Shoot Through.....

I always thought that a shoot-through umbrella was for video work. But i recently watched a video where the photographer said he uses them.
There would obviously be quite a bit of light Leak/Spill when compared to a soft-box or a reflective umbrella, but is a shoot-through a decent tool to have in the studio.?
Do you guys use them for still photos.?
Thank You

I really like them for portraiture.
They are also good for simple "product" type shots.

They're probably the most useful light modifier. You can shoot through them, of course, but you can also bounce off them (with some light loss). I've even made a paeudo soft box by placing a reflecting umbrella on the other side (using tape on the center shaft to hold them together), and placing the flash in between the two facing the reflective umbrella. The light bounces off the reflective umbrella and then through the shoot through. By using a slightly larger shoot through, you can eliminate most of the leakage.

When used as a normal shoot through, it acts like a middle ground between a softbox and a reflective umbrella. It's not as soft or even as a softbox, but not as hard as a reflective umbrella.

If you already have a lightbox and reflective umbrella, they're probably not necessary. But if you don't have either, they're a cheap way to get two in one.

Interesting....... and clever.
Thanks for the reply.

Google strobist

CMoore said:

I always thought that a shoot-through umbrella was for video work. But i recently watched a video where the photographer said he uses them.
There would obviously be quite a bit of light Leak/Spill when compared to a soft-box or a reflective umbrella, but is a shoot-through a decent tool to have in the studio.?
Do you guys use them for still photos.?
Thank You

Click to expand...

Yes, and the effect is very similar to a small soft box; prefer soft box in the studio but shoot-through umbrella is an alternative for on location.

This self portrait was done using a shoot through white umbrella and a beige wall as a background/reflector:

Wow...OK, thank you.
I am very new to ALL of this stuff, but if i had to guess i would have said the light was from a diffused window, or from an assistant holding up one of those man-sized diffusers.
Very Nice light..... Thanks Again

A softbox is a shoot through modifier. As mentioned above, the shoot through umbrella comes with light spill. A softbox does not.

If you are concerned about light spill you can skirt the open side with cine foil. I've found shoot thru to be a very versitle lighting technique, especially on a boom when you want to mimic overhead lighting. It has a nice wrap around for portraits as well.