Shaping light: some nice examples
 

I found these pages useful for better understanding, how to shape light. Lots of nice clear examples.

Light Shaper Comparison
Famous Five
Eye school

Michael, thanks for posting these links.

The pictures are excellent and very descriptive. Bron makes very high quality studio and field flash equipment for still photos.

Some of their terminology is a little different than ours, and might be an obstacle to people who haven't had experience with the various bits and pieces that make up pro lighting, here is some translation as best I understand it:

Soloflex = Bron's models of softbox, sometimes known in video as a Chimera (a leading manufacturer here in the US).

Globo = looks to be some version of a china lantern, a paper sphere of 12 to 30" in which you put perhaps a 100-200w light bulb. Except Bron's is plastic.

Honeycomb = in video, usually only used to tame the scattered light of a softbox so it doesn't spill everywhere (e.g. onto the background). Makes a softbox more directional. Some plastic honeycombs are available for flourescent fixtures, for softboxes they are usually fabric grids for portability.

Ringflash = close to the look one would get with an on-camera light.

Solospot = looks to be Bron's model of ellipsoidal, aka. leko, ususually used as a theatrical or special effects light.