Flash photography tip: Start with your first grid

Thursday 6 April 2023, 16:08 by Elja Trum | 3,574 views | 4 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Grids are a practical tool for gaining more control over your light. You can place a grid over your existing light modifier, or directly on your flash.

It is a grid that you can place in front of your light to direct it more specifically. Often with a honeycomb structure, or as small squares or diamonds.

Yana-Meau - f/4.5, 1/250s, 100 ISO @ 61mm
A grid gives the light more direction. The light falls forwards in a narrower beam and spreads less to the sides.

This allows you to direct your flashes properly at the places where you want your light, and keep it away from places where you do not want it. For example, on your model but not on the background.

You usually only start working with grids once you have progressed a little further, but if you are just starting with flash photography, it is a good idea to buy your first grid now. That way, you can start gaining experience with it. If you buy a softbox, for example, always choose one that includes a grid.

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About the author

Elja Trum is the founder of Photofacts and online photography course website Photofacts Academy. He has been writing about photography since 2006. Elja is also the author of (Dutch) books on composition, black-and-white photography, flash photography and portrait photography.

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4 comments

herman wrote on Thursday 27 July 2023 at 15:50 | reply
I have a flash with a dispenser on it, isn't this just as effective as a grid?
Translated from Dutch.

Elja Trum wrote on Thursday 27 July 2023 at 16:02 | reply
It's not entirely clear to me what you mean by a 'dispenser'.
Translated from Dutch.

herman wrote on Thursday 27 July 2023 at 16:10 | reply
sorry, meant a "diffuser"
Translated from Dutch.

Elja Trum wrote on Thursday 27 July 2023 at 16:16 | reply
A diffuser is a bit of a general term. You can also call a softbox a diffuser. You use it to make the light softer (and the larger the diffuser, the softer the light).

You add the grid to your diffuser to give the light more direction again. It then no longer goes in all directions. This gives you more control over where light does and does not fall.
Translated from Dutch.

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