Soft boxes vs umbrellas: Not sure which I need to invest in, interested in doing low key photography with motorcycles, and do i still need a key light or can i just use 2 speedlights...

Metpin777 Loc: Fort Wayne, IN

Not sure which I need to invest in, interested in doing low key photography with motorcycles, and do i still need a key light or can i just use 2 speedlights, and need to be portable, lot of Freinds with bikes , thank you for everyone's help

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

There is no really "right" answer, but where are some things to consider: Umbrellas are FAR less expensive, easier to transport, and simple to set up; Softboxes are more expensive, require some type of speedring/adapter to interface with speedlights, and are a bit more trouble to set up (some are actually quite easy and some a real pain).

Umbrellas will throw light everywhere out in front of them - that is neither good nor bad - just the way they are.
Softboxes generally are easier to feather the light due to having a more defined transition.

So softboxes will tend to give you a bit more control of light placement - easier to keep light OFF a background, for example, but umbrellas can be a bit more forgiving of subject movement as they are blowing light out over a wider area. BOTH can produce wonderfully soft light. In many applications, it would be tough to impossible to tell which was used to produce an image.

jcboy3

Metpin777 wrote:

Not sure which I need to invest in, interested in doing low key photography with motorcycles, and do i still need a key light or can i just use 2 speedlights, and need to be portable, lot of Freinds with bikes , thank you for everyone's help

If you are doing low key, then you want to ensure that you are not putting light on the background. That means directional control, and for that I use softboxes with grids and scrims to block light. Umbrellas throw light around a lot, which you don't want in low key. You also want as much space as you can bet between subject and background, which also means a large background and longer focal length for lens (to limit FOV).

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

You can look at cheap brolly umbrellas, all types, styles and prices to soft boxes like the Westcott ones that open like an umbrella if you want better light control. These accommodate speedlights or monolights. Some come with grids. This for example.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1356493-REG/westcott_2348_skb_light_modifier_bundle.html

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Metpin777 wrote:

Not sure which I need to invest in, interested in doing low key photography with motorcycles, and do i still need a key light or can i just use 2 speedlights, and need to be portable, lot of Freinds with bikes , thank you for everyone's help

Go to Youtube and put in the search "Softbox vs Umbrella" and get some popcorn. You will learn a lot quickly and know the answer to that question and many more you haven't thought of. That way we don't have to reinvent the wheel here. YT is a great resource for things like this.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

As idibu suggested, if you want ease of setup, a brolly box, like the 47" Godox, will give you large even light. If you are concerned with light spill on the background, you can use a flag and/or a grid on the light to control that. I would suggest as large softbox or umbrella as you can get. Lastolite has many options in their catalog, and lots of speedlight brackets to mount multiple speedlights to fire into an umbrella or softbox.

https://www.manfrotto.us/lastolite?gclid=CjwKCAjw3f3NBRBPEiwAiiHxGHCL-jH632CtQamelQs4q_WH9Mlw6m05bHw2SFc_LkYs5pT8nOhpTxoCJj0QAvD_BwE&vtc_diameter=120-190

https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Octagon-Umbrella-Reflector-Speedlight/dp/B01JRRVR5S

But depending on the look you are after, you may need a bit more than just one or two lights.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIF9p65DAX3/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/2603712254097136/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/575405289872701977/

mudduck

I bought umbrellas that were not full reflective and shoot through them , kind of a poor mans light box

jcboy3

mudduck wrote:

I bought umbrellas that were not full reflective and shoot through them , kind of a poor mans light box

And you used them for low key?

mudduck

Yea, softens up the light some, used the same set up for some motorcycle shots , portraits and boudoir work, easier to set up and move around since I don't have a studio.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Metpin777 wrote:

Not sure which I need to invest in, interested in doing low key photography with motorcycles, and do i still need a key light or can i just use 2 speedlights, and need to be portable, lot of Freinds with bikes , thank you for everyone's help

They are used for different purposes, when using umbrellas, probably a good idea of getting or making a few flags as well, but it all depends on your intends also!

cabunit Loc: SE Connecticut

CaptainC covers the bases above. About the speedring/adapter, I love my Westcott 26" Octobox ($169), which comes with an adapter built in for speedlights. You certainly don't need more than speedlights for what you're doing, unless you're talking a showroom full of bikes.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

I would suggest the umbrellas first. Cheaper for sure. You can spend a few dollars more on one that is both reflective and shoot through, so you will have the best of both. I think one large shoot through and one large reflector should do the job for what you are trying to achieve. Large fold-up reflectors can get pricey. Option can be dollar store white foam core boards with backs taped with duct or gaffers tape. Make it as big as you need it.
If I had to choose one over the other, I would go with the soft box. I think they are a bit more versatile. If you decide on the soft box - would spend a few more bucks and get the honeycomb for what you want to do. Sounds like a fun project. Best of luck.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

sirlensalot wrote:

I would suggest the umbrellas first. Cheaper for s... (show quote)

Same advice.

At work we go through a lot of foamcore.
Makes a great reflector.
I can e-mail you some, if you want.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

GoofyNewfie wrote:

Same advice.

At work we go through a lot of foamcore.
Makes a great reflector.
I can e-mail you some, if you want.

The last time I had photography equipment emailed to me..., they got my money and I got NOTHING BUT AN EMAIL!!! Never again!!!

SS

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

SharpShooter wrote:

The last time I had photography equipment emailed to me..., they got my money and I got NOTHING BUT AN EMAIL!!! Never again!!!

SS

You only fall for that once!