No matter how many lighting modifiers you own, there is almost no setup that will not require some sort of customization, which is why a good understanding of the fundamentals of how light behaves and how to shape it is so important. This great video tutorial will show you a useful exercise for creating dramatic light using just a shoot-through umbrella and some v-flats, and even if you own more specialized modifiers, it is excellent practice in the problem-solving skills needed for mastering lighting.

Coming to you from our good friend, Pye Jirsa, with Adorama TV, this awesome video tutorial will show you how to create dramatic light using a shoot-through umbrella and some v-flats. Shoot-through umbrellas are very affordable and can actually create great light, but the reason a lot of photographers eventually move on from them is that they tend to throw light everywhere, making it hard to control the spill and tweak the setup to your liking. If you are just getting started, though, they will likely be the first modifiers you will use, and learning how to creatively solve problems to achieve your desired result is probably the most valuable skill you can have when it comes to lighting. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Jirsa.