The folks at Lastolite are pretty cool, especially their chief designer, Gary Astill. Cool, in the sense they are receptive to ideas, which is a somewhat tough quality to find in a manufacturer in the photo industry. Listen to a photographer??!! Whaddaya crazy? They’re all a buncha wackjobs!
Point taken. We do dream up some hairbrained schemes now and then, passionate, reckless creatures that we are. But, when you work in the field for a long time, experience all sorts of adversity, attempt to use malfunctioning gizmos that were supposed to work and make life easier, and try reading bad manuals for DOA technology that does not live up to billing, well, you acquire a certain wry, rudimentary sense of what’s a good idea and what’s not. We conduct our lives with Murphy lurking in the camera bag, just ready to leap out, like a wrestler launched from the ring ropes, an airborne freight train of disappointment, body slamming our photographic ambitions for the day into the canvas of despair. This ever present possibility, out their on location with us at all times, makes us seek simple things that work.
Like a white interior for a soft box. The EzyBox Hot shoe soft box with a white interior has been out for quite some time now, and proved to be popular. So we transferred that notion to the already popular Lastolite Speed Lite box. It now comes as a Joe McNally version :-), called the Ezybox Speedlite Plus, with a white interior and three drop in diffusers, so you can control light temperature and level of diffusion. Incremental changes, but significant in terms of the quality of light. Hit this link to take a look.
You can also punch in [email protected], he’s got a handle on them. And, quick update, Adorama just updated their webpages to include the new products…..here’s the direct link.
I used it recently in Cuba, the only light shaper I took with me, and made a quick demo snap with it of a lovely dancer.
I left it in Cuba, with wonderful shooter, Arien Chang. It will be perfect for his style of street shooting. It’s versatile, fits in your camera bag, and gives you a punchy, but soft light in a tiny package that weighs nothing. Below is another version with the gentleman in the set back into the leaves.
It’s a good, soft light, that, unfilled, has some drama, but can also be filled a bit with a bounce surface, like a tri-grip, and softened. It can be hand held, or put on a stand. There’s a video at this link as well.
More tk…..
I was actually a big fan of the Calumet mods but since their demise (RIP Calumet), I’ve been looking for a new go to brand. Totally diggin’ the Numbnuts line of Lastolite Shapers.
Joe –
What’s that cool little handle that’s attached to the speedlight?
Many thanks for pushing Gary and Lastolite to build the white interior EzyBox. I’m a recent convert to it and it’s really a fantastic light shaper. I had expected it to be a bit more power hungry than silver ones, but in practice I’ve found there is very little difference.
Thanks
Great photos Mr. McNally. I like how you balanced the light from the Ezybox with ambient light in the top photograph. Seems like — here lately — I am finding that I am able to do all the lighting I need with only one strobe. Love how you softened your light, with this softbox. Very classy!
Have a great day!
Brant
great work. Amazing lighting . I look forward to meeting you tomorrow at the Atlanta Photoshop Expo
Martin Boss.
happy you got to meet Chang. great guy, great shooter. I was lucky enough to get a print of a shot he did of a huge wave exploding over the Malecon with a guy standing there in the midst of it all just taking it all in
Nice composition,beautiful shoot.
check out the website….think this is the link, Paul…. http://www.lastolite.us/flashgun-accessories–extending-handles
Excellent tutorial as always, Joe. Thanks so much. This one is a no brainier.
Your dance portfolio is stunning, emotive and inspiring . . .
I was looking for a soft box brand. thanks for the Suggestion.
That’s pretty handy! Thanks for the great tip, I’m currently deciding for a brand and Lastolite looks like a good choice even if I’m only starting with lighting, it seems to be really intuitive.
Hi Joe,
I just bought and received the Ezybox, haven´t even used it yet. However, was watching a B&H tutorial this weekend and the photographer was saying that he does not normally use a softbox like this outside because the catch lights will be rectangular, in a window-like shape, unnatural if done outside. He favors umbrellas outside for the round catch lights. I bought the Ezybox intending to use it outside as it is so easy (Ezy) to handle. Have you ever found any cause of concern for this point on the catch lights? Thanks, and love your videos – my main source of “small flash education”.
None whatsoever. I actually prefer softbox catchlights to umbrellas catchlights. But, to each his own…..Joe
I did it. Ordered one of these beauties.
It is on back-order, so I’m thinking that demand has been justifiably great, and overloaded their stock.
I’m really looking forward to putting it into service.
Thank you.