Work With One Studio Light

Produce three different lighting effects using just one studio flash, a softbox and a reflector

Many people assume that you can’t take great photos in the studio unless you have at least two or three flash units to hand. While it’s true that having access to more lights and an array of modifiers will ultimately enable you to capture more complex images, knowing how to control multiple lights effectively can be complicated – and it’s surprising how much you can achieve just by working with one studio flash unit and one softbox. With a white paper background – or even simply a white wall, a reflector and a little bit of space – you can achieve a low-key, mid-key and highkey effect with just one light.

The inverse-square law’s effect on light means the light emitted by a flash unit spreads, diffuses and becomes less intense across a distance. Photographers can take advantage of this, enabling a range of effects to be produced simply by repositioning the subject and the light in relation to the environment.