Join us for a new monthly series that highlights a different Elinchrom Light Shaper or Lighting Technique, with sample images (full length and cropped headshots) and lighting diagrams. All the images were photographed with the same model and outfit (standing in the same spot on the background – about 3 feet away), the same day in the same blacked out studio, with the same strobes at the same height (forehead height) & distance (about 5 feet) from the model and the same camera setup. I tried to remove as many obstacles as possible so we can compare light shaper effects.
I used an Elinchrom FIVE battery monolight triggered by the Elinchrom Transmitter Pro. My trusty Gossen Digisky light meter ensured consistent exposure values – it has an integrated Skyport transceiver to remotely trigger the FIVE. My Nikon D810 had a Tamron 85mm f/1.8 lens and all was mounted on a Vanguard VEO 3+ 263CB tripod. Camera settings are ISO64, f/8, 1/125s We used an Easiframe backdrop system with the Grey Texture backdrop. I tethered my camera into Capture One on my laptop with a Tether Pro USB-C to C cable and connected my laptop to a large screen TV with a TetherPro HDMI cable so we could review images on the big screen.
Special thanks to Phil and RevPrint Studio (https://www.revprint.com/) for the use of their space. Phil hosts workshops featuring Elinchrom gear via West Toronto Photography Group (https://www.wtpg.ngo/)
I’ll start with light shapers and techniques for portraiture. Following last issue’s post on the Elinchrom 44cm Silver Beauty Dish, our focus this time is the Beaty Dish with the Cloth Diffuser and Grid.
We’ll compare the Silver Beauty Dish with the Silver Deflector to the effects of adding the Diffuser and the Grid. I meter every image because changing your light shaper will change your exposure. With the diffuser, I increased power 1/3 stop; with the grid, I had to cut power by a full stop to maintain consistent exposures over the images.
Elinchrom Beauty Dish Silver Deflector
Elinchrom Silver Beauty Dish Sock
Elinchrom Silver Beauty Dish Grid
On the full-length images, the Beauty Dish alone lights Maya from the knee to the top of her head. There is a harsh shadow on the background that would have to be cropped or cloned out. Overall light is nice and exposure is fairly consistent. Adding the Cloth Diffuser softens all the shadow transitions – not as much as a softbox would but softer than the Beauty Dish alone. The background is more evenly lit and is warmer with a much smaller shadow in the lower corner. The effect of the grid is most noticeable – the background is only partially illuminated and the light begins to falloff at Maya’s wrists. Shadows are more pronounced and much more contrasty. That’s exactly what you expect when you add a grid to a light shaper.
Elinchrom Beauty Dish Silver Deflector
Elinchrom Silver Beauty Dish Sock
Elinchrom Silver Beauty Dish Grid
To really see the effects of modifying your Beauty Dish, we need to look at the headshots from these images. The Beauty Dish alone creates a very pleasing headshot with nice specular highlights and fairly crisp shadows. The addition of the Diffuser subtly warms the image. I was most surprised by how it slightly hardens the shadow transitions and lowers contrast. Typical Beauty Dish specular highlights are maintained. The addition of the grid (and removal of the Deflector Plate) results in very crisp shadow transitions and brings out more highlights. Remember, I had to drop a full stop to maintain the same exposure with the grid compared to using just the Deflector Plate.
If you like the look of the beauty dish, but want to lower contrast, add the Cloth Diffuser. If you want to separate your subject from the background more or increase contrast and shadow definition, use the Grid.
Share some of your favourite images taken with a Beauty Dish on our Facebook page or tag us on Instagram.
Next month, I’ll show the effects of the Elinchrom White Beauty Dish with the Deflector Plates. At the end of the series, we’ll compare each of the Elinchrom light shapers to each other. See you next month!
Read the previous articles:
Elinchrom Light Shapers and Lighting Techniques – #Series 1
Elinchrom Light Shapers and Lighting Techniques – #Series 2
Items Discussed
Author: Will Prentice
A portrait, fine art and commercial photographer for 30 plus years, Will Prentice is not just a contributor to PHOTONews magazine, but also host of PHOTONewsTV, owner of Captura Photography+Imaging and Technical Support/Brand Manager for Amplis Foto, Canada’s largest distributor of photographic equipment.
Will teaches photographers of all skill levels how to improve their craft – from creative photo projects to picking the right gear for their needs to flattering lighting to getting the best expressions to creating final images for screen and print. His unique style of highly detailed images with perfect tonality, wide dynamic range and stunning colour is instantly recognizable. Commercial clients rely on Will’s creative eye and mastery of lighting.
When he’s not behind the camera or in front of a class, you’ll find Will outdoors in any weather – usually on one of his bikes or enjoying time with his grandchildren.
