Photo
Speedlight
A small flash on the hot shoe or off it on a stand. Fast, portable, daylight-balanced.
LIBRARY · LIGHT FOR FILM AND PHOTO
Lighting instruments
The lights a set or a studio is built from, what each one does to a face, and the shapers that turn a hard source soft.
Colour of light, in kelvin
TUNGSTEN 3200 K · DAYLIGHT 5600 K
- 2700 K · HOUSEHOLD BULB
- 3200 K · FILM TUNGSTEN
- 5600 K · DAYLIGHT, HMI, FLASH
- 7000 K + · SHADE, OVERCAST
Photo
Studio strobe
A mains or battery flash head with a modelling lamp; the workhorse of studio photography.
Film
Fresnel
A lens in front of the bulb lets you focus the beam from a spot to a flood. Classic on film sets.
Film
HMI
A powerful daylight-balanced lamp for big spaces and for matching the sun.
Film
Tungsten
Warm 3200 K light; heavy and hot, still loved for skin.
Both
LED panel
Flat, cool-running and often bi-colour; easy to power on batteries.
Both
LED point source
A bright single-source LED that takes softboxes and other shapers on a standard mount.
Film
Tube light
A battery LED tube for practical light in the frame or tight corners.
SHAPERS
Hard into soft
Softbox
A big, even source; the bigger it is, the softer the shadow.
Umbrella
Quick and wide; spills light around the room.
Beauty dish
Crisper than a softbox, with a bright centre.
Reflector
Bounces light back into the shadows; no power needed.
Flag
Blocks light where you do not want it.
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