What reflector?

Doc W · Jul 28, 2014

I do mostly large format photography with available light but occasionally I find that nature needs a little boost. I have some favourite spots around the house for portraits but they tend to be a little too backlit. I need a reflector that can throw a little more light on my subject to balance things out a little. I don't have a lot of experience with lighting and never use flash so I am a little in the dark (pardon the pun). I have used a very small reflector in the past but I think I need something to bring out the entire subject. Any suggestions? Size? Material? My main requirement is that it be portable.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Jul 28, 2014

One of my favorite tricks is to simply mimic (and supplement) the available light by shooting strobes in through windows. A hard source will give you a crisp light as if the sun were low in the sky and lighting the room. You can also cover the window with a sheet and shoot the light through that for a soft light. If someone has white shutters or window coverings, I sometimes close those and then bounce a soft box off that surface for another soft, north light feel.

I would suggest getting a White Lightning or Alien Bees head and maybe adding a soft box later. You can do a hell of a lot with one strobe and a white sheet.

For reflectors, just find an inexpensive one with a silver surface. You can also use those reflectors made for car dashboards.

BrianShaw · Jul 28, 2014

I like the collapsable photo reflectors (you can see a wide variety at the B&H web site). 42 inch reversable white/silver meets my needs best for indoor work like you describe.

One can also use a piece of white foam core board and crinkle aluminum foil too. I did that for years and it works but isn't compact.

Hexavalent · Jul 28, 2014

Don,

I've got black powder and magnesium - let's make an old-fashioned flash-pan. Reflectors aren't nearly as much fun

Doc W · Jul 28, 2014

Hexavalent said:
Don,

I've got black powder and magnesium - let's make an old-fashioned flash-pan. Reflectors aren't nearly as much fun

I am in. Follow-up question: where do we get the flame-retardent suits?

Doc W · Jul 28, 2014

BrianShaw said:
I like the collapsable photo reflectors (you can see a wide variety at the B&H web site). 42 inch reversable white/silver meets my needs best for indoor work like you describe.

One can also use a piece of white foam core board and crinkle aluminum foil too. I did that for years and it works but isn't compact.

I was looking at those collapsible reflectors. I have a very small one and wondered if the large would be unwieldy, but I guess not. Thanks.

TheFlyingCamera · Jul 28, 2014

Cheapest, simplest is a piece of foamcore. Depending on your needs, you can keep it white, you can cover it with aluminum foil to make it brighter and silvery for more of a cool tone, or spray paint it gold for a warm reflection. Or if you want to get more high-end, get some of those collapsible reflector discs mentioned in a previous post. if you get the discs, they also sell an arm you can clip to a lightstand to help hold the reflector when you don't have an assistant to hold it.

Hexavalent · Jul 28, 2014

Doc W said:
I am in. Follow-up question: where do we get the flame-retardent suits?

Have you noticed that those flame-retardent suits are usually made of a shimmery, metallic looking material? They make good reflectors! The economics are looking sound.

snapguy · Jul 28, 2014

olde

I'm so durned old that I remember photographers who as young whippersnappers used flash powder in the days before those new-fangled flash bulbs. You could always look to see if they were telling the truth about using flash powder -- the real guys always had a part of a finger or two or three missing. If they used a tad too much flash powder, there would be an huge explosion....

Doc W · Jul 28, 2014

snapguy said:
I'm so durned old that I remember photographers who as young whippersnappers used flash powder in the days before those new-fangled flash bulbs. You could always look to see if they were telling the truth about using flash powder -- the real guys always had a part of a finger or two or three missing. If they used a tad too much flash powder, there would be an huge explosion....

This tickles my sense of adventure. I have never taken a portrait while crouching behind a blastwall. Digital could never be this exciting.

mweintraub · Jul 28, 2014

Hexavalent said:
Don,

I've got black powder and magnesium - let's make an old-fashioned flash-pan. Reflectors aren't nearly as much fun

Do you have a good recipe? I've been meaning to try this with my 4x5. My co-worker has been bugging me about creating a setup like that.

jbridges · Jul 28, 2014

I have the circular collapsible reflector and it works well, but my favorite DIY reflector was going to Home Depot and buying a very cheap piece of insulation. It's probably 4x4 feet, light, and one side is a shiny silver material. I took an exacto knife and cut it down the middle then made hinges out of duct tape. Have had it for years and it works great.

cliveh · Jul 28, 2014

How about a bit of white card, or polystyrene sheet from a builder supplies, or even a white bed sheet.

fotch · Jul 29, 2014

I have several circular collapsible reflectors in different sizes, colors (silver, gold) and fine they work well & not to costly. Will last longer than me.

Hexavalent · Jul 29, 2014

mweintraub said:
Do you have a good recipe? I've been meaning to try this with my 4x5. My co-worker has been bugging me about creating a setup like that.

I do have a "traditional" recipe involving a metal powder (Al or Mg) and potassium chlorate. It is very dangerous stuff: shock and static sensitive, clouds of smoke, and it can produce burning shrapnel. Fires, burns, and the occasional lost finger were not uncommon back in the day.

Modern "Flash powder" used by magicians / stage performances is a lot safer, but by no means risk-free.

mweintraub · Jul 29, 2014

Hexavalent said:
I do have a "traditional" recipe involving a metal powder (Al or Mg) and potassium chlorate. It is very dangerous stuff: shock and static sensitive, clouds of smoke, and it can produce burning shrapnel. Fires, burns, and the occasional lost finger were not uncommon back in the day.

Modern "Flash powder" used by magicians / stage performances is a lot safer, but by no means risk-free.

I'd like to go the safest but have fun going "traditional". Of course I'd use this outdoors only.

Maris · Jul 29, 2014

When I'm doing large format work and I want to kick a little extra light onto the subject I just use the white side of my focussing cloth as a reflector.

Poisson Du Jour · Jul 29, 2014

Collapsible light reflectors are available in many shapes and sizes and finishes (bronze, silver, white, honeycomb, spotted — each produces a different result). More than 20 years ago I bought one in a light sheen white (with dirty edges from handling...) and I still do occasionally use it in preference to flash for filling in shadows close to the camera. To "bring out the entire subject" you may need to employ more than one reflector, or more than one size and again, at varying distances. Experimentation is useful for this.

Bill Burk · Jul 30, 2014

Then again, instead of dangerous powders... You can use those little bottles of light.

benjiboy · Jul 31, 2014

I like the Lastolite trigrip http://www.lastoliteschoolofphotography.com/using-a-trigrip-reflector-and-triflip-covers

What reflector?

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