Apples

Apples

by Garik

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up vote 15 down vote favorite

I've seen people over the internet aiming their flashes to the umbrella's axis but haven't seen yet a before and after photo. In my case, the flash aims a bit above the axis. What would be the benefit of aiming the flash to the umbrella's axis?

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2 Answers

up vote 12 down vote accepted

The benefit should be a bit better effectiveness of the umbrella and less spill outside. If your flash isn't significantly off I doubt that the change will be noticable.

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2  
Basically, it'd be best to just try it and see what happens. :-) – Jordan H. Jul 16 '10 at 4:31
3  
I was going to suggest that, but as Rismo would surely come up with that by himself I concluded he has some kind of fixed flash-umbrella mount that doesn't let him try that and wonders whether he should get a different one. – che Jul 16 '10 at 9:49
1  
You're right che, the flash bracket I'm using to mount my flash and umbrella to my light stand won't let me aim the flash to the axis, it will aim it a bit higher. – Rismo Jul 22 '10 at 4:23
up vote 6 down vote

Asymmetric lighting of umbrella may also show up as asymmetric catchlights in subjects' eyes.

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