Ever just see a beautiful patch of sunlight and wish you could catch it, then redirect it to the exact spot you need for your photo? Well, you can actually do that, and it’s not nearly as expensive or difficult as it sounds.
Photography is all about light—but did you know there is a way to control the light in a scene without dropping a few grand on studio lighting? All you have to do is catch the available light and bounce it back to your subject.
Sound impossible?
Good news, it’s not. In fact, it’s actually quite easy, all you need is a reflector.
What is a reflector?
A reflector is anything the reflects light back into an image. Pictured below is a large white reflector.
Reflectors are exactly what they sound like—they reflect light. By using a reflector, you can expand the potential lighting options from just a single light source (even the sun) exponentially. The discovery of this technique certainly changed my photography forever – it was a real “ah-ha” moment. Reflectors won’t give you a strong light source, but the light will usually match the surroundings exactly, after all, it is the same light!
Reflectors come in many different shapes and sizes, from giant, yet collapsable disks sold at photography stores to something as simple as a white piece of cardboard or anything covered in tinfoil. The one characteristic that all reflectors have is that they are generally large and always bounce back some light.
How much light they bounce back, and what type, depends on the size and color of the reflector. Larger reflectors will bounce back more light. A white or silver colored reflector will bounce back the same quality of light that’s already in the scene; the silver one will bounce more light while the white one will reflect less. A gold colored reflector, on the other hand, will bounce back a warm, or more golden light.
Reflectors are something you can easily build yourself, but the ready-made options available through any photography supplier are often easier to transport and aren’t really all that expensive. Some of them are double sided while some offer a white balance reference on one side with a reflector on the other.
Where should you use a reflector?
Reflectors come in handy indoors to create elaborate-looking effects by simply bouncing a flash or natural light from a window
One of the great things about reflectors are that they are portable and don’t require a power source like lights. Reflectors are used both indoors and outdoors in a variety of different types of shots. You can consider a reflector as a secondary light source—you’ll always need a primary light source (even if it is the sun) with a reflector, and the reflected light won’t be as bright as the original source.
Outdoors, you can’t change the direction of the sunlight (obviously!) so reflectors can help get the light coming in from the right angle. If you are taking a portrait, for example, and the light is on one side of the subjects face, you can balance out that bright sunlight by reflecting light to the other side of the face, so it isn’t in full shadow.
Indoors, reflectors can be used as a second light source with studio set-ups, but they also come in handy when using a hot shoe flash. Direct light is often harsh and unflattering, so if you point your adjustable flash away from the subject then bounce it back, you’ll end up with a much more flattering light. The flash can be reflected off the wall or the ceiling, but in large rooms with high ceilings, a dedicated reflector comes in handy.
How do you use a reflector?
In this image, the sun is on the right, with the softer light on the left created by using a reflector.
Because reflected light isn’t as bright as the original light source, reflectors are often used as a fill light to eliminate dark shadows and support the lighting that is already there. If your current light source is creating odd shadows or one portion of the image is lit much more than the other, then it’s time to get out the reflector. The best way to learn how to use a reflector is by experimenting with it yourself and watching how changes to where the reflector is placed and how it is angled changes your final image, but there’s some basic concepts that are good to understand before you get started.
There’s a few different ways to set-up a reflector. The easiest is to use an assistant and instruct them on where the reflector should go and how you want them to hold it. But since not everyone has an extra person on hand when they’re shooting, there’s a few other options. You can use a lighting stand or tripod or clip it to another object. Sometimes, you can even hold the reflector while shooting, depending on where you want it placed and what perspective you want to shoot from. In some portrait set-ups, the subject has the reflector angled in her lap for a glamourous headshot. If you are shooting a portrait and the subject has shadows under their eyes, try just placing the reflector on the ground in front of them.
The larger any light source is, including a reflector, the softer the light will be. This can work in two ways—you can buy a large reflector (they tend to be harder to handle than smaller ones) or you can place the reflector closer to the subject. The closer the reflector is to the subject, the softer the light will appear. The closer you place the reflector to the subject, the stronger the light will be as well. So, depending on the available light and the look you are going for, you may want the reflector close or you may want it farther away.
Angle also matters. If you are using the reflector to eliminate shadows, angle the reflector up slightly to fill in those shadows. Backlighting can be remedied by simply holding a reflector pointed straight at the subject. Watch your subject as the angle changes to find the right spot for the look you are going for.
Most of the time, the reflector is just a fill light, while another source is the primary or key light. If you are shooting outdoors and the subject is standing in the shadow, you can place a reflector in the sun, making it your primary light source, since it’s stronger than the rest of the light in the image (see beach shot above).
While most of the time reflectors are used to reflect light, sometimes the back of the reflector (if it’s not double-sided) is used to block light. For example, I found a beautiful set of grungy looking stairs while out shooting senior portraits. But as I got set up, I saw that the lighting wasn’t even with the way the sun filtered through the steps and there wasn’t a good way to place him so the extra light wasn’t distracting. I had a friend take my reflector up the staircase to block out the distracting light and ended up with this shot:
There are hundreds of ways to use a reflector, and since they aren’t very expensive, reflectors are excellent accessories to have on hand. Again, find a volunteer, grab a camera and a reflector and go out and shoot. Experiment with different placements and angles, and you’ll soon be quite comfortable using a reflector.
What reflector should I buy?
You can make a DIY reflector by covering cardboard with tin foil or simply picking up a piece of white poster board, but these options often aren’t very portable. You can get a collapsable, multi-purpose reflector without spending a fortune.
Here’s a recap of the things to consider when choosing a reflector:
Size: The larger the reflector is, the softer the light will be. Keep in mind though, big reflectors are more difficult to handle.
Color: The color of a reflector determines the quality of light it will bounce back. Some reflectors are double-sided, some include covers to change the color and others only offer one color option.
White: Soft light that matches the rest of the lighting.
Silver: Brighter light that still matches the scene.
Gold: A light that is warmer than the rest of the scene.
Shape: If you shoot portraits, the shape of the reflector will be reflected in the subject’s eyes if you use it to create a catchlight. Round is usually best for creating a catchlight, but you’ll get different effects with different shapes.
Portability: While reflectors are pretty basic items, you’ll want to consider a few other factors as well. Does it collapse? Is it easy to set-up or do you have to reassemble it every time you want to use it? Does it have a handle?
Reflectors come in a few different types, each with their own benefits. Here’s the various types and a few recommendations for each kind.
Collapsible
These disks fold down for easier storage yet can be ready almost instantly, with no assembly required.
Impact Collapsible Circular Reflector Disk, Gold/Silver 42” – For less than $40 you can get a large reflector, with one side for silver light and another for gold. It collapses for storage, but doesn’t include a carrying handle.
Wescott 50” 5-in-one Reflector – For about $50, you can get a large reflector that has all of the color options—white, silver, gold and black (to block light), as well as a diffuser which will block out some of the light but not all of it. It folds down and includes a carrying case.
Boards
More ideal for studio photography, boards are often harder to set up. Most boards can get quite large, however, which can be a plus.
Savage Bright Silver Reflect-O-Board – Essentially, this is just a large piece of silver cardboard, but it’s less than $10 and will certainly do the trick.
Lowel Tota-Flector 8 x 12” – If you shoot macro or product photography, this reflector will work well. Since it is about the size of a piece of paper, it travels well, but isn’t ideal for larger subjects.
Butterfly/Panel
These reflectors are often much larger, and don’t set-up instantly. But since they are designed with a frame, they are easier to use with a tripod or stand when there’s no one available to hold a collapsable reflector. The higher price, however, limits them to professionals and the very serious photographers.
Sunbounce Micro Mini Sun-Bounce Kit Zebra/White – This Sunbounce kit is an aluminum frame that you attach different screens to reflect or even diffuse light. The frame makes it more feasible for using in windy conditions over the collapsable or board type.
Interfit Flat Panel Reflector With Bracket And Stand – With a large 35” x 70” reversible silver/gold reflector with a stand and carrying case included for under $100, this Interfit is a bargain. The stand enhances the options for placement (without using an assistant or volunteer), but it will take longer to set up than a collapsable disk.
Understanding and manipulating light is essential to good photography. The reflector is a basic yet inexpensive tool to adjust light, even natural light. How can you used reflected light in your next photo shoot?
The post Reflect On This! A Guide To Choosing (And Using) Reflectors in Photography appeared first on fotoclasses | Online Photography School.