Barndoors & Gobos

In older movies about Hollywood movies large stage lights surrounded with box-like flaps, or oversized black cards covering the light source usually stand behind the cameramen. Known as back doors & gobos photographers still use these tools today to diffuse and limit light intensity.

Barn doors (or barndoors) slide over a light source. A barn door resembles a top and bottomless box with two or four side flaps. Each flap moves independently from one another permitting the photographer to choose how much or how little light to allow in certain areas. This photography accessory type softens intense light. By moving one flap out and the adjacent flap in slightly a photographer will get a softened effect going in the light direction while the other side will stay somewhat sharp.

Barn doors normally cover strobe or monolights, but some are available for smaller lighting solutions. Some manufactures of barn doors include Lumiquest, Smith Victor, NRG, Bescor, and DeSisti. DeSisti sells four panel square shaped barn doors to fit over square broadlights.

Gobos, short for "go between", usually come as large black, or dark colored cards used for diffusing. A gobo placed in front of a light source blocks light from a subject. Also used for casting a shadow on part of a subject or over all setting. Photographers use gobos on any size light for different shadowing and diffusing effects.

Some photographers also refer to a gobo as a cookie, which is actually a metal or film plate with a shape cutout that goes over a light source. The shape is then transferred onto the subject or background. Sometimes words are cut from a steel plate and placed over a light to project a greeting, such as "Happy Birthday", onto a wall or screen. A good example of gobo use is to use a cut out of leaves on a branch to create the shadowed effect on a summertime portrait photo.

Photography lighting accessories can get expensive for the new photographer or hobbyist. With a little ingenuity do it yourselfers can make their own barn doors and gobos for photography. Metal materials are preferred due to the heat some lamps and strobe lights emit.

Online photography forums and magazines give tutorials and tips on how to use back doors and gobos in photo shoots and moviemaking. Search online for makers of back doors and gobos. With so many brands and styles available photographers are sure to find one to fit their needs.