Outdoor Diffusion: lowest light loss vs highest softening of shadows

[Gene Sung]

Hi Friends,

For outdoor, sunny day shots for female talent, I’m wondering what diffusion material has the least amount of light loss, yet the most amount of shadow softening / diffusion?

Probably does not exist, but would be great to get close to shadow softness of a full silk, but without the 1.6 stop light loss.

Also, would be great if it were some type of more durable, re-useable material vs. expendable gels. My DP friend mentioned Hi Lite which looks promising, does this sound like the right direction?

Thanks for any tips

 

[Chris McKechnie]

Here's a great resource for you: http://www.leefilters.com/lighting/diffusion-list.html

But yea, hilite is great. You may also want to check out quarter gridcloth.

 

[Björn Benckert]

I know a multi award winning director / DP that use nothing but the most low cost white fiberglas reinforced tarps, yes those that you can by for pennys at the gas station... Don't know the light loss. But result looks excellent.

 

[Ulf Krentz]

For textile I second quarter grid cloth, from the Lee filters check 410 or 216. And as Björn already pointed out, anything can work ;-) Cheers!

 

[Note Suwanchote]

I know a multi award winning director / DP that use nothing but the most low cost white fiberglas reinforced tarps, yes those that you can by for pennys at the gas station... Don't know the light loss. But result looks excellent.

Do you mean this?
https://www.google.com/search?q=whi...hrome..69i57.379j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[jordan levy]

you probably want half soft frost

check out these descriptions:

http://www.theragplace.com/diffusions.html

i use half soft frost for my lightest, and 1/4 grid for the next step up