Let’s just say that I own a couple:) of softboxes…actually way too many and some haven’t see a strobe in months. Earlier this year I purchased Bruce Dorn’s Asymmetrical Stripbank for my portrait work and I couldn’t be happier.
“My search for the ideal Soft Box is over at last… With the interior baffle in place, the Asymmetrical Stripbank behaves like a conventional Strip; remove the baffle and the magic really begins. The output is directional, somewhat like a medium softbox with a grid, but with a unique asymmetrical feather. From contemporary brides to classical executive portraits; this light modifier offers a fresh new way to explore creative lighting. Get one and create your own inimitable style…” - Bruce
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I just counted the “soft box” modifiers that I own and below is the list:
1-Elinchrom Octa Light Bank, aka “Portable Sun”
1-Bruce Dorn’s Asymmetrical Stripbank 18×42
1-Chimera Super Pro Plus Strip Softbox 21×84
1-Chimera Super Pro Plus Softbox 36×48
1-Chimera Pancake Lantern Softbox with Skirt - Medium
1-Photoflex LiteDome Q39 12×16
1-Photoflex MultiDome Q39 Sotbox 16×22
4-Photoflex HalfDome2 Strip lights
Each of the above are used regularly but this post is about Bruce’s Asymmetrical Stripbank (AS from here foreword).
To keep it simple, I decided to list the reasons for choosing this type of modifier over my other options (above).
1. The “feather” from top (of bank) to bottom is beautiful, smooth and genius! Before I’d have to pivot my existing stripbanks up or down to feather the light then scrim back the spill.
2. No spill = no scrims or flagging.
3. The AS produces nice, feathered light whether I’m firing a 580EX II or a Pro7 head through it.
4. The supplied baffles allow precise control of softness or hardness. Sometimes I like the light narrow and punchy so I remove all of the baffles.
5. Since purchasing the AS, I now use my 6ft Chimera stripbank as an overhead hairlight or background light.
Overall, the AS is simple to setup, build quality is excellent (it’s just as easy to breakdown) and I will definitely be adding a second AS for an upcoming beauty shot project.
Thanks for reading and please feel to comment or post a question. JVS
9 Comments
Great shot! Love the dramatic light you used.
I’m interested to hear your review, that softbox has always fascinated me. I’d love to know how the light is different from just tilting a regular strip box up a little, and feathering the light that way?
Hi Maurice! Thanks for the compliments:) I will be adding a full review later this week (note to self…find more time to post) and I’ll be sure to address your question in detail. Thanks!
Thanks for the write up and beautiful example, JVS! Looking forward to some more sweet examples with this stripbank.
Hi Ed, thanks for your comments! Next up, Eizo CG241W review. Thanks!
Thanks for introducing us to this softbox and for the review. This is now going towards the top of my “want list.”
If you wanted to shoot a group of three with this box tilted horizontally, how would you do it if the light sits to one side?
Hi Eric, First off, I would never choose the Asymmetrical Stripank as my modifier when shooting a group. While the light from the Stripbank is beautiful, soft and feathered, the spread wouldn’t be large enough to light a group of three. My choice for anything with 1+ people is my Octa Light Bank from Elinchrom (just over 6ft of octa).
I love the simplicity of this photo yet it keeps my attention to want to see more! NICE JOB!
I hope you read this, but I was wondering if you use any of these adapters with small strobes (i.e. NIKON SB800) and if so, what kind of adapters do you use (CHIMERA SPEED RINGS?) for using said light adapters with small flashes