Reflectors

[frogluver]

OK, maybe this is a dumb question, but how exactly do you use reflectors>? I am looking at 5-in-1 set that looks to have white, gold, and silver, but I am not exactly sure on how to use them! I'm thinking that you shine your light on them and bounce it toward your subject, i've done that before by bouncing my flash off from the white ceiling or wall. Maybe I'm totally wrong!

[ohenry]

You've got the idea! You're redirecting the light. Doesn't have to be flash, though...could be reflecting sunlight back to the subject to fill in shadows. Also, one of the 5in1 is transluscent, so it can be used to diffuse light and the black can be used to block light.

[lviperz]

You are correct. A reflector is just as the name implies. It reflects lights. And yes, use it to reflect light on to your subject. There are many uses for reflectors as well. You can use it as a fill light outside or in a studio. I'm sure many of the pros on here can offer even more uses.

[frogluver]

Thank You for the help, what does the gold reflector do, does it reflect a different color on the sublect?

[ohenry]

Originally Posted by frogluver

Thank You for the help, what does the gold reflector do, does it reflect a different color on the sublect?

yep...gives more of a golden hue to the subject. Some people like the warming effect it gives to skin tones. The silver is a bit harsher light.

[Benji]

A silver reflector is used outdoors to reflect low level light such as what you find under the canopy of a forest or under a porch roof. It will not add any color casts like gold will. I used a gold reflector exactly once. The skin tones were gold where the reflector bounced the light, everywhere else it was the color of the light source! Never again.

In the studio, silver is used to redirect light emitted from a softbox or umbrella.

White is used for more specular sources such as raw flash or direct sunlight. Using a silver reflector with sunshine will result in the subject squinting. A black "reflector" is actually a light absorber and can be used to take away light from one side of the subject such as in flat lighting situations. It must be held REAL close to the subject to be effective. I have been known to have it so close to the subject that it is actually in the image. I then take a second image without the absorber (or subject.) I then in Photoshop use that image to add into the one with the subject in the area where the absorber was. It can also be used to block unwanted or stray light from illuminating your subject or parts of the image. The "rule" about reflectors is it should be the same size or larger than what you are photographing. So if you are using it to add light to a full length subject the reflector should be around six feet tall and 3 feet wide or so. Better a little too much than not quite enough! A distinct advantage to reflectors is the WYSIWYG effect.

Benji

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Benji

A silver reflector is used outdoors to reflect low level light such as what you find under the canopy of a forest or under a porch roof. It will not add any color casts like gold will. I used a gold reflector exactly once. The skin tones were gold where the reflector bounced the light, everywhere else it was the color of the light source! Never again.

I've found that the silver/gold striped reflectors tend to lessen this effect. Straight gold is way too much for me but I'll use the silver/gold mix once in a while.