How to use Feathered Light | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey 

Love this dude - been following since the GavTrain days.

one aspect of feathering a softbox away to the front of a subject is to achieve a more even light distribution from one side to the other side of a subject, f.e. a face or a group of poeple. the idea is based on the relative size of the lightsource and the inverse square law. the side of the subject closer to the light is „seeing“ less of the light while the other side further away from the light sees more which compensates for the loss of light which is caused by the inverse square law. that way you can get a directional light (as opposed to frontal lighting) but with a more even light distribution compared to aiming the light directly at your subject from one side.

You are certainly one of the better presenters and technically sound photographers doing these videos. Keep it up Gavin!

This is the clearest explanation I’ve seen of what feathering is and how you can use it alter the look of your photos. Props to Gavin, as always!

I love Felix Kunze’s work and much of his teaching, but he always talks about soft feathered light which drives me nuts. I have tested it and got the same results as your results and another blog I read. What feathering does do well is lighten shadows if using a reflector and I think that is where the confusion arises in that lest contrasty shadows seem more soft but are just more flat.

To international viewers, audience, could you explain the word "feathered"? I can use a dictionary, several even, online and in paper, but there is no conclusive translation AFAIAC. Seems like "to feather" may be used for "to put at an angle". In my language, we would not reference the slanted light modifier, but the resulting light: "grazing light" (according to dictionaries) in English. We compare it with the softest stroking you could do with the hand. Almost like "caressing light" - irrespective of source, it is about the effect: soft shadow transitions. There is another application of the angled modifier. If you need to light a group with directional light from one side as if there was a window, you can use the 90 degree angle to defeat in part the inverse square law that would normally apply with a full on source. The person nearest the reflector sees the white of the modifier the narrowest, meaning less light falls on the person nearest the reflector than on the next, farther away. You use this principle too in these portraits of one person.

This is an amazing tutorial explains a lot of the secrets... However, I like to know are you willing to make food photography?

Won't turning the light towards the camera give a little glare? Should we use a Flag so the light doesn't hit the lens?

Bonjour Gaving, tu n'as pas repris la mesure de lumière à chaque fois ? did you take light meter all the time ?

Still my favorite RU-vidr !! ... never miss a episode !

Great way to bring the truth about feathered light. I knew it largely controls where the light goes but never considered that it could actually make the shadow transitions “harder” by reducing the relative size of the modifier to the subject. Gavin, you’ve done it again!

Excellent instruction. Thank you Gavin. Thank you Adorama. Gavin, were you re-metering each time you moved the box to different feathering positions? TTL? I guess I'm asking if the strobe power changed in different feathering positions

Somehow even when you're telling m stuff I already know I still feel like I'm learning from you Gavin. Love your unassuming, yet exceptionally knowledgeable style. Keep teaching!

excellent tutorial, thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, How did you use the power of the flash ?, in ttl or manual ?, when you feathered the light, also modified the power?

Man… I can have the shittiest day of my life and one video from Gavin is all I need to turn that around. World needs more people like Gavin. I mean how can you not love this guy…

Very interesting that the feathered light gave harsher shadows. Makes perfect sense when you think about it. Gavin is the best!

Always love Gavin's tutorials! Thank you for this video!

While an old video, I'm catching up. Well done, Gavin, as always.

This channel is the best, i have been watching all the videos on this channel and i have learnt so much about photography and everything else based in that sort of area, it has even gotten me to start my own channel, based off of what i have learnt, pls head over to my channel and check it out, some feedback and help would be so appreciatable!!!

Nice! Surprised to not see an flare working so close to the light

I really liked photo number three (without the light behind Jade). It really made the viewer focus on her face. For me, it was a very powerful effect. Thanks for another brilliant video!!!

Love Gavin's stuff. His enthusiasm and passion for photography resonates through these videos. 👌

I’m surprised there’s no mention that if you’re using a grid, this might not work very well.

Perfect Technician. Good Job. Valzha Valamudan.

I love the way Gavin demystifies a lot of these lighting and photographic techniques. What a great time to be learning photography!

Hi, I devour your videos every time; they are quick and effective, it's amazing! Thanks for that ;) I have a question: the photos we see and that you show us in your videos, are they raw or edited? Thanks."

Gavin makes another great video. I have a square box. WouldnI still get similar results?

Your vídeos are truly enjoyable to watch and are filled with precious information. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge

Daaamn youre simply great! The way you share knowledge its superb, thanks and congratulations Gavin!

Gavin is fun to watch & your learning all is tips & tricks, so its win win, Thank you 😁. So advise please what lens would you recommend if you could only take 1 lens out with you. For a bit of everything close up, distance, portraits. Some advice would be appreciated 😊

I totally agree that it doesn't make the light softer to feather. But I think that the benefits of feathering the softbox comes when you have white walls or a v-flat on the opposite side of the light. The reflection fills in the shadows and you get this very diffuse light from the softbox. Cheers! Always fun to watch and be inspired!

Wow how studios have changed. Remember all the blaring lights used before. Must've dropped the temp in the studio back to normal .

Difficult question, sorry. Would be easier to aim the softbox if using a grid?

I always think about it as a soft box having two falloffs: ISL distance falloff, and angle falloff. Feathering mainly uses the second one.

Great examples, but 8:20 feathering a BD isn’t recommended because the deflector won’t be covering the flash tube and the direct hit will spill out. Of course if you remove the deflector though it’s fine.

Your the best Gavin ....you make this channel what it is!!!!

Just a question. When the light was direct you did measure it with light meter and not again after it. When you feather the light do you do a measurement again seeing that less light wil reach the subject for correct exposure.

Glad someone cleared this up. I've heard that feathering the light makes it softer from many prominent and very skilled photographers on RU-vid, but it never made sense to me - relative size is the only thing that matters in how soft the light is. I'm surprised so many people believe that myth.

Thank you Gavin, a very interesting tutorial.

lmao The actual feathers on the light was hilarious ;D ANother great tutorial thanks!

Interesting 😄😄

Hi Gavin what flash did you use for the background light and what power setting ? cheers

Thank you so very much, Gavin...for the excellent explanation and demonstrations. Also, for “feathering” your light-I laughed ridiculously hard after nearly spitting out my coffee 🤣

Actually the shadow on Jade became softer while you were right about the shadow on the background becoming harder while feathering.

I have been wanting to learn more about feathering light and this lesson was extremely useful. Than you. Question (not a challenge), at 4:24 we see the shadow cast on the wall is harsher, but the shadows on her face are much softer, practically gone. So what to make of this? This feathering does not seem to make the models face have harsher shadows, just the opposite. But the wall, yes more shadow.

How high is your rear tripod with the snooted flash? Actually I am going to buy one locally. Pakistan.

Very useful video , I learned lot from it, looking forward more videos like this keep it up good work, thanks a lot sir R.manohar , india,chennai

Can we take the time to appreciate how much awesome content and superb educational videos we get for free?? Thank you Gavin and Adorama!!! You are super awesome!!!

I'm so happy to enjoy this tutorial. Thanks !!! During the lock-down period, I don't have any model to shoot as I live alone. How to practice different lighting setup, I wonder? Should I buy a mannequin? Any suggestion, please

Gavin, thanks for the video! When comparing the hardness of feathered light when you show the two images side by side, I noticed that the feathered light situation is much more less specular on the face which I find more pleasing. On the other hand the lighting in that image is flatter as the light seems to be coming more from the front. Is feathered light indeed less specular or is it because the incident angle is different. Since the soft box is being rotated around an off center axis the effective location of where the light comes from changes at the same time as the feathering.

I ve been following this channel for 7 years. It amazes me how Gavin after all this years is still capable of producing fresh content! We love Gavin!

Keeping your model away from the background minimizes the shadows. I like your work!

Thank you! Your videos are always so informative. I feathered the light 😃

Mr. Gavin, thank you for all you do. Can you tell me or give a link where I can get that gray or black background?

I'm your greate fan! I've learnt a lot thanks to you. Greetings from Poland.

Thanks a lot Gavin! This class is extremely useful as it takes us away from straightforward (though practical) ways to light up the scene. You make us work more flexible and be more creative. This marks you as more than highly professional photographer - you are extremely gifted and talented coach! Many thanks again!

This is great video Gavin. Which backdrop are you using here?

Thank you

Thanks Gavin. as allways it´s a great advise. One sugestion: I don´t like to point light towards the camera lens, it causes a lot of flare, even if the light sourse isn´t in the frame.

I feel there is more to it than that as far as shadow harshness . the model and light position, the modifier used, I most definitely get a softer light when using feathered. like everything in studio lighting its picking the correct choice as you say.

Well I learnt something today, Thanks!

Thanks Gavin that was good, how about a video showing how that background was created

Cool

One of my favourite videos yet Gavin! Side note, top marks for Jade.

Excellent video/info, thank you

Hi .. Iam a mobile phone photographer so please sir one video for mobile phone photography

Gavin Hoey is my role model photographer working as a photographer and in the Adorama channel

Gavin I love your tutorials, I have started to work in a photography studio and it's so much fun to learn from you and to put it in practice at work, thank you so much!

Eres uno de los mejores maestros de fotografía, tus explicaciones son claras y prácticas. Saludos desde Mexico City.

Gavin.... you are the man.....awesome, as always Many thanks

Does your light behind the subject have a grid?

Gavin is the greatest

How do I make that type of background?

By the way, I love this. I learn something new each time you post a video. Thank you!

the feathered light did look better on the models face,despite the hard shadows on the wall.

Love your work Gavin. Clear concise and entertaining 🥰

Great information, beautiful Jade and great results, all done with enthusiasm and humor. Yep, that's a Gavin tutorial. Excellent!

Very interesting as are all your tutorials. Thank you for sharing.

if i can give more than the like I"ll do .. U R professor

thank you! I've learned something new today :)

Amazing video! Thank you for sharing :)

Fantastic tutorial Gavin!! You are the best!!👍

4:30 it not just the angle but even distance matters to achieve soft shadows

Great job👌👍💯 BG from germany

Thanks again Gavin, great tutorial and model.

Gavin you are the best!!! Talented and very easy to understand 😃

A big help thank you very much

Very very helpful. Many thanks.

I like to watch your episode on adorama tv

Gavin, you are just the best teacher for photography on RU-vid. Love your tutorials.

Thanks Gavin, Very helpfull video! I'm starting to making the switch from weddings to portraiture, so these video's are very very helpfull :)

Terrific Gavin, thank you!!!

really thanks for your sharing , i learn alot to shooting portrait photo

Hola Gavin excelente trabajo, tengo una pregunta podrias contarme como hiciste el fondo porfavor gracias ..

Super padre!, además que me cae muy bien :)

Love your videos Gavin! I'm subscribed to Adorama solely for your series 😎

Is it possible with the help of only umbrella

Как всегда круто. Спасибо за видео. Спасибо за урок.

I appreciate the dad joke at the end, haha.

Thank you. I've been mucking about with softboxes for years and should have known this, already, but your explanation is excellent. I am, as always, wiser and a little humbler! Plus, always good to see Jade!