Tip: Softbox or shoot-through umbrella = ringlight

I think we can all agree that there are more than enough self-portraits of me on this here Interweb thing. But here's another one!

This time it's to demonstrate how you can use a softbox or shoot-through umbrella to get roughly the same effect as an expensive ringlight. The stressed-out pose with my hand up was done to illustrate how soft the shadows are. Notice that my wrist is right in front of my eye but my eye is still well lit.

Click through to the lighting diagram for a summary of how to set everything up.

This technique is still used by even the most high-end magazine photographers. Look for the tell-tale catchlights in the subject's eyes which will appear as circles or squares with a line going from the middle downwards.

ps: This portrait appears on the front page of Strobist today. Eek! There's nothing like waking up on a Sunday afternoon and seeing your own ugly mug staring back at you from your favourite web site…