The starting point of most photographers lighting toolboxes is with the umbrella, offering versatility and convenience in one easily portable package. Three surfaces to choose from ensure there is a CL umbrella for every need. The White umbrellas for the smooth soft light, Silver for the higher contrast "punch", Translucent for the direct, diffuse light and the Softbox Umbrella providing a soft directional lighting effect. All CL umbrellas offer the same high-quality construction putting them light years ahead of the competition. The most direct of all the Creative Light umbrella options, the Translucent Umbrella is designed to shoot through. While most umbrellas point the light away from the subject to allow light to reflect back to the subject, the translucent umbrella works the opposite way. By positioning the back of the umbrella directly at the subject, the light source shines in the same direction, offering a layer of translucent material between the light and the subject. This direct approach expands on the directional, higher contrast feel of the Silver Umbrella and is ideal whenever you want to dramatize surface textures, or provide a more directional light. Of course, since the light is diffused, it is still soft and can be made softer by choosing a larger size translucent umbrella and sliding the shaft of the umbrella so the flash is further away from the fabric.