Why most commercial shoot use 2 umbrella?

[pete2322]

I often see commercial shoot uses 2 black umbrella( reflect to shoot) and place it left and right. I wonder why this setup is so popular?

What's the advantage? Wouldn't it be better to use a large softboxes to soften the light rather than the harsher reflected black umbrella?

 

[catchlights]

I often see commercial shoot uses 2 black umbrella( reflect to shoot) and place it left and right. I wonder why this setup is so popular?

What's the advantage? Wouldn't it be better to use a large softboxes to soften the light rather than the harsher reflected black umbrella?

define what "commercial shoot" you are referring to..

btw, large softbox are expensive, set it up at location will take more time then umbrella, beside, softbox eat up more power than using umbrella, and also softbox will not have large spread of light compare to umbrella, if photographer need to light up large areas.

 

[Octarine]

If outside: One for sun, one for rain? (SCNR)

 

[pete2322]

define what "commercial shoot" you are referring to..

btw, large softbox are expensive, set it up at location will take more time then umbrella, beside, softbox eat up more power than using umbrella, and also softbox will not have large spread of light compare to umbrella, if photographer need to light up large areas.

commercial shoots i.e sports illustrated model shoots, fhm model shoots. Rarely seen them using softboxes in both indoor or outdoor shoots

 

[Zeisser]

commercial shoots i.e sports illustrated model shoots, fhm model shoots. Rarely seen them using softboxes in both indoor or outdoor shoots

Softboxes are essentially for indoors a more directional light source for all kinds
of shoots.

 

[catchlights]

commercial shoots i.e sports illustrated model shoots, fhm model shoots. Rarely seen them using softboxes in both indoor or outdoor shoots

read post #2 for reason using umbrella compare to softboxes

 

[Dream Merchant]

commercial shoots i.e sports illustrated model shoots, fhm model shoots. Rarely seen them using softboxes in both indoor or outdoor shoots

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCK7bN7UB9o

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpsTdvJzNNk

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4xRngVQano&feature=related

Got lots more examples. Do a search.

 

[catchlights]

commercial shoots i.e sports illustrated model shoots, fhm model shoots. Rarely seen them using softboxes in both indoor or outdoor shoots

perhaps you are referring the "commercial shoot" as in the shoots are commercially available to any photographers can pay to partake, not the shoots strictly to generate images for commercial usage..

cause AFAIK, professionals won't use umbrellas on fashion or portrait works, unless the photographer know what he want and want the effect only umbrellas can give..

 

[NMSS_2]

umbrella gives harsher lights but uses lesser power to light a same scene as large lightbox.

 

[cabbySHE]

There is no arguement about the light quality of a soft box, given to those that can add extra louvres and barn doors and or grid attachment.

It is a dream and a necessity to any advance, serious or professional photographer.

The down side is chiefly the cost, next will be the weight and storage, plus it needs a much more powerful light to punch thro, and not forgetting the light stand has got to be of the heavy duty type, plus extra counterweight if use on a super boom.

So, mostly you will seen it in operation inside a fairly large studio space and also there will be lots of assistant during a shoot. Almost like a mini movie production.

All these, all photographers like to own and have... but in Singapore, it's a bit....on the high side.

 

[Dream Merchant]

Actually, outdoor location shoot, umbrellas catch wind much more effectively like wind sails and light stand, weights all go flying more easily (or light-stand can break) as compared to softbox. But umbrella much much cheaper and more compact/faster to set-up and take-down. :bsmilie: Also depends on heng-suay factor a bit lor.

 

[cabbySHE]

Absolutely, especially if one get to change locations after a few shot, occupies less space to transport too.

 

[pete2322]

If it's easily blow by the wind, then the umbrella might fly off before the shoot? Placing a sandbag to prevent the light stand from falling down won't help on the umbrella part.

Do they don't care because cheap?

 

[chalib]

If it's easily blow by the wind, then the umbrella might fly off before the shoot? Placing a sandbag to prevent the light stand from falling down won't help on the umbrella part.

Do they don't care because cheap?

The umbrella is cheap, but the flash is not :bsmilie:

 

[pete2322]

The umbrella is cheap, but the flash is not :bsmilie:

Then mostly the use umbrella indoor? For outdoor, they'll use reflector(just like the one in youtube?) or something other than softbox and umbrella i.e beauty dish?

 

[Dream Merchant]

Pete, what exactly is it you would like to find out?

 

[cutecdo]

Pete, what exactly is it you would like to find out?

LOL. Same question in mind :bsmilie:

 

[J-Chan]

Then mostly the use umbrella indoor? For outdoor, they'll use reflector(just like the one in youtube?) or something other than softbox and umbrella i.e beauty dish?

Its also a efficiency issue I believe, with reflectors or a beauty dish you have less light loss compared to umbrellas or softboxes. Generally, outdoors the flash distance would be much more than indoors, plus if they want to compete with sunlight outdoors, getting more juice out of the strobes would be helpful.

 

[pete2322]

Pete, what exactly is it you would like to find out?

Please read my title .

Thanks for those who have corrected me that those commercial shooter did use other modifiers and not just merely prefer the umbrella than others.

Thanks for the knowledge sharing.

 

[Dream Merchant]

No offense Pete, but the title is somewhat of a generalization, possibly inaccurate as well as ambiguous.

That was why several members asked exactly what were you referring to by 'commercial shoot'.

CHEERS!