Does Flash 'feathering' apply to umbrellas/shoot-thrus?

[Ken Fong]

I've been reading that when shooting flash, one should not aim the hot spot right at the subject, but instead use the area outside of the hotspot and 'feather' the subject for the best lighting...in other words, aim the hotspot just over the subject.

My questions are: does the above still apply if I am using a flash shooting into an umbrella reflector? And how about if I am using those shoot-through (white) umbrellas for softbox effect? Do both of these scenarios have hot spots that I should not point at the subject?

thanks in advance,
Ken

[PhotosGuy]

It would depend a lot on the distance of the flash from the subject, the focus of the flash, etc, which I suppose is why no one has answered you. Aim the light at a light colored wall, take a pic of each situation, & see what the results are. How hard can it be? :wink: