This 6′ diffusion umbrella has saved me countless times! To use it, simply have someone hold it between the sun and your subject, and you’ve instantly cut down your light by 3/4 stop while diffusing the quality of light. You can rig it to a stand as well, but to move quickly between shots, or to use it for a walking model, just have someone hold it. It can also be used to bounce light and fill the shadows of your subject, so it often ends up being placed on the ground in front of a subject. On windy days, it can be tough to hold, so be careful with it.
I first saw one of these being used by Tom Maday when I was assisting him in Chicago years ago, and I was the one holding the umbrella. He told me to get one from Uncle Sam’s Umbrella Shop in New York. This place seems to be closed for good, but the shop is represented in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Cool! If you’re in Los Angeles and need one, they’re available at Castex Rentals. I can’t find them anywhere in New York, so it’s a good thing I own one!
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