Shoot Through Umbrella - HOW TO?

Ok, this has really buffeled me for a little while, but I know this is the right place to get this answered, SHOOT THROUGH UMBRELLAS - how do you position them?

should the outter part of the umbrella face the subject or should the inner part face the subject (just like a silver umbrella)

hope I got it clear.....

thanks

The outer part of the umbrella should face the subject... so that the light from the flash 'shoots through' the umbrella.

EDIT: By way of example, have a look here: http://www.sportsshoot​er.com/news/1533 - the third image down shows 'shoot through umbrellas' in action

---- Gavin

So I was right....Thanks for the info Gavin. I knew I would find it here in a flash.

You want the umbrellas as close to the subject as you can get, so long as they're not in the frame. That makes for a relatively large light source.

Not to dispute what has already been said however I have read that you can also use a "shoot thro umbrella" as a reflective brolly. Naturally there is a considerable loss of light but what goes through is then reflected back off a wall / reflector etc to give even greater softness. I should add that I haven't tried it.

I use mine both ways. My cheap 110ws strobes only have full and 1/2 setings (and sometimes the 1/2 is still too much light) so I turn the umbrellas around and catch the very diffused reflected light!

If you check the home page, http://www.zuga.net they are currently showing a video with photogapher using a shoot-thru umbrella.