Photography Q&A: Real Questions. Real Answers. by Arias Zack

Author:Arias, Zack [Arias, Zack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pearson Education
Published: 2013-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

Why grid a softbox?

Q: HI! SOFTBOXES AND GRIDS. WHY? WHAT DEGREE? FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD USE A HARD LIGHT MODIFIER ON A SOFT LIGHT SOURCE. GRIDS ON SOFTBOXES JUST DON’T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.

A: Think of it like this: Grids aren’t a light source. They modify whatever light source you put them on. A grid on a hard light source is a hard light source. You’re just controlling it more with a grid. A grid on a soft light source is still a soft light source. You’re just controlling it more with a grid.

Let’s say you’re in a situation where a subject is three feet from the background. You want that background to go darker but you can’t do it because the light from the softbox is spilling on the background and, let’s just say, you can’t get the subject any further away from the background. Pop a grid on the face of the softbox and you still get that nice soft light but now it isn’t spilling on the background.

Grids are there to direct light and control spill. The tighter the grid, or smaller the degree, the more directional it becomes. Right in the dead center of the grid the light maintains pretty much the same quality as if you weren’t using it. Start to get off the center of the grid and the light begins to fall off.

Put a big grid on a big light source like an octa and you can get this amazing beautiful soft light that falls off very quickly. It can be gorgeous! As with all things, though, it isn’t the best for all situations. Sometimes you need the light to spill onto the background, so you keep your grid in the bag.

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