Bare bulb with umbrella

[mike_shaffer]

Would a bare bulb bounced with an umbrella give results medway

between normal umbrella bounce and direct flash or would the direct

light from the bare bulb just overpower the reflected light?

 

mike

[ellis_vener_photography]

How are you planning on positioning the head/ , pointing into the bowl or parallel to the

the rim/ The first will just be wastefully inefficient and I don't really think you'll get a

change in light quality over a standard umbrella. a. The second method will probably give

you a more specular light. IA lot may depend o nthe distance of the light (head+ umbella)

t o the subject, and the size of the umbrella.

 

try it and see!

[barry_kenstler]

Mike,

 

I had the same question some years back, so I gave it a try with my Quantum X2 barebulb portable flash (tube in the vertical position) with a 40" satin umbrella catching and reflecting back the light radiating away from the subjects. The flash was placed about 10 feet from a family group of four in their living room.

 

The result: the sharp shadow edges associated with the bare tub were still very evident, but the shadow areas were somewhat filled and softened by the umbrella light. I actually liked the quality of the light, but I guess not enough to use it much since. I don't know if I'll have the time to scan that negative tonight, but if I do, I'll post an example.

 

As usual, Ellis pretty much summed it up. If you already have the gear, give it a try.

[mike_shaffer]

Thanks guys. That is pretty much the answer I expected. I am planning on trying an informal portrait shoot with an old Kodak DuaFlex and rather than burning up a lot of expensive flashbulbs I am trying to think things through carefully ahead of time.

 

I will probably use a tilt-a-might flash gun rather than the Kodak unit since I can use the less expensive M3 bulbs in the TAM. This unit has a folding reflector and tilting head so bare bulb is easy.

 

I am considering a bounce umbrella, Ceiling bounce, or firing the flash through a sheet. The sheet would probably give the softest lighting I suppose. I have some photo floods that I can use to experiment with layouts and to measure light loss of the various modifier schemes. If I can't get acceptable ratios using reflectors I could still use the Kodak flashgun for a fill light at the expense of extra bulbs.

 

The subject will be my wife seated at her 1901 Knabe grand piano so the vintage equipment seemes appropriate. I figure that the Kodak lens will be pleasingly soft at F8 but will also try F11.

 

mike

[barry_kenstler]

Mike, I was thinking electronic bare-bulb when I answered your question. I still have my TAM flash gun;I haven't used it in decades.

 

Good luck with your test photo. I'd be inclined to not use the gun in barebulb and face the reflector/bulb into the umbrella for your application, but it really is a matter of taste.

 

At my church we have three Steinway grands and one Knabe. Of the four, I still prefer the lower registers of the Knabe. It is a great sounding piano, at least to my ear.