Flash photography tip: Place something between your flash and the background
Friday 18 July 2025, 14:28 by Elja Trum | 2,614 views | 0 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
An even background can start to feel a little boring after a while. A fun and relatively simple way to solve this is to place something between your flash and your background. You then shoot through it, so to speak.
Of course, you shouldn't use a solid object, but something that allows light to pass through so that a pattern becomes visible in the shadow. For example, a plant, but you can also cut a specific pattern out of black card and place it in front of your flash to create a specific shape of your own.
The thing you place in front of your flash is often called a gobo by photographers, and in theatre and film. It is probably a mangled abbreviation of 'go between'. You can also buy ready-made gobos, often made of plastic.
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.
You might also like
-
Flash photography tip: Completely white backgroundby Elja Trum
-
Flash photography tip: A gradient in your backgroundby Elja Trum
-
Flash photography tip: Light the backgroundby Elja Trum
-
Flash photography tip: Make the background darkerby Elja Trum
0 comments
Be the first to share what you think!
Have your say
Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.
Become a better photographer every week
A practical photography tip in your inbox every week.
39,177 photography enthusiasts already receive the tips! More about the weekly mail. Or keep up to date via 
Facebook.
Elja Trum
Photofacts; everything to do with photography!
Would you like to take better photos and keep up with what is happening in photography? Photofacts publishes articles that teach you something about photography — from a product announcement to a practical shooting tip or a look at a website. Photofacts covers photography every day and is a hobby project of Elja Trum's that got out of hand. The articles are written by a team of volunteer authors. If you would enjoy writing one or more articles for Photofacts, do get in touch.More about PhotofactsPhotofacts is made possible in part by
