Very Informative Side-by-Side Comparison of Different Light Modifiers

A few weeks ago, we shared a video by photographer Karl Taylor that gave you a behind the scenes look at what a day-long fashion shoot in his studio was like. And even though a few of our readers poked fun at the video’s obvious product placement, a lot of people learned a thing or two and came back with followup questions regarding the light modifiers that Taylor was using throughout the day.

Fortunately for us, Taylor was listening, and has produced this very informative follow-up video in which he discusses the differences between his go-to modifiers, complete with side-by-side comparisons.

The presentation focuses mainly on lighting for beauty and fashion photography, but the general information can apply to any kind of photography where you might find a need for these modifiers.

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The different modifiers tested — including three Broncolor Para models, an Octobox, a Beauty Dish and a Satellite Staro — each give a different quality of light, different levels of contrast and a different character altogether. All of this becomes obvious when he compares results side-by-side, and while no one modifier is ‘better’ than another, it’s important that you understand the differences so you can pick the best light for the job.

Of course, describing the differences between light modifiers in words is like trying to describe the difference between sounds in drawings (possible but difficult and requiring a level of creativity that Sunday afternoon just doesn’t inspire), so check out the video at the top and/or head over to Taylor’s blog to get your lighting education for the week.

(via Reddit)

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