Diffusion: How and Why You Should Use Soft Light

[@Addy-Mo]

This is probably the most underrated channel for video production, you deserve so many more subscribers! I always buy your recommendations, like the tripod that you recommended ages ago is now my tripod! Will you be making an videos on steadicams or gimbals? Would love to see those! Keep up the great work!

[@luciabonmati8497]

Adnan Sakib stabilizers too

[@ty_chee]

Brother you said it best! Caleb IS amazingly informative

[@eliungar]

Love your stuff. Quick nitpick: The softness is determined by the size of the light source relative to the subject. Diffusion is about the direction of the light. These two qualities are often confused, but shouldn't be. Keep up the great work!

[@lifescansdarkly]

This is a great point that I missed completely when starting out on video. Put my softbox halfway across the room and was wondering why the light looked hard. Took a few videos pointing it out to realize that things get more soft when you get closer, a little counterintuitive at first.

[@williamshakespeare9815]

​@@lifescansdarklyyeah same. You would think it woild work the opposite lol

[@WayneUpchurch]

Caleb,you're coming across more and more professional. Congrats on the well-deserved attention and following. Diffusion is both, a tricky beast AND a dead simple one. I find your video, here, a mix of both. The ONE thing I have never heard you say about diffusing for soft light is the MAIN thing to know.. soft light is Big Light.. it's spread over a Large source, whether it 's bouncing (off larger surfaces, and ricocheting all over the room, filling in shadows), filtering through softbox modifiers, cloth, or frost filters (again, turning the size of the light from the, relatively, "point "source into a Large, spread out source, while also, again, causing more light to bounce around the room, spilling from behind the diffusion, filling shadow sides), or umbrellas, acting in exactly the same way, except whether you're lighting through it, or bouncing out of it, its spread is mitigated by the curvature of the surface. Umbrellas also, yep, bounce that light around the room, again, filling in... However, your dome light, like the square/rectangular softboxes, contains the reflected light behind the diffusion and prohibits the room-filling bounces. In both cases, the smaller second inner diffusion layer is spaced in the gap between the lamp and the front diffusion panel, so that the light gets well Spread onto the front panel, instead of having the center of the front panel brighter than the edges. Hot center, softer edges, effectively limit the size, therefore limiting the softness of the light output. So, in a nutshell (the dead simple beast, of my opening metaphors), diffusion Spreads the light into a larger source.. that's How it softens the light.. otherwise, no matter what distance a small diffusion panel is from the light source, a small diffusion panel is still a small and relatively hard light; it seems like softening due to the room bounce, not so much due to the material or distance. Moving your dome light, or diffusion panels looks softer because, relative to the size of your face, the panel is larger when it's closer, and the size of panel "wraps" the light around your head more than the diffusion material does. Diagrams that allow us to see how light, which travels in straight lines, show very well how it's the size that matters for that soft sexy lighting. Bigger is... for sweet light, Better. Thinking of it this way makes it simple to rig softer light from any smaller source, without all the complexities you're jumping through, here. Effectively, you're introducing those trying to understand lighting to their options, so Good On Ya. Simplifying it to this one simple basic, Size, may illuminate the whole realm of possibilities better.

[@theHAL9000]

The quality of videos from DSLR Video Shooter are consistently first-rate and informative. Another terrific and worthwhile walk-thru of in this case diffusion. Thanks!

[@eduardomedeiros8308]

Caleb, that is the best lightning diffusion class I have seen in You Tube. You are very didactic. Congratulations!

[@AndreDamore]

Thank you for making this video!!! I’m not a photographer, but I work alongside my friend who is and we usually do photoshoots together. Learning all these techniques helps me understand how to help her better her work!

[@lkomarci]

You're the best photography equipment youtuber in my opinion. Keep up the good work please

[@omaratassi6697]

OMG you have the BEST video about soft light. I watched so MANY videos about lighting and yours explains Everything, in such a simple way. Thank You so much, I really APPRECIATE your knowledge about diffuse lighting and your suggestions on supplies.!!!!!!!

[@RohanGillett]

Best video I've ever seen about diffusion. I've got no idea why I never found your channel until last night. So much good info here and so much good info that we beginners can use.

[@TheGroovyGuitarDude]

Great info man! I constantly struggle with my lighting being harsher than I wish so this video was exactly what I needed, thank you!!

[@alexaverycouk]

Another great video. I've gone for 2 x 5500K YN-300 with umbrellas for key and fill with a bare yn210 for rim. Perfect for my small set-up and faff free. Power + diffusion = visual goodness!

[@IsaiasWannabe]

I've started creating KZbin videos last year and now I need to make some improvements on lighting. I've learnt so much from your content. Specially about light, shadows, diffusers, how to remove shadows from my face and a way to can wear glasses! You explain it really good. Thank you very much!

[@hamzaqazzouf4799]

GOSH, where were you when I needed you? I was searching for a video like this a long time ago. thanks, this was one of the very informative videos I have ever seen. and thanks again for sharing.

[@SkillCult]

Very useful. Exactly what I needed and just enough info. You have a great channel. Thanks.

[@JackSquare]

I learn so much from your videos! My lighting setup is extremely basic, but now I've got some ideas on how to improve things until I can upgrade! Thanks a bunch!

[@Juliano_DJOL]

Good video, very little clutter and rambling, straight to the point, I like it!

[@psycold]

Thanks for the helpful videos, I went to film school and only cared about editing and sound design, I had a job for 9 years after that which involved me being a one-man-band video producer for a tech company, so I was never able to produce high quality content doing everything by myself with a limited budget. They recently let me go and now I'm trying to do things on my own, I feel like I'm having to start from scratch and your videos are easy to follow and extremely helpful for someone in my position. I have my first gig coming up in a couple of weeks and I'm doing all the pre-production for it, really excited but also very nervous. Every video of yours that I watch makes me feel like I'm one step closer to having the knowledge I need to be a successful freelancer.

[@gbalulis]

This video is incredibly helpful. Well delivered, too! Great on-camera persona. Thanks!

[@howardjones2159]

Best and easiest explanation that I've seen. Thank you!

[@reelsportrd]

Love this kind of content, Kaleb. This is why I tell people that the internet is such a great place to learn, thanks to people like you. Thanks for sharing this kind of knowledge!

[@Lauryyno]

Great content. Would love to see more tuts related to MOOD lighting and lighting overall. Really good work!

[@tedmichaels]

I love how you approach these topics. Giving tiered budget suggestions and demonstrating concepts in real time is super helpful. Thanks a million!

[@luckys2337]

Best video on softlight and diffusers in the whole ocean of KZbin. Love from India ❤️

[@glenjones4009]

Caleb's youtube channel is fantastic, I wish I discovered him earlier, so many topics for beginners like me to learn and so well explained. I teach for a living and Caleb's ability to impart and share is knowledge is just brilliant.

[@improving-audio]

One of the best videos about diffusion I've seen - many thanks!

[@Rapidall]

I just now realized what the umbrellas are for during school photos. Mind blown! Also great video!

[@elisebaughman]

This was an amazing video! I’ve just started a new channel called Anime Adventures where I’m a one-man operation...yet I’ve never done work behind the camera. A DP friend of mine recommend your videos and I’m learning so much. Thank you! My lighting has already gotten better after watching just two of your videos. Can’t wait to watch more!

[@marinavieir4]

most underrated channel on youtube

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Aw thank you Marina!

[@Skandalista_fotograf]

Also Dustin Abbott lens reviewer. Similar quality to this Chanel and some niche audience it’s so sad internet it’s flooded with so much garbage that you have to pay money to promote your content even if that content is awesome ! At list we can comments & like. I used to joke I would buy blindfolded from Caleb here. This guy just seems to be sooooo trustworthy!

[@tolatechnology2746]

I have been using a camera and recording video for about three years and I did understand soft light and today It just blow my mind. Thank you so much for making this.

[@govindkona3464]

Needed what I was looking at... How can someone dislike such kind of video... Thanks for the quality info

[@chuckmoffett3773]

Excellent video, loaded with useful info.

[@mgr001]

I appreciate the helpful explanations. Well presented video, too.

[@Ry311GP]

Another helpful video as always. Thanks Caleb!

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Thanks Ry!!!

[@diane-s3391]

You explain it really well with examples we can follow. Thank you!

[@kimbarsegyan]

Easily the most informative video I could find as a noob to this topic, thank you so much!

[@bigpetetoyshots]

Love your details about the differences in different diffuses.

[@Sronpop]

Great video as always. I work a lot in lighting on filmsets so this knowledge is all legit. Biggest difference I've noticed between lesser skilled Indies and the pros in regards to lighting is that the pros will always use large diffusion frames and many other tricks like book lights to get beautiful soft light. Lots of people just try stick some diffusion on the barndoors of lights and wonder why it doesn't look good, simply using a diffusion frame or even hanging a shower curtain off a c stand/the ceiling would do a much better job!

[@donmowatt]

Thank you for your endless pit of knowledge.

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Thank you kOS! Means a lot!

[@donmowatt]

DSLR Video Shooter nono...you are teaching me so much about a craft I never went to school for.. if not for you and people alike...I definitely wouldn't be able to keep progressing and be able to express myself creatively and technically in the best way I can. cheers dude. just keep going!

[@saleemmumo8210]

You've explained so well that I have subscribed

[@metcalfemedia7512]

Finally, someone addresses that when light is closer, it's softer. Very confusing to people, but so true.

[@cbuanimax]

Yeah i kind of raised my eyebrow on that note. This would be an addition to my knowledge and hopefully it would work, more closer the softer the light.

[@JudiChristopher]

You absolutely amaze me.... Even though I knew everything you just said... ... You said it better... and made it easier to remember.... "Thank YOU" for sharing yet another great tutorial/video

[@PeterLevitov]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your work. Thank you. You have helped me SO much up my game and reach my ideal for my set, and your energy is so calming and clear. I am super grateful for your all your work, dedication, and discipline.

[@inglespodcast7285]

Incredibly useful information. Thank you so much for making this video.

[@TheJASDrummer]

This is such a beautiful and informative presentation of this subject. Than you so much!!!

[@TropiKen]

Nice job!! Thank you for your time and effort in making these videos!

[@KSGArchives]

Your channel is always a pleasure...I learn something every time I click on a video...thanks.

[@unlimitedlearningchannel]

Amazing explanation and solutions, thank you so much for sharing. ❤❤❤

[@MichelleExpert]

Such a useful video. Thank you so much for this 👊🏽. So relevant and helpful to KZbinrs.

[@NicksFort]

This is amazing! Picked up some nice new tips from this!!!

[@AdamSalaah]

That was awesome! I've been searching for some of those answers for a while but didn't quite know how to word it for google to find. Thanks! P.S I love your vids on the G85 and is one of hte major reasons why I purchased it!

[@JuanMTech]

Awesome video. Thank you.

[@TechLineHD]

Again, awesome and detailed video!

[@CharlieAI87]

I clicked on this video - knowing nothing about diffusion - and every single one of my questions were answer. Great info - thank you so much man🙏👍👏

[@mielblanqueaesquivo8119]

I've found myself watching quite a few of your videos, and I don't even own a camera. I like to think this is a sign of a good videographer. 👍

[@jokerandcharlie]

well done Caleb, you explained this interesting subject really great !

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Thanks Joker!

[@avidcontententhusiast]

Great channel mate - would love to see your different methods of rigging diffusion!

[@tarcisio_menezes]

Awesome video! Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. 👍👍👍

[@Sidhvil]

Great video...the way you explained the content...is really really good

[@VapingBiker]

Great video as always fella!

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Thank you Vaping Biker!

[@Floppin]

Thank you for the great tutorial, Caleb! You deserve a lot more subs! You make amazing content, keep it up!

[@janlasalle8845]

Thanks for all the great tips. I love my huge parabolic umbrella ..great light...I would like to check out the big paper Chinese ball now that I am back in a smaller space. There is always more to learn from other photographers. Stay well and safe.. Jan NYC

[@psworkshopdiy6222]

Great, clear, easy to understand video, thank you!

[@TherealEthanHill]

Really good! Thanks Caleb!

[@TheMaitreya777]

This guy knows his stuff:). Great video.

[@Vandan9166]

Great video with everything you could possibly learn about soft diffused lighting. thanks

[@mrxram]

Great video as always Caleb. However I was wondering about point 4: you say the distance of the light to your subject changes the softness of the light. This might be practically true, but I think theoretically it's not so much the distance between the subject and the light that makes the difference, it's the size of the lightsource. Bigger lightsource giving softer shadows, therefore, moving it closer to the subject, it becomes relatively bigger. Correct me if I'm wrong, but just thought I'd share my thoughts. Thanks again for this great vid, learned a lot!

[@ryclarkmediaarts8845]

Yes another great video!!!

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Why thank you kind sir!

[@NewMoon57]

Very True as well. I missed that one.

[@nickqueenofmeme4387]

Wow! Great video!!

[@PoleCulture]

Informative, thanks.

[@davidlevene5727]

thanks , trying to promote my music on you tune and your tips are essential

[@chitototoy176]

Beginner here! thankyou 100%

[@SergiMedina]

Very good and helpful video, as always. Thank you.

[@irfanchooify]

thanks for sharing, highly recommended for anyone who start videography....

[@WilliamGuth]

You're a diffusion material hoarder. Fantastic video and lesson as always.

[@dslrvideoshooter]

I am! Thanks William!

[@Creativerahul]

Thanks for your tips sir it's really helpful

[@Dr.MariaStevens]

Great info! Thank you!

[@DrNighatNasim]

definitely It would help me out in my home studio light

[@ZeekStreet]

Your audio was made by the gods

[@jennygw1883]

Nice video, thank you. I'm about to buy a set of LED panels and what is worrying me most is how much light I will actually need.

[@suite6creative]

Your videos rock !!! always informative and broad in objective .... VERY DOPE !!!

[@jaetok]

The way of explaining is on the verge of sign language. Love the speed of explanation.

[@joannaroj1922]

amazing lesson

[@BlackBearForge]

I am making videos in a blacksmith shop. The shop environment is pretty hard on anything delicate, like fabric defusers. Do you have an recommendations for something more durable?

[@lucanianman]

Thank you! Very informative and helpful.

[@NewMoon57]

One item that you didn't mention is the silver reflective material inside a soft box. I will add a few extra qualities to the shoot. More light coming out of the box because the interior of the box is not absorbing the light. And the softer quality of the light as there is wider source for the light before it hit the translucent diffuser. Good informative show. Thanks for the good work.

[@dslrvideoshooter]

Very true John! Also should have pointed out the benefits of the softbox flagging spill as well.

[@karimbiri]

thanks ! great channel ... subscribed

[@NatesEscape]

You're such a legend!

[@skooterbob]

Great video!

[@corneliaellis2663]

Thanks, very helpful

[@sriharsha5036]

I love this channel. Thanks! : )

[@FritzRamos]

Thanks for sharing

[@sumsumab1809]

Thx a lot, this was really helpful

[@JohnSmith-nk9fd]

Great! Thanks for sharing!

[@jeancrissien473]

Great video man, new subscriber here! Would be great to see tips on shooting in small spaces. I'm one of those people who shoots in my office---plenty of challenges. Thanks again!

[@DanielSRosehill]

Great info sir many thanks

[@glamazini]

Thank you, this is great!

[@fandangofandango2022]

Hey Great Information

[@EricLefebvrePhotography]

Great video as usual. On the DIY side of things I keep a roll of parchment cooking paper and some cheap frosted dollar store shower curtains in my light kit. these things work well. the parchment paper is heat resistant and cheap and the shower curtain is STUPID cheap (1.50$ if I remember) and huge. One thing I like to do with the shower curtain is bounce the light on a white wall and then through the shower curtain. You lose a lot of power but ... so soft! I also use my shoot through or bounce umbrellas.

[@dslrvideoshooter]

All good points! Been meaning to pickup a giant roll of the parchment for my b-roll table.

[@nottingham_ChrisAllison]

Super vid.. thanks