| What is a gobo? It's anything that controls or | | | | blank and monotonous area (a stairwell, perhaps) and |
| changes the beam of light as it is on the way out of | | | | add interest to an otherwise dull area. It is also useful |
| your light source. The word comes from "goes | | | | for adding light without having it look like a spotlight |
| between" or "goes before optics". Gobos are typically | | | | was placed on an object. |
| used in theatre or stage lighting to create an effect. | | | | When used with an ellipsoidal light, a creative |
| They control light by blocking it in some areas, by | | | | photographer can not only use the internal barn |
| allowing the addition of color, or by diffusing it. They | | | | doors to flag the light beam, but also use the gobo |
| are used often with ellipsoidal spotlights that have a | | | | to spread out a broken pattern with either a very |
| moveable lens for sharp or soft focusing. | | | | soft edge or by adjusting the focus of the beam, |
| Gobos are made from either thin metal or glass, | | | | create a very hard edge. This gives the option of |
| commercially. Glass gobos can be colored or textured | | | | simulating either soft, early morning light or mimicking |
| to create effects. Low budget theatre lighting has | | | | the feeling of bright sunlight at noon. Add a dimmer |
| seen the use of everything from pie tins to soda | | | | switch to the equation and you can easily expand |
| cans with a pattern cut out. Essentially anything that | | | | your possibilities. |
| won't burn or melt in close proximity to a very hot | | | | Given the complexity and variety available from gobo |
| light source has been used at one time or another to | | | | manufacturers, you are limited only by your |
| create a gobo. | | | | imagination...and budget. While the metal gobos |
| For the architectural or interior photographer, as well | | | | themselves are relatively inexpensive, the lights and |
| as some studio portrait photographers, these | | | | accessories are not. But having these tools at your |
| creative lighting tools can come in very handy. Metal | | | | disposal on a location shoot gives you options not |
| gobos come in a huge variety of patterns, including | | | | possible any other way. Product photography goes |
| windows, blinds, doors, trees and leaves, and | | | | from “same old thing” to something with |
| abstract shapes. Imagine the possibilities for interior | | | | depth and dimension. Your local theatre lighting supply |
| photography! You can throw a light pattern across a | | | | company or Barbizon Lighting are good places to |
| room, giving the visual impression that there is a | | | | start. Ask for a catalog of gobos, sit back and let |
| window somewhere just out of view in the image, | | | | your imagination run wild. Just make certain you have |
| when in fact there was none. Or you can use the | | | | sturdy stands and sandbags. Even the smaller |
| technique with an abstract pattern to break up a | | | | ellipsoidal lights are heavy and need good support. |