Ditch the Black

At one time, the only lighting available to photographers was flash lighting. However, the problem with using flash lighting is that it creates very hard lines and shadows.  Too much flash can result in an overexposed photo.  As photographers experimented, they found different ways to use lighting.  Studio flash lighting equipment can be used with a diffuser to soften the light without compromising the quality of the shot.

Today's photo studios include special equipment to manipulate light.  Diffusers and soft boxes soften the harsh light of studio flash equipment and cut down on shadows, which is particularly important in portrait work. Reflectors allow the light to be redirected to produce multiple light sources with one studio flash.  Using diffusers, soft boxes and reflectors, a photographer can virtually eliminate shadows. There are many different aspects to studio lighting equipment.

Diffusers are usually made from translucent cloth and are used to soft studio flash equipment and standing lights.  The can simply be a draped sheet of cloth, or they can be mounted on a frame. Soft boxes can be placed around the subject to be photographed, but these boxes are large and not very portable.  Most photographers prefer to use soft boxes that fit over the studio flash equipment.

Reflectors can be as simple as a large white sheet of cardboard.  The white cardboard will reflect the light back creating a second light source and reducing shadows.  You can use one or more reflectors when taking a photo.  You can choose to use standing lights or studio flash equipment.

The backdrop is another important factor to consider when planning your studio lighting equipment for a particular shot.  Dark backgrounds absorb light which highlights the subject of the shot.  Light backgrounds may be more appropriate when shooting dark objects.  Velvet back drops are extremely light absorbent and work well for most types of portraiture.

Most photographers consider lighting to be the single most important element in fine photography.  Gel films can be used over lights to change the colors in a shot.  There is even a relatively new branch of photography called light painting.  Choosing the right studio lighting equipment for your studio is very important.  Standing lights, studio flash equipment, diffusers, back drops, soft boxes and reflectors all have their place in every photo studio.

The more studio lighting equipment you have, the more you can experiment with lighting effects.  Studio flash equipment comes in different sizes and you may want to have several different flashes available.  One interesting method of photographing fruit is to hollow out the fruit and place a small flash inside.  The fruit appears luminescent when shot this way.

Trying different gel films over studio flash equipment or standing lights can produce very interesting effects that just aren't possible with standard digital cameras or photoshop programs.  These types of lighting effects separate the artist from the weekend family photographer.  Using studio lighting equipment in innovative ways is the mark of the serious photographer.  Continued experimentation with light produces photographs which are works of art.