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If you’re new to photography or just starting to explore the world of lighting, you’ve probably heard the term “modifier” thrown around. But what exactly is a light modifier, and why does it matter? Well, it’s all about shaping light and making it do exactly what you want it to do. And it’s actually not as complicated as it might sound.
In this video, John Gress walks us through the main types of light modifiers and explains what each of them does. He also offers practical tips to help you choose the right one for your next shoot. Let’s dive in!
What Is a Light Modifier?
A light modifier is any tool you attach to your light source to change the quality, direction, or spread of the light. Think of it as a way to “shape” your light to achieve the look you want. Common modifiers include umbrellas, softboxes, and reflectors. Each one has its own unique effect, and choosing the right one can make a huge difference in your final image.
Why Use a Light Modifier?
There are two main reasons to use a modifier:
- Control Spill: Without a modifier, light from your flash or continuous light source can bounce everywhere—off walls, ceilings, and floors. This can create unwanted color casts (like orange or yellow tones) and make your lighting look messy. A modifier helps direct the light where you want it, reducing spill and keeping your lighting clean.
- Change the Character of the Light: Modifiers allow you to create either hard or soft light. Hard light creates sharp, defined shadows and highlights every detail (think pores and wrinkles), while soft light produces gentle transitions between light and shadow, making it more flattering for portraits.
The Golden Rule
One of the most important things to understand about modifiers is that the larger the light source appears relative to your subject, the softer the light will be. For example, a small flash tube (about 2 inches across) will produce hard light, but if you attach a 41-inch umbrella, the light becomes much softer because the light source appears larger to your subject.
This principle is key to creating flattering portraits. If you want soft, even light, go big—or at least make your light source appear big relative to your subject.
But remember, the most important words in that sentence are “relative to your subject”. You might be thinking, “The sun is pretty big, so why is the light so hard?” Well, it’s because the sun is so far away that to us, it counts as a small light source relative to us.
Types of Light Modifiers
There are several different types of modifiers, and all have their place. Some are better suited to some types of shoots than others.
1. Umbrellas
Umbrellas are one of the most beginner-friendly modifiers. They’re affordable, easy to set up, and great for creating soft, diffused light. There are three main types:
- White Umbrellas: Produce soft, matte light that’s less reflective and flattering for skin tones.
- Silver Umbrellas: Create higher contrast and more reflective light, which can add drama to your shots.
- Translucent Umbrellas: These soften the light but don’t control spill as well as white or silver umbrellas.
You can add a diffusion sock to a white or silver umbrella to make the light even softer, mimicking the effect of a softbox. This is essentially what the Photek Softlight is, and if it’s good enough for Annie Leibovitz, it’s good enough for me!
2. Softboxes
Softboxes are like camping tents for your light. They use flexible poles to stretch fabric over a frame, creating a large, diffused light source. Softboxes are more directional than umbrellas, meaning they control spill better while still producing soft light.
A high-quality softbox often has two layers of diffusion fabric, which further softens the light. For example, a 100cm deep octabox creates beautifully even light that’s perfect for portraits.
3. Reflectors
Not to be confused with bounce card reflectors, these are hard, metal modifiers that direct light forward in a more focused beam. They’re great for creating harder, more dramatic light. You can also add grids to reflectors to narrow the beam and control spill even further.
Beauty dishes are a type of reflector that produce a unique blend of soft and hard light, making them popular for fashion and beauty photography.
Which One Should You Choose?
Ultimately, it depends on what effect you’re going for and how portable you need your equipment to be. Also, will you be shooting outdoors in windy conditions? All of these variables should be taken into account. A 7-foot umbrella is probably not a great choice for an outdoor location, for example.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how different modifiers compare:
- Bare Bulb: Hard, harsh light with lots of spill. Not ideal for most situations.
- Umbrella: Soft, diffused light with some spill. Great for beginners and versatile for many scenarios.
- Softbox: Soft, directional light with minimal spill. Perfect for controlled environments like studios.
- Reflector: Hard, focused light. Ideal for dramatic portraits or adding highlights.
Choosing the right light modifier can feel overwhelming at first, but once you understand the basics, it becomes a powerful tool in your photography toolkit. Start with an umbrella if you’re a beginner, then experiment with softboxes and reflectors as you grow more confident.
Remember, the key to great lighting is understanding how to shape and control it. Have a play around with each different sort, and you’ll soon learn what each one does best and which ones you enjoy working with. There are no wrong answers here, mostly personal preference and what you have to hand.