subject: The Photography Reflector - An Underused Asset! [print this page] The Photography Reflector - An Underused Asset!
The photography reflector is a terribly helpful nearly key photography tool. Here are several tips on how one can use photography reflectors to provide your pictures a sophisticated practiced appearance. It's all in regards to the shadows!
FirstWhat's a reflector.
It could be ANY object utilized return illumination onto our model. It may be a mirror, a professionally made rip-stop nylon reflector, a piece of white paper or poster board, a colorless wall and also the side of a white truck!
Anything that can kick the light on our model is valuable.
Or, utilizing a black reflector, we are able to suppress light and build up the shadow side of our model!
Be aware of using colored reflective materials though, since they could mirror a color cast onto our model that could ruin the photograph.
Why employ a reflector?
To have a very polished and professional looking photo, we have to possess both highlights AND shadows. It is the shadows that define shape and make our model appear 3D.
To accomplish both a lit side as well as a shadowed side, our key light - may be an on camera flash, a studio strobe or just the sunmust be positioned towards the side of our subject. This would build a shadowed side - however the shadow will nearly always be too intense. We want to see details in the face within the shadows! Not only pure black.
Enter the "fill light". It is labeled as this because it "fills in" the shadow with illumination so we are able to make out detail.
Nevertheless, the majority of us do not have the finances to purchase an extra studio strobe (they can cost hundreds of dollars.) Therefore, we swap the studio strobe with a reflector!
For only a few bucks, a reflector is able to operate as another light source and "fill" in the shadows for us! Giving us that polished, three dimensional portrait we have been wanting - for next to no expense!
There are other lights that may be substituted by reflectors too! The hair light, the "kicker" the backdrop separation light and so on.
By prudent use of photography reflectors we could have a truly expert 5 light set-up for almost no cost! It is simple! Start using a photography reflector today and you may instantaneously see an improvement to your portraits!
