umbrella question

[foley71]

Hi--

I'm shooting with two 550 EXs and an ST-E2. I have Stofens for both flashes. However, I'm wondering if umbrellas would help soften the light a little bit more. I do some dog portrait work and, with the two flash setup, am getting harsher shadows than I'd like. Part of the problem is that I'm still learning to manipulate the setup.

However, if I were looking at umbrellas to soften the light, what would you suggest with regard to size and color? (i.e., translucent, black, silver)

Thanks!

Jeff
www.foleypics.smugmug.com (http://www.foleypics.smugmug.com)

[Hermes]

Yes umbrellas would help soften the light, but bouncing the flash off the ceiling or walls can often get you good results.

As for colours

Silver - maximum reflection - slightly hard light
White - good reflection - softer light
Gold - gives subject a bronzed tint
Translucent - allows you to 'shoot through' the umbrella
Black - ??? I can only assume you are talking about Black-backed umbrellas which are blac on the non-reflective side to prevent light-spill

Pick the ones you feel will benefit you the best. The bigger the umbrella, the bigger the effective light soure you will be getting and the softer the light, but there's no point going over the top.

If you want the softest light available and can afford it, a softbox will give you by far the most diffuse light, although they are expensive and take much longer to set up.

[TeeJay]

White umbrellas with the 550 will give you the best results. You may have to move them fairly close - depending on the size of the brolly, but you should get some pleasing results.

[foley71]

Thank you for the input ... I'm trying to get a handle on this. Are you suggesting all white umbrellas or white with black backing? And when you say white, you don't mean translucent, right? In other words, you're not suggesting umbrellas that you can shoot through, are you? You mean umbrellas that you shoot into and reflect the light back onto the subject, right?

Sorry for all the questions ... Just trying to learn.

Jeff

[TeeJay]

White with a black backing should give you the best results - although a reversable "white/silver" umbrella with a black background are more flexible. That way you get the best of both worlds depending on whether you want dark or lighter shadows.

Translucent "shoot-through", IMHO, will reduce the light throughput too much with the flash you are using.

[mbze430]

black reflectors is used for negative lighting. Absorption of light.