Forums > Photography Talk > Positioning Of Reflectors

Photographer

Robbz

Posts: 15

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Hi all,

       I'm looking at using reflectors for outdoor shooting for the first time and whilst I understand the basic principles behind the usage I thought I'd ask you guys if there are certain things I should be looking for to know I have my reflector in the correct place and/or if there are any "golden rules" i should follow when using one. It is a basic silver reflector.

I'd even be very happy to see any set-up photos if anyone has them!

Thanks in advance

Rob

Jun 25 08 11:25 pm Link

Photographer

FMT Photography LLC

Posts: 425

Cortland, Ohio, US

It's really just dependent on where the light is coming from to begin with. Not really any hard fast rules persay. Just get your light on the subject, and in a way that makes you happy or meets your needs (for example, full on or just one side, fill, etc.)

In the end, its just get that reflected light to shine where there's not enough or none at all.

Jun 25 08 11:40 pm Link

Photographer

LeDeux Art

Posts: 50123

San Ramon, California, US

:]

Jun 25 08 11:41 pm Link

Photographer

Kevin Connery

Posts: 17824

El Segundo, California, US

Robshots wrote:
I'm looking at using reflectors for outdoor shooting for the first time and whilst I understand the basic principles behind the usage I thought I'd ask you guys if there are certain things I should be looking for to know I have my reflector in the correct place and/or if there are any "golden rules" i should follow when using one. It is a basic silver reflector.

It depends on the look you're going for.

If the reflector will be serving as your main light--sun behind the subject, skylight only on face--you may want it high and to the side.

If you'll be using it as a fill, to reduce contrast--sunlight on the subject with dark shadows--placing it near the lens will help minimize the extra shadows cast by the reflectors.

Where you put the reflector will change where the light comes from--which will, in turn, change how the image will look.

Robshots wrote:
I'd even be very happy to see any set-up photos if anyone has them!

* Lighting Setup Tutorials: basic to advanced

Also check out some of the links listed in the Lighting, Flash, Ring, & Battery Strobe Reference thread, which has a large section on Lighting Basics.

Jun 26 08 12:05 am Link

Photographer

Kristine Kreations

Posts: 1629

Davis, California, US

Here's a good way to practice:

Go outside
Use a still-life subject like a potted plant
Try bouncing the sun's light onto the plant with a hand mirror, and then when you've got the angle right, with the reflector.  Play with the light until you get the look you're going for.
Then move the plant around, or pick a new subject.  Repeat.

That way you aren't fumbling in front of a model.

Jun 26 08 12:06 am Link

Photographer

Danny Does Glamour

Posts: 2346

Atlanta, Georgia, US

Kristine Kreations wrote:
Here's a good way to practice:

Go outside
Use a still-life subject like a potted plant
Try bouncing the sun's light onto the plant with a hand mirror, and then when you've got the angle right, with the reflector.  Play with the light until you get the look you're going for.
Then move the plant around, or pick a new subject.  Repeat.

That way you aren't fumbling in front of a model.

This is a wonderful suggestion. Seems so simple but wish I had thought of it when I was learning. I fumbled around in front of the model instead.

Danny

Jun 26 08 12:24 am Link

Photographer

Yves Duchamp - Femme

Posts: 24436

Virginia Beach, Virginia, US

Kevin Connery wrote:

It depends on the look you're going for.

If the reflector will be serving as your main light--sun behind the subject, skylight only on face--you may want it high and to the side.

Can you elaborate on this one please?

Jun 26 08 12:27 am Link

Retoucher

Kevin_Connery

Posts: 3307

Fullerton, California, US

Kevin Connery wrote:
If the reflector will be serving as your main light--sun behind the subject, skylight only on face--you may want it high and to the side.

Shon D Photography wrote:
Can you elaborate on this one please?

A main light is frequently intended to provide the shaping and contouring, and for people, that's almost always more flattering when the light is coming from above and off-axis. Rembrandt, split-lighting, broad-lighting, short-lighting, and any of a hundred other standard portrait lighting setups work that way.

If you're using the reflector to provide that shaping, put it where you'd put your main light. (Assuming, of course, there's light hitting there to be reflected. smile)

In fact, reflectors--usually silver--can be used to add contrast in scenes which don't have enough, such as completely overcast days. If the scene contrast is too low, and gives overly flat or bland results, using a reflector to create shadows can give images more 'snap'.

Deciding where to put it is easier if you think of a reflector as if it was just another light, and apply the same rules. Main, fill, key, accent, whatever--wherever you'd put a light to do that, put the reflector there.

Jun 26 08 12:57 am Link

Photographer

Black Ricco

Posts: 3486

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US

A silver reflector may provide too much fill making it obvious. You should also have a white reflector. White outdoors produces a softer more subtle fill.

Jun 26 08 01:01 am Link

Photographer

Simoa H Grendola

Posts: 202

Amundsen-Scott - permanent station of the US, Unclaimed Sector, Antarctica

Black Ricco wrote:
A silver reflector may provide too much fill making it obvious. You should also have a white reflector. White outdoors produces a softer more subtle fill.

If I make take issue for a moment  - "too much" and "obvious" are not the correct words to use here. The use of a reflector reflects (no pun intended) the photographer's aesthetic decision - to place light where previously there was insufficient. "Obvious" is only a word to apply if you are producing photographs for appraisal by other photographers.

"too much fill" very often looks quite unusal  - as light comes from an unexpected source and - to the untrained eye (99% of the people that should be looking at your photographs) will engage and look quite interesting.

and lastly, as we all know light degrades over distance, it is quite feasible to move a silver reflector away from a model to get a milder, softer reflection.

Jun 26 08 01:00 pm Link

Photographer

EyeCanShoot

Posts: 1198

Orlando, Florida, US

All to often on these threads we see examples of pure lighting set ups. Maybe we could have some of your pro photogs help the less experienced (ie. ignorant) photographers like my self with some diagrams like that HUGE lighting one they have on another site. The whole thread is basically showing the end photo, and having either photos or diagrmams of the exact set up. Call me technical, but I love seeing that type of stuff and it would be greatly welcomed I am sure.

Just a thought smile Esp.. since I just purchased some 42 inch reflectors. But I dont think those will be big enough to cover a whole person, so .. again post some set ups lol..

Thanks in advance btw!

Setups of just reflectors and natural light...
Or set ups one maybe 1 light and reflectors only

Jun 26 08 01:07 pm Link

Photographer

glamour pics

Posts: 6095

Los Angeles, California, US

Robshots wrote:
Hi all,

       I'm looking at using reflectors for outdoor shooting for the first time and whilst I understand the basic principles behind the usage I thought I'd ask you guys if there are certain things I should be looking for to know I have my reflector in the correct place and/or if there are any "golden rules" i should follow when using one. It is a basic silver reflector.

I'd even be very happy to see any set-up photos if anyone has them!

Thanks in advance

Rob

The quickest and best way is to go out with a model and a photographer experienced at using reflectors. Then walk around, looking at and analyzing the light, and what the reflector does in various positions. Note particularly the lighting on the face, and the catchlights in the eyes.

Watch out when you have the sun above and behind the model. If the sun is low, you can get sunlight into the lens causing flare. If the sun is high, it can sneak over the top of the model's head and highlight the tip of her nose. Some photographers don't mind that; I think it ugly.

You don't say whether the reflector is soft or hard silver. A hard silver reflector on a sunny day is often too much for a light-eyed girl to handle. Or even a dark-eyed girl.

One other thing: smart photographers use lens hoods.

Jun 26 08 01:09 pm Link

Photographer

Leonard Gee Photography

Posts: 18096

Sacramento, California, US

A simple rule of physics:
The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence.

Place the reflector where it will catch the light. Tilt it so the angle to the sun is the will be the same (but opposite) angle to where you want the light to go. That's the maximum light possible for that position and distance.

If you want less light, increase the distance from the model or feather it. Feather, means angle the reflector so instead of the center of the reflection hits the model, the edge of the light is on the model (less light).

Other than that, just look. You can see what's happening with a reflector. It's not like flash.

Jun 26 08 01:20 pm Link

Photographer

RonColeman

Posts: 246

Windsor, California, US

Leonard Gee Photography wrote:
A simple rule of physics:
The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence.

Place the reflector where it will catch the light. Tilt it so the angle to the sun is the will be the same (but opposite) angle to where you want the light to go. That's the maximum light possible for that position and distance.

If you want less light, increase the distance from the model or feather it. Feather, means angle the reflector so instead of the center of the reflection hits the model, the edge of the light is on the model (less light).

Other than that, just look. You can see what's happening with a reflector. It's not like flash.

Best answer. smile

Jun 26 08 01:27 pm Link

Photographer

KRAZE-IMAGES

Posts: 465

Carl Junction, Missouri, US

I treat them a lot like studio lights. I even have a large diffuser panel to use like a soft-box...

Often I use the main available light as my main fill light...rarely in direct sun, and use the reflectors as hair lights, enhancement, etc...

If in direct sun, I use my diffuser to soften the light as well...

My main problem is I hate to carry a bunch of stands...so I bring an assistant and hope they bring an escort...lol

https://modelmayhm-5.vo.llnwd.net/d1/photos/080602/00/484379b07825a.jpg

The picture above was taken in a parking garage around 7pm. The main, softened light, came from the left through a large open window. I had my assistant hold a small reflector on the right at about a 30 to 45 degree angle, 3 to 5 feet away, accenting features on the other side of her face.

This is a case where size matters...using too big of a reflector would have accented too much taking away from the dramatic effect. Too close would have been too bright doing the same...

Oh...and outside I always use white or silver reflectors when reflecting sunlight....

If using flash to fill when sunny, I use gold or white, depending on the effect wanted...

Jun 26 08 01:34 pm Link

Photographer

Aberotica

Posts: 500

Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom

A reflector is intended to lighten the shadow side, not obliterate the natural shadows. When used at the opposite side from a light, (180 degrees) as it so often is, it can leave the subject with a darker shadow in the middle of the face than at the shadow side. Ideally, it should be in the same position as the "fill," light if you were using a fill.

Jun 26 08 01:43 pm Link

Photographer

Visionary Studio One

Posts: 703

Grand Prairie, Texas, US

My last outdoor shoot depended heavily on use of a silver reflector.  I was shooting under a 12:00 noon sun, from the model's back.  Reflector was 30ft
away to avoid a harsh light..  worked very well for this one
https://www.oakgrovephoto.com/modelramas/erin/sample.jpg

A "live" version of this panorama is in my port here on MM

Jun 26 08 03:45 pm Link