Using a reflector

JulieLawsonPhotography

Now, this may not be the right spot for this question and example, so feel free to move where appropriate. I got some white foam board and left one side white, spray painted the other mettalic gold. My question is, how close do you hold it to the subject so they aren't blinded? Obviously in this example, sooc, I'm too close. She looks very upset by the glare, wouldn't you say? Anyone with tips?

Scott_Quier

I'm with you on this one. I've never had any real success with reflectors used to reflect ambient light. By the time the ambient is bright enough that the reflector is effective, the reflected light is too bright for the model.

This is one reason I use flash for fill a lot more than I do reflectors. Flash is nearly instantaneous and the model(s) don't have enough time to start the squinting.

I have, however, used reflectors with flash lighting to good effect.

JulieLawsonPhotography

Thanks Scott. I'm going to attempt it later as I love the catchlight that is does create. Maybe if I'm not so close with it?

jeffreaux2

FWIW....more often than not a gold reflector is too gold....silver on the other hand....

Also, Yes, they can be a nuisance for even not so sensitive eyes. Have her keep them close til the count of three when you snap the shutter. I have had "some" success with them, but only attempt it with an assistant. With someone helping it is easier to get things arranged so the light isn't directly in line of sight from subject to camera.

They can give excellent results. I have only used white. I rarely bring them along if I am alone...with no help. Best bet....if you really want to use one....look for a place where shade meets sunlight in a hard line on the ground. Get your subject in the shade, and bounce that hard sunlight back at them.

examples....

Here, my daughter held the foam core while I shot from 30 feet away or so with an 85mm lens.....a tosser of a photo, but illustrates the technique. You can see the reflector at camera left near the subject.


Here...at same location and technique, but facing the other direction.


Here I am not reflecting light, but rather using it to block some stray sunlight off of my subject.


The result


This used a reflector at left, and shoe mounted flash together.



Reflector low at camera left.



These used flash plus reflector.




At camera left...


Two reflectors just below the lens and to the right.

JulieLawsonPhotography

very great examples, Jeff! As with everything else I've done.......practice, practice, practice. !! Thank you for sharing.:D

jeffreaux2

JulieLawsonPhotography wrote:

very great examples, Jeff! As with everything else I've done.......practice, practice, practice. !! Thank you for sharing.:D

No problem. Just wanted you to see that ...yes...they can give GREAT results, and the catchlights are a definate plus, but they can be very troublesome with no help, and aren't an option for every situation. I almost always shoot in shade so I am usually relying on flash for fill unless I find that magic location where sun and shade meet.

pathfinder

Is it possible to flex the foam board to a slightly convex surface, and thus, diminish the sharpness of the sun's reflection, and hence, diminish its annoyance to the subject? The assistant holding the foamboard needs to think of it as a mirror, and take care how they hold the reflection on the subject, also.

I use an Impact reflector opposite a flash quite frequently, but it can also be used to reflect ambient as well.

JulieLawsonPhotography

pathfinder wrote:

Is it possible to flex the foam board to a slightly convex surface, and thus, diminish the sharpness of the sun's reflection, and hence, diminish its annoyance to the subject? The assistant holding the foamboard needs to think of it as a mirror, and take care how they hold the reflection on the subject, also.

I use an Impact reflector opposite a flash quite frequently, but it can also be used to reflect ambient as well.

Hmmm I'm not sure how much bend this particular foam board has, but I'll see. I'll have to wait and practice all of this until my daughter gets back from church camp. All of my models.......(um...daughter and nieces, ) are there right now.

rwells

Like Jeff stated,

A reflector used on location shoots needs an assistant to handle it for you, otherwise I just rely on flash.

Unless I'm shooting in a fairly dark area, I'll always ask the model/subject to close their eyes until I say "Open", then I immediately shoot the pic. Not only does this eliminate the squint, more appropriately, it keeps the pupil from constricting to a tiny "beady" looking eye. I'll even do this for flash shots for the same reason if the ambient is fairly high. This also helps the model/subject to relax their forehead. It's a good practice all around.

On a couple of these shots, the reflector was over 70' away from the subject. News flash... Light travels far!!! --- So, don't limit yourself on using a reflector because the sunlight is far from your subjects placement.

Remember: Just as when using any light source, feather the light on the subject. Never a direct blast!


Here are some shots I did a while back using only a silver reflector:











Hope that helps...

JulieLawsonPhotography

Thank you for your examples as well, Randy. Excellent photographs! I can see practicing in my future. I can't wait though. Great point on closing the eyes. For my oldest daughter, this trick will work very well.

Thanks again

Icebear

Before I gave up on foam core completely and bought a set of proper reflectors, I used to tape plain white paper over the white foam core. The paper gave a flat surface that wasn't as brilliantly reflective as the shiny plastic foam. I liked the results better.

pathfinder

That is a very worthwhile suggestion, Icebear. Matte versus shiny, specular reflectors. I can see why matte is preferable.

Myself, I have been wanting one of these badly Note that although it looks shiny, it does not reflect as a specular reflection, but a diffused beam of light. It can reflect sunlight or a speedlite. Just think, a north window anywhere you would like to have it!

There is even a dealer in Terre Haute - I will drop by a take a gander, I think.

Scott_Quier

pathfinder wrote:

That is a very worthwhile suggestion, Icebear. Matte versus shiny, specular reflectors. I can see why matte is preferable.

Myself, I have been wanting one of these badly Note that although it looks shiny, it does not reflect as a specular reflection, but a diffused beam of light. It can reflect sunlight or a speedlite. Just think, a north window anywhere you would like to have it!

There is even a dealer in Terre Haute - I will drop by a take a gander, I think.

And then drop by here again with your impressions and their pricing.:D This looks like a really cool solution to a not so minor issue.

pathfinder

Scott,

I picked up a Mini Sun Bouncer - 3 x 4 feet. Silver on one side, and matte white on the other. Light and strong. Image a 3x4 foot softbox you can carry with one hand.

The vendor did not have the arms for the flash mount quite yet - expected sometime yet this summer.

When it arrives, I will be back with a new thread about it.

Nikolai

If you have 5-in-1, simply use its white portion, as opposed to silver or gold. It's bright enough to fill the shadows, but doesn't hurt subject's eyes too much.
Other than that "close-open-eyes" technique shpuld work well enough.
And yes, in most cases you do need an assistant to operate it.