E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Most folks don't think of a lens shade or lens hoods as a lighting accessory. For certain kinds of studio and natural (out-of-doors) scenarios, a good lens shade is a necessity. In some circumstances, a very super-efficient and adjustable bellows shade is extremely helpful in avoiding lens flare due to stray light striking the lens.

This is especially important where the direction of light is striking the subject or the scene at a very high angle of incidence. In-studio, especially in portraiture, often so-called KICKER lights are used at 135 degrees or more, to the camera/subject axis, to provide very controlled specular highlights, rim light on profile shots or to emphasize texture on a commercial product or still life setup. In some cases, this kind of living is extremely dramatic and effective but is just on the margin of causing lens flare.

I know many folks here are Ansel Adams fans and study his work and have read many of his books. Many years ago, I attend one of his workshops. At that time was making his own very deep lens shades out of black construction paper. His method was to make those shades as deep as possible and test it at the working aperture and determine when it starts vignetting and then cutting it just short of that point. This was before the days of the adjustable bellows shades that I am showing in the attached image.

My bellows was shade is probably considered "old school" and I was wondering if thhe are still made. I have a Lindahl kinda jumbo model that was originally intended for large format cameras, a medium-size model that works with medium format and 35mm cameras and a Hasselblad unit. They are all easily adaptable to modern lenses on digital cameras. I can easily employ Mr. Adams' method- stop down, rack it out 'till it vignettes and the pull it back exactly to where I need it.

It is kinda bulky and a bit unwieldy so I don't use these for most "action shots", but on landscapes, architectural subjects, studio and location portraiture they are a godsend. Even for certain sports and wildlife shots, when the sun is low, the light is dramatic but kinda "in your face" or worse, in your lens, these old things come in handy.

They are also indispensable for making classic portrait vignettes. Black vignetters can be inserted for low-key shots and translucent frosted white vignettes can be separately transilluminated to blend perfectly with white backgrounds in high-key work.

I will be writing up some tutorials on someof these methods.

Good news- I just Googled these thgs and found that B&H is still selling new ones and eBay and all the used equipment sites have tons of them for sale at low prices. There are models made By Lindahl, Linhof, Sinar, and other view camera manufacturers.

These shades are also known as compendium lens shades or matte boxes. Some are equipped with filter slots as well.

If you have one in the "mothballs" consider recommissioning it!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I have one that was included with the Arca Swiss camera I purchased a couple of years ago. I use it all the time.

I have another adjustable shade that attaches to the front of most of the Zeiss lenses for my Hasselblad. It's extremely useful, as well.
--Bob

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

I have three of them (Lindahl shades) in different styles that I no longer use. If anyone is interested in purchasing them please respond via private message to discuss a reasonable price.