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Archive 2009 · why use light panles/frames?
  
 
abdul10000
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p.1 #1 · why use light panles/frames?


In light of the availability of large octaboxes such as the Elinchrom 69" & 74" why do photographers use 72" and 96" light panels for diffusing or reflecting light coming from monolights?

I understand videographers use them because softboxes can't handle high temperatures. This is obviously not a concern in photography, so why do photographers still use lighting panels with lights? Is there a functional or practical aspect I am missing?

Nov 08, 2009 at 02:55 PM
howardm4
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p.1 #2 · why use light panles/frames?


maybe the $1000 price before the extra strobe, enormous size and stand have something to do with it?

who was it that said 'simplify, simplify, simplify' ?

Nov 08, 2009 at 03:08 PM
photobear
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p.1 #3 · why use light panles/frames?


Simplicity, softness (a 72 or 96" panel is a huge light source), and versatility. You can make either a giant, soft light modifier by putting your flash further back from the panel, or you can make it act as a smaller, harder modifier by putting your flash very close to the panel. It can also be used as a giant reflector, and a large scrim outdoors if there is no wind.

Nov 08, 2009 at 03:14 PM
bkfink
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p.1 #4 · why use light panles/frames?


Those giant light panels are great for making your light source huge, and mainly for diffusing the biggest light around...

the sun!

Nov 08, 2009 at 03:16 PM
abdul10000
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p.1 #5 · why use light panles/frames?


thanks for the feedback everyone.

Ok I understand the principle behind enlarging the light source, but most wonder doesn't a 69" or 74" octabox come to about the same size as a 72" panel?

The price point is true, panels are usually $300, but octaboxes also start around that price and once you add the adapters, panels become more expensive, don't they?

Nov 08, 2009 at 03:33 PM
PeterBerressem
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p.1 #6 · why use light panles/frames?


Softboxes are static sources, diffusion panels are vivid. Get the drift?
The type of sources behind, the amount and their distance to the panel creates totally different light sources. Also think of gradiants, not achievable with softboxes.
For instance, one source lights the whole panel and a second (brighter) source throws just a pool of light to a specific area....

Nov 08, 2009 at 04:24 PM
abdul10000
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p.1 #7 · why use light panles/frames?


PeterBerressem wrote:
Softboxes are static sources, diffusion panels are vivid. Get the drift?
The type of sources behind, the amount and their distance to the panel creates totally different light sources. Also think of gradiants, not achievable with softboxes.
For instance, one source lights the whole panel and a second (brighter) source throws just a pool of light to a specific area....

I don't get what you say in bold but the rest makes sense. I get from what your saying that panels offer greater control over the shape and quality of the light. In that sense I can understand your statement in bold as octaboxes giving, more or less, a single light look, where as panels give many light looks.

PeterBerressem wrote:Also think of gradients, not achievable with softboxes.
For instance, one source lights the whole panel and a second (brighter) source throws just a pool of light to a specific area....

Yeah that's how I light allot of my portrait background a single light with gel for general gradient and then a second light for a selective hot spot.

Edited on Nov 08, 2009 at 04:32 PM · View previous versions

Nov 08, 2009 at 04:32 PM
infocusinc
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p.1 #8 · why use light panles/frames?


You hit the nail on the head...gradients. A spotlight with barndoors behind a large panel is the a softlight of a thousand looks..superb with reflective objects where the shape of the highlight is important. With a softbox you have only one look.

An example...logo only as the image is a composite...one panel, three spotlihgts. whole panel lit with a lihgt blue gel, on spot with bardoors for the top highlight, one spotlight with barndoos for the bottom part of the highlight. Many trips behind the panel to adjust lights and barndoors




This image is copyrighted by the owner




Edited on Nov 08, 2009 at 04:39 PM · View previous versions

Nov 08, 2009 at 04:32 PM
abdul10000
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p.1 #9 · why use light panles/frames?


infocusinc wrote:
You hit the nail on the head...gradients. A spotlight with barndoors behind a large panel is the a softlight of a thousand looks..superb with reflective objects where the shape of the highlight is important. With a softbox you have only one look.

wow one second apart

Nov 08, 2009 at 04:33 PM
PeterBerressem
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p.1 #10 · why use light panles/frames?


Abdul,
please check: the only word I wrote in bold is 'to', in "...distance to the panel..."
Nov 08, 2009 at 05:19 PM
kylegehmlich
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p.1 #11 · why use light panles/frames?


PeterBerressem wrote:
Abdul,
please check: the only word I wrote in bold is 'to', in "...distance to the panel..."


I think he meant the quote from you that he had in his message. He put the top part (static vs vivid) in bold, but ended up answering his own question.


@infocusinc: sweet reflection there. How long did it take you to get the transitions, colours, etc. just right?

Nov 08, 2009 at 06:16 PM
infocusinc
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p.1 #12 · why use light panles/frames?


It's been awhile but if I had to guess 15 -20 mins tops for the entire process, set to file.

Here is another example of the same comcept, but this time with light bounced instead of shoot through. Chrome logo on the back of an rv, about a half hour to produce.



This image is copyrighted by the owner




Edited on Nov 12, 2009 at 12:33 AM · View previous versions

Nov 08, 2009 at 06:57 PM
joewoo
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p.1 #13 · why use light panles/frames?


those are GOREGOUS photos

Nov 09, 2009 at 04:56 PM
 



Graham Mitchell
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p.1 #14 · why use light panles/frames?


abdul10000 wrote:
Is there a functional or practical aspect I am missing?

One more advantage of the panel: you can light it with many heads for high intensity compared to softbox with one head.

Nov 09, 2009 at 11:58 PM
Graham Mitchell
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p.1 #15 · why use light panles/frames?


joewoo wrote:
those are GOREGOUS photos

+1

Nov 09, 2009 at 11:58 PM
E-Vener
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p.1 #16 · why use light panles/frames?


abdul10000 wrote:
thanks for the feedback everyone.

Ok I understand the principle behind enlarging the light source, but most wonder doesn't a 69" or 74" octabox come to about the same size as a 72" panel?

yes but that leaves out the versatility aspect. With a large light panel I can do several things like:

-Take an already diffused light source (light bounced into an umbrella, through a softbox, or bounced int oa v-ee of flats and make it more diffused.

-Diffuse single or multiple hard lighting sources inot a smooth homogeneous light.

-- move the lights around be hind the scrim to still get a large diffuse effect but control exactly where I wantthe lightlight to be.

- switch out the diffusing screen for a solid black to block light) , white, silver or gold metalic surface for bouncing light.

- slash the diffusing material to get a mix of specular and diffused light.

-- put an object or objects between the light source and the diffusing screen to control hot spots and light fall off without casting obvious shadows.

-- use the frame with a diffusing screen but with objects connected to the frame so that hard shadow patterns can be created.

-- Use a softbox at an angle behind the disffusing screen to create a smooth edged graduated fall off in brightness on reflective surfaces.

Diffuse or block direct sunlight.

All of these things you can not do with a simple single large softbo no matter how much money it costs.

You can even choose a variety of diffusing materials (or gels for that matter) from Rosco or Lee Filters.


After trying several different frames from various manufacturers -- including a few I made from metal conduit and PVC tubing -- over the years I finally settled on the Chimera Panel Frames. They are aluminum, they are lightweight and connected with internal bungee cords, they lock together rigidly. They travel well and are compact, and they are quick to set u pand quick to put away. The one thing they are not is cheap, But I think mine paid for themselves pretty quickly, like within a month and they will last probably forever.

Here's the link: http://www.chimeralighting.com/dspProduct.asp?productid=24

Nov 10, 2009 at 01:02 AM
JohnJ
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p.1 #17 · why use light panles/frames?


E-Vener wrote:
Here's the link: http://www.chimeralighting.com/dspProduct.asp?productid=24

Yeah, that's what I use. They are great.

Another advantage of using a reflector, instead of a similar sofbox, is that you can easilly stop up/down to change depth of field effects without having to adjust the light output on a strobe. As long as the sun is out to reflect light in the first place!

With the silver chimera 42x72 shot at about 2.8 but also at other f stops in other shots without having to make any changes to the lighting setup at all.


This image is copyrighted by the owner




JJ
Nov 10, 2009 at 01:19 AM
Graham Mitchell
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p.1 #18 · why use light panles/frames?


^ wow, are those Toranas still running?

Nice pic, by the way!

Nov 10, 2009 at 01:39 AM
JohnJ
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p.1 #19 · why use light panles/frames?


foto-z wrote:
^ wow, are those Toranas still running?

Nice pic, by the way!

Thanks.

Yeah, the Torana's are very popular. Aussie car culture is alive and well and cars like this one and similar have huge followings.

JJ

Nov 10, 2009 at 01:43 AM
infocusinc
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p.1 #20 · why use light panles/frames?


joewoo wrote:
those are GOREGOUS photos

Thanks...

Nov 10, 2009 at 04:01 PM
infocusinc
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p.1 #21 · why use light panles/frames?


Thanks for the links for the Chimera frames. My lightform panels have to be 15-18 years old and are getting quite rough. Maybe its time for some new ones. Those Chimera frames look quite nice.

Edited on Nov 10, 2009 at 04:18 PM · View previous versions

Nov 10, 2009 at 04:04 PM
infocusinc
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p.1 #22 · why use light panles/frames?


foto-z wrote:
joewoo wrote:
those are GOREGOUS photos

+1


Thanks

Nov 10, 2009 at 04:07 PM
infocusinc
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p.1 #23 · why use light panles/frames?


+1

Nov 10, 2009 at 04:08 PM
infocusinc
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p.1 #24 · why use light panles/frames?


Looking for more panel examples....

2 panels for the radio and two spots for t e speakers/blue door



This image is copyrighted by the owner




One Panel 3 spots...



This image is copyrighted by the owner
Nov 10, 2009 at 04:15 PM
photobear
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p.1 #25 · why use light panles/frames?


Ellis....can you attach velcro to the chimera frames to get a more secure fabric fit? I would think that would make them better for outdoor use as a reflector if the fabric could be made taut. Or are the frames too slim to be able to easily do that?

Also, can you suspend a 48" panel horizontally with a single grip head, or is the frame too heavy?

I have the ScrimJim, which works great, but for me it's a bit of a pain to assemble because the ends keep coming apart when I try to put it together...meaning when I join one side the opposite side pops apart.

Thanks.

Bill

Nov 11, 2009 at 02:27 PM




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