Umbrella lighting

Siskiyou Dec 19, 2007

  1. Siskiyou

    Siskiyou In Memoriam

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    I'd like to understand how to use umbrellas for better lighting when shooting the layout. Do you understand use of umbrellas, or can you direct me to a source of information?

    Scott
     
  2. Pete Nolan

    Pete Nolan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Scott,

    I haven't used umbrellas since I sold off all my serious equipment in the late 80s. Think of umbrellas as just another way to soften the light, and then more or less focus that soft light. It's a lot better than bouncing a flash off the ceiling. You'll need at least two--one for the main light, one for back fill. You'll probably still need a direct key light on the main subject. Set up isn't much different than using direct lighting.

    You will get a lot more light, probably of more pleasing color, than you would from photofloods or room lights. You'll need some space, too, for the umbrellas and their stands. In my train room, I doubt I could maneuver them for many shots. And make sure the stands are tall, so you can get a high sun angle, unless you are clamping them to a ceiling. That's one of the problem with my train room and layout design--not even my best tripod can get high enough to shoot the third deck.

    When I was shooting a lot of industrial slide shows in the 70s and 80s, I loved them. Compared to studio lights, they were light and compact. I could get three of them plus their stands in a fairly small, light case.

    I also seen the ultimate in soft light--use umbrella light bounced off a white ceiling.
     
  3. Siskiyou

    Siskiyou In Memoriam

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    Photo umbrellas

    Thanks for the good info, Pete. As I understandd it, the usual configuration is to place your light source between the subject and the 'inside' of the open umbrella. The light source faces away from the subject, and the handle of the open umbrella points at (or near to) the subject. This definitely deals with shiny rails and makes nice, soft light, but the trade-off is that your light seems to be cut about in half.

    I've heard mention of 2 other configurations. With both, you swap the positions of the light and umbrella so that the light now points at the umbrella, first, then at the subject beyond. With one, the light is directed into the inside of the umbrella; with the other, the umbrella is turned around so that the light is directed onto the top of the opened umbrella. Does either of these make sense to you? Do you know when they'd be useful to the model railroader? Thanks for sharing your layout photos with us - I really enjoy them.

    Scott
     
  4. Pete Nolan

    Pete Nolan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Scott,

    I've never done the alternatives you've mentioned, and haven't seen them done in hundreds of photo shoots over the years. I'd guess they might be used when you need a "half-umbrella" cone of light.

    I'm not sure that the typical use of an umbrella cuts the light in half. Direct flash is much more focussed. No reflector is perfect, so there will be some drop-off. Perhaps the drop is 50% at the center, but you will pick up perhaps 30% more light around the perimeter, in total. An umbrella, of course, cannot create energy, so you will always lose some light. I've never calculated how much.
     

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