Camera flash Throw some new shapes

Get hands-on with light modifying with a home-made gobo prop

You can make your off-camera flash stand out with a home-made ‘gobo’ – which

stands for ‘go-between object’. It’s a light modifier that goes between the light and your subject. It can block the light, diffuse it, or colour it.

In this case we’re going to cut long rectangles in a cardboard sheet, then place it in front of the flashgun to give the illusion that the flash is behind a set of blinds in a film noir-inspired portrait. It mimics the blinds on a window, as if the subject is inside with the car headlights shining in from outside.

Step 1

To make the gobo, you’ll need a large sheet of card. Measure out and mark long rectangles about 2.5cm high by 60cm long, and space them about 2.5cm apart. Then take a scalpel or some scissors and cut the rectangles out. Use a steel ruler to keep the cuts straight.

Step 2

Affix your wireless trigger (for example, Neewer’s four-channel hotshoe triggers) to the flashgun and mount it on a light stand. Then place the flash camera-left, about two metres away from where you’ll position your model. Set the flashgun to 1/16 power, then put the wireless receiver on your camera’s hotshoe.

Step 3

Take your gobo and strap it to a light stand, or anything that stands upright to hold it in front of the flashgun. Take your flash with wireless trigger attached, and mount that on a light stand, then move the light about 0.5m from your gobo, pointing through the gobo and towards your model.

Step 4

Take the time to move the gobo around in front of the flash. As you turn it, you’ll notice different patterns emerge across your model’s face, with some shadows longer and less distinct from the rest. Experiment by making gobos with other materials and in a variety of shapes.