----- Original Message -----
From: "Markus Maurer"
Subject: RE: Soft boxes, any recommendations
Hi William
How does an umbrella show up in the eyes as catch light, round like from a
normal flash or what shape?
Catchlights are the same shape as the reflector. If the reflector is round,
then the catchlight is also round. If it's square, then the catchlight is
square. If it is an umbrella with ribs, then that is what shows.
Here's a good example, as it shows two different types of reflector:
http://users.accesscomm.ca/wrobb/pictures/temps/eye.html
The catchlight on the left is from a pan softbox, the one on the right is
from an umbrella.
Note you can see the head and stand in the right catchlight, and the
interfeence reflector in the pan softbox.
Don't you think the reflecting shape of soft boxes and other large
diffusers
in the eyes is disturbing somehow?
I find hard light to be even more disturbing, so I compromise.
A small light source gives very harsh results, which most subjects don't
like.
A little retouching goes a long way, and if you are using a digital
processing stage, catchlights are pretty easy to deal with.
I'm interested in a good and hopefully portable solution for portraits too
;-)
You can always leave the flash on the camera and learn to love ugly shadows
and burnt out skin tones.
William Robb
