Soft Box Shapes

[Inspired Photography]

Hi Everyone,

This is a different topic to my other thread, so i thought it was best to start a new one.

I am looking into some new softboxes, and have found that octagonal softboxes seem to be alot cheaper than similar sized square ones.

Does anyone know of any problems using these instead of square ones, or are the square ones better at providing even lighting for subjects?
I am mostly into portraits and product photography.

Any thoughts would be graetly appreciated.

Thanks

Rob

[Inspired Photography]

Thanks for your post Bloodog.

That was my concern too with using Octagonal boxes for portrait stuff.

Considering their relatively cheap prices, i might invest in a few just for product stuff.

Thanks for your feedback.

Rob

[chris.bailey]

Strange as in the UK Octaboxes are a fair bit more expensive for the same quality square ones.

I like the Octaboxes for portraits as I have a thing about square eye catchlights. i also think they give more even illumination.

[mjordan]

I think the octogon shaped ones give a more realistic catchlight... it's round like the sun. And if you place your lights correctly to get the catchlights in the 11 or 2 o'clock postion, you don't have the white spots in the middle problem. ;)

Softboxes come in all shapes and sizes... round, square, rectangale, long strips, etc. Each has a place and a reason to use them. Size plays a big part, paticularly in portrait or product photography. You want a size that will cover the area that you are going to photograph. If you are going for soft, even lighting, bigger is better. If you are going for well defined highlights or precise light placement, then a smaller one or a specific shaped one will work better. If the frontal area is big enough and the light powerful enough to evenly light the frontal area of the softbox, it doesn't usually matter if it's round or square or rectangle.

What I've noticed is that you can't get the octogon ones as big as you can the rectangle shaped ones... at least not without paying a lot of money. And the 24" or so octogon won't give you the coverage that a large rectangle or square on will. What ever you get, consider your coverage and make sure you have the light with the power to match the size.

Mike

[mjordan]

It's correct if the person taking the picture wants their catchlights to be in those positions. In most traditional portrait photography, you will find the catchlights in either the 11 or 2 o'clock positions. Sometimes in the 7 or 5 o'clock position but that is on the low side for my tastes. But it isn't good portraiture to get a big white blob in the middle of the eyes... unless that is what the photographer is going after.

And no, you won't have to use fill to get the catchlight in either of these positions. With a big enough light source, you will get a very nice wrap around lighting on the shadow side. But then, it depends on what the photographer is going after... it could be they want a stronger more defined seperation between the lighted side and shadow side. This will give more dramatic lighting. Or they might be going for low key lighting. But there are a lot of times when a single light is all you need. Multiple lights doesn't make it correct, it just makes it easier sometimes.

Mike