The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes

Lacey Light

I OFTEN USE WINDOWS and whatever is in ‘em to corral, shape, direct, and otherwise twist what might have been a straightforward softbox solution. Light comes through the windows anyway, so it’s a reasonable thing to do. Softboxes do a good job of mimicking soft window light, but they are designed to be smooth, even, easygoing light. Often that is what you want, and they are the perfect ticket.

But what they aren’t is surprising. If you throw a light through a window, it could become a softbox with attitude. It might take on the shape of the window enclosure, or the shadows of the framework, or the slight color of the dirty ...