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Izabelle [Reflector tryout] *Heavy Post*
Howdy friends!
Bought myself a Interfit 5 in 1 reflector kit, transparent, white, silver, gold and black, 107 cm a few days ago. Took it out for a little casual tryout yesterday snapping a few pictures of Izabelle. Although not working with it very much yet, I know this was one of the better photo gear purchase I've done in a long time. Wow! When I bought my speedlite, I felt that I had crossed an "before/after"-point in my photography, it really took it to another level - and this is how I felt when trying out the reflector. The effect is awesome! I instantly knew that I prefer working with reflectors compare to flashes. It's more predictable, W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G. if you expose correctly, of course! ;o)
Now, remember - when I snapped these pics, I had my two sons with me running around, I held the camera in my right hand, the reflector in the other and it was blowing rather much, so I couldn't give it a fair try. It was flipping-flapping in my hand like crazy! Good that no one, except Iza, saw me (that's what I like to believe anyway!) *Hahaha* I must have looked funny!
I gave white and silver a go too, but I guess I'm already addicted to the lovely warmth of the gold reflector.
Regards / Matty
Just for comparison - this is shot without reflector:
Bought myself a Interfit 5 in 1 reflector kit, transparent, white, silver, gold and black, 107 cm a few days ago. Took it out for a little casual tryout yesterday snapping a few pictures of Izabelle. Although not working with it very much yet, I know this was one of the better photo gear purchase I've done in a long time. Wow! When I bought my speedlite, I felt that I had crossed an "before/after"-point in my photography, it really took it to another level - and this is how I felt when trying out the reflector. The effect is awesome! I instantly knew that I prefer working with reflectors compare to flashes. It's more predictable, W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G. if you expose correctly, of course! ;o)
Now, remember - when I snapped these pics, I had my two sons with me running around, I held the camera in my right hand, the reflector in the other and it was blowing rather much, so I couldn't give it a fair try. It was flipping-flapping in my hand like crazy! Good that no one, except Iza, saw me (that's what I like to believe anyway!) *Hahaha* I must have looked funny!
I gave white and silver a go too, but I guess I'm already addicted to the lovely warmth of the gold reflector.
Regards / Matty
Just for comparison - this is shot without reflector:
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Comments
I love #1,2,4,5 really good work
The reflector makes a big difference
Thanks Matty
Fred
http://www.facebook.com/Riverbendphotos
I enjoyed it a lot.
Now, do you have a picture for the reflector (or even better, you shooting with reflector?)? I mean, come on, and the "da brozers" series you sure as hell can take picture of yourself taking picture of Iza while your other clon holding the reflector...
Yes, reflectors are great, I think my next purchase will be a larger, rectangular one, for full-body pics. Guess it's time to begin looking around for a photo assistants to hold my reflectors, that work for free!
Matty
Haha! Hmm.. nope! Don't have any pics of me using the reflector! Hmm... perhaps that could be a fun shot - amusing and educational?
But here is a pic of the kit. Not the same brand, but exactly the same kit. I paid 107,72 USD (800 kr) for the kit. Rather expensive for some peace of fabrics, but in the end I think it's worth it. I bought it in store, if you order the kit on the net, you can get it much cheaper.
Matty
This is what the kit look like:
http://www.scandinavianphoto.se/popups/hires.aspx?itemid=1558524
In fact, you need to take a picture of yourself shooting yourself while two of you holding a couple of reflectors and another one checks the light with a lightmeter. And of course, you can go all matrix-2 and just have a few dozens of you in the background observing the whole thing..:D
Thanks, man!
BTW for assistants....well use your....sons......:D
I do like your pictures and the use of the reflectors gives a very useful W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G. mode.
Excuse me but there is one thing I don't like that much. And that is how strong the reflector(s) are present in the pictures...
She is "blinded" by the power of the reflector in this one
On the 3.ed picture we can see that the spot is centered. I think that can be improved.
Too strong in the center and too dark in the corners ...
My proposal is: use the reflectors in a soft way. Equally in all the picture...
Don't get mad at me because I said this about your beautifull pictures.
Have a nice sunday .
Great, then I'm not the only one around that just love the "gold effect".
Haha! Well, Liam is 2,5 year and Elliot is 14 months, I think it could turn out rathre chaotic!
Matty
It was just a quick tryout - I had my children with me (Liam 2,5 year, Elliot 14 months) and the terrain was quite hazardous so I had to keep track of them, hold the reflector and shoot at the same time. That way, I couldn't use the reflector in another way than rather close and from below. If I had had a stand and a holder, or a assistant then I would have backed off with the reflector to make the light less intense and a little softer, and used it from a higher angle.
Matty
Obrigado by the anwser.
One of these days Gary gave me the ideia of photographing the existing churches of Setubal, where I was born and I have been living.
I have talked to a priest of a church and he agrees that I shoot (pictures) on the church.
The church is rather larger than this one
and it has much less light.
At least it is what seemed to me the day I was there.
Your reflectors gave me the ideia: use reflectors inside the church.
The priest is colaborative. I'll have not only the natural light available but also the lights and candals. A luxury.
I saw - shame on me because I had never been to this church and I lived nearby + or - 20 years - that there is a lot of wood carving from the XXII or XXIII Century but they are rather "hidden" ...
The priest also said that he will produce sensorship on some photos because he is afraid of robbery.
In Portugal there have been mahy robberies on antiques from churches ...
Saúde.
About your church project: you actually do "not" want any reflectors or lights (candles may be fine since they add to la mystique:-).
What you need is a good tripod, wide lens and a remote trigger with bulb capabilities (you can get one on ebay for ~$15, look for ADIDT canon remote, 20D or 30D does not matter).
You'll be amazed what a long exposure and a decent digicam can do in what seems to be a light-less environment....:D
Of course, shooting RAW and making bracketed/multiple exposures to eliminate the noise is sincerely recommended..
Of course, you can go wild with hidden light sources, etc, but let me tell ya: I know a person who did this for a living (shooting large dark architectural wonders). He told me that their crew of four (all pros) used to spend *days* setting all those lights. I don't remember exact number of lights they had (20? 30? 50?), but it was well beyond my current budget and abilities to arrange on my own...
HTH
Now I know what it is as well as your ideia: it is not to shake the camera, right ?
Let me tell you that my ideia was not to spend much money on reflectors because I thought I could be using the sheets from the bed
I do have the tripod and I am intending to use it.
I have even asked the priest if he could burn some thing like insense or so.
The smoke would give me a mood with the available rays of light. If any.
I was also thinking to shoot with hight ISO (1600 ) because I'll have the ideia that 3200 ISO produces too much noise with the 20D.
I have the 16~35mm which is very good for this.
For the wood pieces I have the 24~70mm and the 70~200mm eventually... to be near ...
As usual Nikolai I have to say "obrigado" for your concern and attention.
Saúde
NO!!! Nada! Net! Non! Nein!
Forget ISO 1600.
You're shooting ISO 100. Period. Tripod and remote are your friends.
Smoke is a cool idea, especially if the light sources are small and you can get the light beams from the side. Remember the mantra: light accross
16-35 is probably good for this (I'd shoot with 10-22, but that's me:-).
You do want to step it down to f/10 or more, to get the details. You may also consider to shoot at hyperfocal distance.
In any case, bring all your gear with you, you never know...
In case you don't have a light meter, scout the location and take a lot of test shots, to make sure you would know your exposure.
Once you're done with the "overall" shots and switch to pews and woodwork, you may wanna bring an external light source. Since the subject would be fairly small, it would not require you to bring 10,000 light sources, one will do just fine, so you'll manage. Just remember the mantra!
Good luck!
Man !... I believe you but I think it is too little. But if you say so, I'll do it.
I ca'nt shoot without the priest beeing present.
I could but I won't because if he catch em I will not be able to go again.
So, forget it.
But I'll go and try my father's light meter Zeiss we used with the Rolleicord, under another environment just to test.
I'll remember the light and I'll get the ADIDT.
Obrigado. Muito obrigado.
We have highjacked the post !!! Havn't we ?
Hope Matty doesn't mind .... You don't do you Matty ?
With the long exposure ISO 100 is not as bad as you may thought of it.
Try it at night in the dark corner (back alley? marina? garage? living room?) - you'll be surprised!
Priest is OK, so are other ppl - with the long exposure they will disappear or create ghost illusion that would add to la mystique. You can even enhance the effect by putting an ND filter on...
Tripod, lightmeter, remote, MLU, wide angle, f/10 or higher - you'll be fine!
HTH
Beautiful model, reflector, creative surroundings - what else do we need?
Oh, forgot - good photographer :-)
Spasibo,
Yuri
Btw, maybe you can try a reflector holder like this one?
Flexfill Holder for Reflectors
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/sitem/sku=17725&is=REG
Cheers,
www.candidglimpses.com
www.candidglimpses.smugmug.com