How to use the Profoto Fresnel Small with Barndoors to master light control
Written by: Profoto
The Profoto Fresnel Small combined with Barndoors is a powerful tool for photographers who want precision and cinematic lighting control. By harnessing the focused light of the Fresnel Small with the directional shaping of the Barndoors, you can create dramatic shadows, emphasize textures, and sculpt light exactly where you need it.
Portrait and commercial photographer, Chris Knight, known for his dramatic and cinematic portraits demonstrates how this combination allows him to shape light with precision and make the most out of this dynamic duo in three easy steps.
Step 1 - A baseline line with hard light
If unmodified hard light is what you prefer, use with your Profoto light source (like the Pro-D3 or Pro-11) without any modifiers. This gives you the raw, hard-edged shadows and high contrast associated with hard light. While this can be harsh on a subject, it has it’s own stylistic qualities that some people prefer.
Step 2 - Soften the edges
To control the light’s spread and tweak the lights quality, attach the Fresnel Small to your light source. This will restrict the light shape while maintaining a crisp, directional beam. Although this is still a hard light source, the it becomes a little larger and therefore a little softer. The built-in iris on the Fresnel Small allows you to adjust the spread of light even further, ensuring you maintain a sharp edge but with more control over how the light is distributed.
Step 3 - Position the light and shape it with Barndoors
For ultimate precision, mount the Barndoors onto the Fresnel Small. You now have the ability to control the direction and quality of light from all angles. Rotate the Barndoors 360˚degrees for maximum flexibility to position your light.
- Cut the light: create dramatic shadows by blocking unwanted spill and controlling where the light falls.
- Create narrow slits of light: Focus on a specific part of the subject or scene for heightened drama.
- Focus the light exactly where it’s needed: Shape and sculpt the light for more control over your image’s mood and depth.
Tip
To control the sharpness and spread of the shadows, experiment with the distance and angle of the light source from the subject or background to drastically alter the effect.
About the photographer
To see more of Chris Knight’s images and lighting setups, visit Share the Light profile.