You don't need lighting, in fact you can put your camera away for....Lets say after next Sunday's Challenge. Really...Just take the week off................Lol
edit; I had too.... Lol Good luck in this weeks round of byoakc side challenge....I'm needing all I can get..........I haven't used that type of set up. Should work similar to a soft box with the black covers.
Lol, it's almost 4am over here and I'm still awake editing, not like I'm feeling the pressure or anything... ;)
I'd thought that they would be similar to softboxes but wasn't sure why there was a need to reinvent them, I already have a few different umbrellas so if I'm going to buy more of the same I want to know they are worth bothering with, otherwise I may as well spend a bit extra on proper softboxes. ATM they're for the 30 day self portrait challenge.
These look really good! I would have to try one out to see if, in fact, it was easier to use than a softbox. I HATE softboxes, and do not use them. They're evil, and impossible to use.
When I first started using AB strobes I bought two of their "Brolly boxes" which were like the white ones you have posted, while they do work good for what they are, they are no substitute for a Softbox. You can't control light and layer it nearly as well with one of these. I still have my smaller one and use it occasionally but I love my softboxes and you won't be able to pry them from my cold dead hands.
We use the white one in our studio all day and sometimes we take it to onsite. There are good things about it, such as, easy to carry it around and gives good results when bare bulb used (strobe). It does give soft shadows. If you take photos right under one of those umbrellas, you get that soft shadows surrounding your subject, similar (but softer) ring flashes.
I have the black version and love them. The material and framing feel flimsy but I've had no problem using them indoors only. The benefit with the black one is that you will have less light spill to the surroundings. The white version will allow you to put the umbrella closer to the subject if you plan on doing table top work.
I also designed a bracket to better center my flash units.
Thanks for the replys, seems like a mixed bag for and against so I think I might just try using the umbrellas I have with some light muslin draped over the front of them for now.
