Erik_L Goldmember 3,160 posts Likes: 1 Joined Oct 2009 Location: Minnesota More info | Dec 13, 2011 14:59 | #1 So I took this picture the other day using a small softbox - I think it's 16x24 or so. It was pretty close to the subject:   Farewell by Erik Lauritsen, on FlickrHowever, I can't help but feel the light is pretty damn harsh. The black bar at the bottom is due to using 1/320 (intentional). I've never had a lot of luck lighting small things with a softbox and getting actual soft light. Should I use a smaller softbox even closer, or a larger one but a little further away? Canon EOS 1D III
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hawkeye63 Junior Member 21 posts Joined Sep 2011 More info | Dec 13, 2011 15:01 | #2 The larger the light source the softer the light. The closer the subject is to the light, the larger the light source is relative to the object.
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Dec 13, 2011 15:03 | #3 hawkeye63 wrote in post #13539307 The larger the light source the softer the light. The closer the subject is to the light, the larger the light source is relative to the object. I figured as much, but I can only move the light so-close before it gets in the picture. Is having a light 10x the size of the subject, 1 foot away really any better than one 1/4 the size? Canon EOS 1D III
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krb Cream of the Crop  8,818 posts Likes: 7 Joined Jun 2008 Location: Where southern efficiency and northern charm come together More info | Dec 13, 2011 15:04 | #4 Erik_L wrote in post #13539315 I figured as much, but I can only move the light so-close before it gets in the picture. Is having a light 10x the size of the subject, 1 foot away really any better than one 1/4 the size? Better depends on what you want, but it will certainly be softer. -- Ken
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gonzogolf dumb remark memorialized More info | Dec 13, 2011 15:05 | #5 Your best option is a larger source closer to the camera. The key is apparent size, which is a combination of size and distance (sun is huge, but far away=Small light source). We cant tell you without more information which of those two options would give you the softest light. The problem with your sample photo is that its contrasty and full of hard edges so softness or hardness of light can be less certain.
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JOSX2 Senior Member 627 posts Likes: 4 Joined Jan 2011 Location: Mebane, NC (meh-ben) More info | Dec 13, 2011 15:07 | #6 hawkeye63 wrote in post #13539307 The larger the light source the softer the light. The closer the subject is to the light, the larger the light source is relative to the object. x2 on what hawkeye said. website: Jim O'Sullivan Photography
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Dec 13, 2011 15:53 | #7 JOSX2 wrote in post #13539333 x2 on what hawkeye said. But also (& someone please correct me if I'm wrong)...the closer the light source, the harsher the contrast between light & dark will be too, so that'd produce harsher shadows. The further away, the contrast lessens to soften the shadows. Inverse Square law: http://www.adorama.com …erse-Square-Law-AdoramaTV . Fast forward to 4:15You'd prolly want a larger lightsource further away from your subject Ah. Sounds good. This makes a lot of sense... unless of course someone says you're wrong, in which case - shut up!
It was lit with the bare flash pointed 45 degrees at the opposite wall/celing and appears a lot softer to me, other than the shadow to the immediate left side of the camera.... and you can just ignore those blown highlights  And yes, my room is painted 18% grey  Canon EOS 1D III
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JOSX2 Senior Member 627 posts Likes: 4 Joined Jan 2011 Location: Mebane, NC (meh-ben) More info | Dec 13, 2011 16:14 | #8 Erik_L wrote in post #13539566 It was lit with the bare flash pointed 45 degrees at the opposite wall/celing and appears a lot softer to me, other than the shadow to the immediate left side of the camera.... and you can just ignore those blown highlights yup...that's cause the wall/ceiling is a huge light source in comparison to the subject & is further away, giving you some nice soft light that's not very contrasty website: Jim O'Sullivan Photography
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