How to Make Magic with the MagBeam

There are just a few things I dislike in this life. Mint chocolate chip ice cream and infomercials to name a few. However, one thing I STRONGLY dislike is having to spend time in Photoshop unless I absolutely have to. What does this have to do with MagMod you ask? Well, I’m here to tell you how one of MagMod’s most versatile light shaping tools keeps me out of photoshop. All hail the MagBeam!*


I was one of the first to put in an order on the MagBeam when it was first announced. I saw the potential of “amplifying” your light and loved the creative idea of using MagMasks to throw patterns of light everywhere. However, I didn’t expect to use it all that much except for some creative shots here and there. Then I discovered just how awesome the MagBeam was to use when it’s fully extended with the Tele Lens.

Some of the portraiture we are known for here in Eastern NC are wide, scenic wedding portraits. There is a LOT of water around here, and just about all of the wedding venues are on the water or beach. We spend a lot of time on docks and in the sand! Let’s talk about those docks for a second: They aren’t always convenient. To take a step back and get some of the scenic shots of the couples there in relation to the best background, we have to get creative with where we place our light AND where we can go to capture the best angle.

AD200 + MagBeam Fully extended from roughly 30 yards away

The MagBeam’s fresnel lens is very useful for me. It turns my favorite light, The Godox AD200/Flashpoint Evolv 200, into a very “powerful” spotlight strobe. The fresnel lens effectively increases my light 2 to 3 stops into a narrow beam of awesomeness! This extra controlled light allows me to place my flash well outside of the frame, so I don’t ever have to photoshop my light stand, or my lovely wife Beth, out of the frame again! No offense babe...


Now some of you might be asking, isn’t the light supposed to be close and have a larger modifier for “softer” light? Well technically speaking, sure! However, I will let you be the judge of the light quality shown in these images on how well it works for these images.


2 AD200’s with MagBeams fully extended.

The MagBeam even has a slit for MagMasks and I use this to place my gels in when I need to use them! Another awesome way I use the MagBeam is to collapse it down and use the wide lens, MagMasks, and gels to make awesome backdrops for detail shots!

 

Speaking of MagMasks, you can even use these tiny, amazing patterns to create epic double exposures! We start with taking a mask pattern and using our macro lens or 50mm to capture the MagMask against the sky. Then we lower the MagMask out of the shot and frame our couple in one of the openings for a truly unique and creative double exposure.


 

That’s pretty much it! See how epic and versatile you can be with the MagBeam kits? I hope to see some of you using it more and more to BEAM YOUR LIGHT!


Chad & Beth Winstead, MagMod Ambassadors
www.ChadWinstead.com 

1 MagBeam + AD200 around 70 yards away

1 AD200 half extended just outside frame to overpower the sun and very bright highlights

1 AD200 + MagBeam just outside of frame fully extended to overpower the sun.

*MagBeam sold as a kit, as well as individual components. The MagBeam KIT contains 1 MagBeam, 1 Wide Lens, 1 Tele Lens, and 1 Standard MagMask set. Additional patterns of MagMasks and MagGels are sold separately. A MagGrip is required to use the MagBeam, MagGels, or most other MagMod Modifiers. 

Check out our helpful video on how to use the MagBeam HERE

For more on how Chad and Beth use the MagBeam and other MagMod gear to make awesome images, check out their How I Shot It video below!

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