Imagine taking a standard photography umbrella and instead of opening it fully, you collapse it inwards. This creates a unique light source with a soft, diffused quality, perfect for achieving a variety of lighting effects. It's a readily available and budget-friendly alternative to softboxes, offering photographers a way to experiment with creative lighting without breaking the bank. In this tutorial, Peter demonstrates the effectiveness of collapsed umbrella lighting. He compares the results to using a fully open umbrella, highlighting the unique characteristics and benefits of the collapsed technique.