making progress with gels

Scatterbrained wrote in post #15547523
For a family of five yes, you'll likely need to keep them where they are or get larger softboxes. Personally, I feel that when it comes to softboxes, the larger the better. Grids are definitely something you should have, when you can't control spill any other way, grids are very useful.

Suppose I get a 32x40 softbox with grids for my main light. Won't that mean more light will be reflected off the wall and spill onto my background?

coeng wrote in post #15547746
Suppose I get a 32x40 softbox with grids for my main light. Won't that mean more light will be reflected off the wall and spill onto my background?

Anyone? I really want to order larger softboxes ASAP, just want to know if doing so would only add to my spill problems rather than solving them.
Or would a large gridded octabox work better in my situtation? Or perhaps one of each?

coeng wrote in post #15548531
Anyone? I really want to order larger softboxes ASAP, just want to know if doing so would only add to my spill problems rather than solving them.

Grids and flags would solve your spill problem. Larger softboxes positioned closer to the subject would give you much faster light fall-off that would also help with your spill issue. Ultimately however, you're going to need to flag off the light to some degree to get better control; grids will take you quite a bit of the way there. I use 90x120 cm with grids (roughly 35in x 47in) and I don't have nearly the issue with spill, despite working in a much smaller space.

Scatterbrained wrote in post #15548686
Grids and flags would solve your spill problem. Larger softboxes positioned closer to the subject would give you much faster light fall-off that would also help with your spill issue. Ultimately however, you're going to need to flag off the light to some degree to get better control; grids will take you quite a bit of the way there. I use 90x120 cm with grids (roughly 35in x 47in) and I don't have nearly the issue with spill, despite working in a much smaller space.

Thanks for hanging in there with me. So you're suggesting a pair of larger softboxes, right? I'm looking at the FotoDiox 32x48s with grids to save on money.

Tell me about flagging off light, its a new concept to me.

coeng wrote in post #15548710
Thanks for hanging in there with me. So you're suggesting a pair of larger softboxes, right? I'm looking at the FotoDiox 32x48s with grids to save on money.

Tell me about flagging off light, its a new concept to me.

A flag is just a physical barrier to block spill. They can take lots of forms but what might be useful as mentioned in a previous post are the L shaped flags. You can make them by getting a tall sheet of foam board or insulation board at a home center. Attach them together so that they hinge like a door. That will allow them to stand by themselves if opened in an L configuration. By placing them beside your main light you can create a physical barrier that prevents spill from the flash from hitting the wall.

You can also just use a bit of black foam board clamped to a stand to prevent side spill from hitting the wall.

gonzogolf wrote in post #15548777
A flag is just a physical barrier to block spill. They can take lots of forms but what might be useful as mentioned in a previous post are the L shaped flags. You can make them by getting a tall sheet of foam board or insulation board at a home center. Attach them together so that they hinge like a door. That will allow them to stand by themselves if opened in an L configuration. By placing them beside your main light you can create a physical barrier that prevents spill from the flash from hitting the wall.

You can also just use a bit of black foam board clamped to a stand to prevent side spill from hitting the wall.

I read that suggestion earlier today and was confused. When I read the article I saw that the V-boards were white, contrary to what I expected.

When you say placing them beside your main light....I'm having trouble visualizing exactly where. My main light is on the right, but I'm using flat lighting for now anyway.

coeng wrote in post #15548710
Thanks for hanging in there with me. So you're suggesting a pair of larger softboxes, right? I'm looking at the FotoDiox 32x48s with grids to save on money.

Tell me about flagging off light, its a new concept to me.

That's why I posted a link to the article on making v-flats. Basically you need to make a "wall" of sorts to block (flag) the light. A pair of black V flats properly positioned should block most of the spill from the background.

coeng wrote in post #15548796
I read that suggestion earlier today and was confused. When I read the article I saw that the V-boards were white, contrary to what I expected.

When you say placing them beside your main light....I'm having trouble visualizing exactly where. My main light is on the right, but I'm using flat lighting for now anyway.

Between your light and the wall in this case. Its a physical barrier so color isnt important. Ideally they would be black, but white is fine. The only issue with white is that flagging in the one direction would result is some bounced spill in the other direction which may or may not suit the shot.

coeng wrote in post #15548796
I read that suggestion earlier today and was confused. When I read the article I saw that the V-boards were white, contrary to what I expected.

When you say placing them beside your main light....I'm having trouble visualizing exactly where. My main light is on the right, but I'm using flat lighting for now anyway.

Normally they are white on one side and black on the other. The white side can be used as a full body strip light by aiming it at the subject and bouncing a light into it; the black side can be used to subtract/block light by putting it in between the light source and the walls or subject.

I'll have to make a trip to Michael's craft store tomorrow. I'm imagining taping the largest panels they carry (painted black) and then suspending them from the ceiling like I did with my background rod. This way I won't have to worry about them falling over since I am working on a carpeted surface.

I'd also eventually have to find a way to take care of spill on the ceiling as a secondary measure.

Flags aside, do you think a pair of 32x48 gridded softboxes would work best for me? Or should I get just one of those and a gridded octobox? I want to be able to take individual portraits of kids and then group shots with their families.

Do you like your catchlights square or round? Seriously thats the big difference in the softbox and the octobox.

gonzogolf wrote in post #15548910
Do you like your catchlights square or round? Seriously thats the big difference in the softbox and the octobox.

Not picky. Just want what's best given my configuration and tight quarters. If I will have more spill to control with a gridded octobox vs. a gridded softbox, then no octobox.

coeng wrote in post #15548924
Not picky. Just want what's best given my configuration and tight quarters. If I will have more spill to control with a gridded octobox vs. a gridded softbox, then no octobox.

I dont know that one has a spill control advantage over the other, its just a differently shaped light.

You may also want to try making barn doors for your softboxes using black foamcore board. One on top and one on the side toward the background would do wonders in controlling spill. Make them so they extend about 8-9 inches beyond the edge of your softbox and attach them with gaffers tape. Also hang your black background on the side wall to reduce reflected light since you're not using it right now.

Bob

gonzogolf wrote in post #15548948
I dont know that one has a spill control advantage over the other, its just a differently shaped light.

If I have a 32x48 softbox and a 48" octobox, doesn't the latter produce a wider spread of light and thus require more effort to control spill?