Stinky Tofu, a traditional Taiwanese snack food.
Don’t let the name or smell turn you off, stinky tofu is in fact delicious. Long a favorite of people in Taiwan, this fermented tofu dish is found in night markets across the island and the iconic dish is capable of eliciting a wide range of responses. Some can’t get over the smell while others salivate at the thought of eating some. But what has all this got to do with a softbox?
Food photographers traditionally prefer to use natural window light where possible in there setups and for good reason. It can produce a nice even light most of the time that is well-suited to photographing food. Notice I said most of the time. That’s right, there are times when the light coming through the window is not what you want. For times like those, you need to give it some help and the newly released Phottix Easy-Up Umbrella Softbox 60x90cm is just the thing.
With a large 60x90cm (42″) surface, the umbrella softbox can easily be used as a substitute for quality window light whenever and wherever you need it. It folds away like an umbrella and opens out in a matter of seconds to give you a decent-sized softbox. No annoying speed rings or metal rods to deal with. From removing it from it’s carry bag and opening it to positioning it on a light stand and attaching the front diffuser, it can be set up in about half a minute.
Phottix Easy-up Umbrella Softbox
It weighs next to nothing and could easily be placed on a boom if necessary and as long as you use an umbrella holder like the Phottix Varos Umbrella Holder, you can manipulate the softbox at a range of angles. Great for getting in close and creating a big, soft light source.
So how does it compare to window light? Take a look below and see. The shot on the right is window light as it was at the time I was shooting. Sure, I could have waited a few hours until the light had improved but that’s a luxury you won’t always have. Being able to use something like the Phottix Easy-Up Umbrella Softbox 60x90cm dramatically extends the time available to you for photographing with nice light.
Easy-up Umbrella Softbox on the left. Window light on the right.
The Phottix Easy-Up Umbrella Softbox 60x90cm is available at the Phottix online store or your nearest Phottix retailer. At only $57, this makes for a very affordable and highly useful light modifier option.
