Softbox position, or why I like them big

[grsphoto]

These are two images I created at a recent Basic Lighting Workshop.
http://www.spectrum-studios.com/revised/basiclight.php

These were shot with the same large ( 5 foot by 4 foot) Redwing softbox

The first one was 12 feet away from the subject



The second was 5 feet away



The exposure was kept the same ( 5.6) by adjusting power level from the pack.

the only photoshop was to resize, and add watermark.

In order to get a soft light from your boxes, they should be positioned close... within the distance of the diagonal. Once you move the box further out then this distance, it becomes a large defused light source... which isn't a bad thing... but it will not create the soft look you may be after.

Glenn

[JDArt]

Glenn, excellent advice. By necessity (small space) my soft boxes are frequently close to the subject, but not as close as you indicate. Much appreciated.

[deluco]

Originally Posted by grsphoto

Once you move the box further out then this distance, it becomes a large defused light source... which isn't a bad thing... but it will not create the soft look you may be after.

Glenn

The example is excellent but your wording may be mis-interpreted. When you move the box away it becomes a "smaller" light source, not larger. Moving it close makes it larger and therefore softer. Your photo's show the dramatic difference resulting in specularity and harder shadow transitions when the light is further away.

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

The bigger the better