In the Studio: Lighting Modifiers
I’ve had some time on my hands lately and I’ve been playing in the studio, shooting interesting glassware, tools of the trade, playing with light and shadows and all sorts of props. Today I decided to shoot almost the same image with four different modifiers so you can see the difference in the light. I used one light, a Godox 600PRO and had a white board on the opposite side of the set for bounce. Every modifier changes the quality of the light. Every set requires something different to create the mood/vibe/feel of the shot. On top of choosing the right modifier for the job, the distance from the set ALSO changes the quality of the light. I won’t get too technical here - there are plenty of resources out there to learn about all the sciencey stuff - but just know that when you hire a professional photographer, it’s our job to know what tools to use to create the image you want. Note that there are a zillion different modifiers - this is just a simple, quick setup to show you what each of these probably recognizable light modifiers does.
1: Octobox
Note how the light hits the teal board, and how the shadows of the wine keys are very soft. A softbox diffuses the light and spreads it nicely around the set. There is a piece of diffusion fabric on the outside which you can see here, and a baffle on the inside for additional diffusion.
2. Beauty Dish
The beauty dish is fun - my poor dish got a dent when we moved - it produces a bright light that spreads widely, sometimes reminds me of the sun through a south facing window. Note how the shadows are defined but soft.
3. Snoot
The snoot funnels the bare bulb light into a narrow strip of light, I left the grid on the end of this one for even more directional light. This is perfect for a spot light on a product or element of the set. Note how the shadows are mostly clean and solid.
4. Bare Bulb
The bare bulb create strong shadows, mimicking the direct sunlight through a window to me. The shadows are sharp and crisp and the subject is clear. This is a super popular style of light right now so you may notice it more often now.
Which do you like best?
