 1 Commander to manage my flash output and set off the sunshine.
I needed one thing with Dan that would present some emotion — to be frank, I needed a “ticked off” second. Initially, I attempted a shot with out the apple however felt like I wanted so as to add a component of colour. We discovered a prop apple within the studio, and I requested Dan to throw it up within the air a number of instances, exhibiting little or no emotion on his face.
Digital camera arrange
I shot in handbook mode, with a low ISO of 200 and f/4 aperture. The flash period was quick sufficient to seize a pointy apple, at 1/80 of a second. By permitting for a little bit of ambient gentle within the scene, I used to be in a position to obtain some movement blur on the again of the apple. You can in all probability get by with right down to 1/60 of a second in the event you needed to supply much more movement blur and brighten issues up.
My flash, then again, was set to 1/16 energy. I needed sufficient flash to gentle the aspect of Dan’s face, whereas additionally lighting a part of the apple.
I used to be fairly pleased with the {photograph}, because the background was completely black and Dan was brilliant sufficient that I may make some changes as soon as I obtained again dwelling.
In post-processing, I began off with performing some primary Lightroom changes after which introduced it into Photoshop to cut back the movement blur and reflection on the apple.
I completed through the use of Completely Clear’s Beautify preset to assist enhance the lighting and sharpen Dan’s eyes and mouth. It made for a way more “crisp” look.
Why use a softbox?
On this case, the softbox helped to not solely diffuse the sunshine coming from my flash but in addition unfold it out. It made for extra pure lighting to the aspect of his face, versus not having a softbox, which might have created some harsh shadows and highlights.
The good factor concerning the Vello Octa Softbox for Moveable Flash (Giant, 12″) is that I may have positioned it on-camera or on a lightweight stand, as I did with Dan, to create a extra inventive and edgy look to the {photograph}.
Instruments like softboxes — irrespective of the scale — can actually open you as much as some inventive choices with regards to lighting. Selecting to go along with some edge lighting, as I did with Dan, offers for a moody and actually cool {photograph}. And whereas this definitely received’t be his subsequent skilled portrait, it’s a enjoyable one which we will reminisce about and proceed to study from.
