Proper Usage Elinchrom White Maxisoft Reflector, 27"

[mark_in_st._louis]

<p>I've been looking at the

<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?

O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=126521&is=REG">

Elinchrom White Maxisoft Reflector, 27"</a>. I can make some assumptions,

but

would like some advice on when these would be used? What are the differences

between using a reflector of this type with a

<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?

O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=126523&is=REG">

diffuser</a>, and using a softbox?  When using a

<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/126524-

REG/Elinchrom_26304_Deflector_Set_for_27_.html">

gold deflector</a> to send light to the white reflector, would the output

color

be a very subtle change?  What would be the result of using the

<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?

O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=126520&is=REG">

17" variety of the same reflector</a>, how would it compare to the

27".</p>

<p>Thank you for your time in helping me understand the usage of these

modifiers.</p>

[ellis_vener_photography]

It's Elinchrom's version of a beauty dish, the light is a bit more directional and it's a bit more versatile than a standard softbox.

 

I would imagine thaty the gold effect is noticable but not extreme.

 

A smaller reflector makes for a smaller light source.

[sing_lo]

I have the 27" white. It produces soft light good for fashion portraits. When you use it with diffuser sock, it is not much different from a small softbox, except the way a circular light modifier wraps around the subject is different from the rectangular softbox. Beauty dish is a bit more punchy than softbox.

 

Gold deflector adds a warm tone to the skin. It is useful for subject with very pale skin and you like to add a bit of tan.

 

 

The 17" is smaller and hence more punchy with the specular highlights.

The 17" silver works great with model with good skin or well applied shimmer make-up.

[john_murphy1]

I posted a comparison of something related to this <a

href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?

msg_id=00KtKf">here</a>.<br />

Responding more directly to your question, in deciding when to use a Beauty Dish I always

use the Elinchrom Beauty Light (a large, indirect softbox) as my benchmark. Since the

Beauty Light can make just about anything look good, I need a good reason to pull out a

beauty dish. <br/>

The first, and most common reason I use a Beauty Dish is because of simple laziness. If

someone wants me to shoot their portrait on location, and I don't feel like lugging the

Beauty Light and its heavy stand, then I'll go with a Beauty Dish.<br/>

In the studio, I use a Beauty Dish in three circumstances: 1) for "glamour lighting", that is

direct, on axis lighting of a face that is looking directly into the camera and smiling; 2) for

subjects that "look fat" in traditional, portraits (face turned slightly, no smile)-in this case

the Beauty Dish provides darker shadows on the side of the face while minimizing skin

imperfections on the forehead and cheeks; 3) lastly, I use Beauty Dishes when

photographing anyone who wants to look intelligent and strong (as opposed to soft and

lovely).<br />

I'm not particularly impressed with the Softlite as a Beauty Dish; I recommend the Mola

products instead. I know they're more expensive, but a Beauty Dish isn't worth anything if

it isn't better than an umbrella. You can find a comparison <a

href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00L40O">here</a>

which shows that the Softlite is not a whole lot better than an umbrella.<br/>

Additionally, I never use diffusion on a Beauty Dish, as it doesn't make sense (I can use a

softbox instead). I do, however, test my Beauty Dishes carefully for how they behave when

pointed at the subject indirectly (i.e., feathered). Hope this helps...