At 06:46 PM 04/19/2001, you wrote:
> > >The idea behind those softboxes is to make light softer.
> > >Light is softer when coming from more than one side.
> >
> > No it's not. Light appears softer when the source is larger
> > in relation to
> > the subject. Direction is irrelevant.
>
>Henry,
>
>light will come from many different angles and directions when the light
>source is bigger. I think that's what he meant. If it all comes from one
>direction, regardless of what that direction is, it will not make a
>difference, it will still be harsh, but if it comes from many different
>angles, directions, it will look softer.
Maybe there's some semantic issue that I am missing, but I still
respectfully disagree. A softbox produces a soft, diffused directional
light, an umbrella a soft, diffuse but less directional source. With
either, the closer the source is to the subject, the softer the light will
seem because the source is LARGER in relation to the subject. A 60"
umbrella 25' away (with a sufficiently strong flash tube within) will be a
harsh and unflattering as any other point source (like the sun) because in
relation to the subject it's point-sized.
The size of the light source relative to the subject determines how soft
the source will appear. Scattered light, by it's nature will be more
diffuse but unless the issue is that we're using different words for the
same concepts, size, not direction is the determinant factor.
--
regards,
Henry Posner
Director of Sales and Training
B&H Photo-Video, and Pro-Audio Inc.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com
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