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Today on Lighting Cookbook, something different: A BTS/360 look at a single photo. Normally, we concentrate on the "how" part. But today we'll also be looking at the broader ecosystem— the why—and how a simple photo can serve as a catalyst to create value. Read more »

Strobist's 2019 X-Peditions workshops ( Havana in January and Hanoi in the fall) have both filled. Hanoi actually filled before any public announcement. So if you think you might be interested in a future workshop, please make sure to sign up for advance notice on the X-Peditions info page . If you would like to be placed on a wait list for either trip, you may do so at the individual workshop pages linked above.

As Halloween approaches, a timely story about a little prank available to any lighting photographer. All you need is a remote flash trigger, a clueless friend and the maturity level of a 12-year-old. Read more »

Normally, you might think of a grid spot for what it creates: a tight zone of light. But it also can be helpful to think of it in terms of the inverse: a grid also prohibits light from reaching everywhere else. And the "everywhere else" part—that relative blackness you can create with a gridded key—is what can help you to amp the color palette in even a small room with light-toned walls. Read more »

No matter how long you have been doing something, be it lighting or photography or, well, anything , you're never too old to be dumbstruck by a cool new idea. Take the linens drying on the line above, for example. In the right frame of mind they are essentially super-portable outdoor light sources. Read more »

Umbrellas are a great first light mod: cheap, easy to use, easy to transport. But softboxes can give you more control, both in the beam's edge and with reduced light leakage. The photo above was shot with a single speedlight and a small softbox. Today we'll look at how to choose a softbox that will marry well with your speedlight, and do so without spending a lot of money. Read more »