Comments on: Reflections – Reflectors and Available Light Photography

By: meuli

meuli — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:10:35 +0000

Reflectors are definitely helpful, esp when doing product photography. I did a shoot of a couple of sauce bottles on a white background for a customer and had trouble with shadowing, utilizing a reflector I was able to fill in the shadowed area which produced a much better photograph.

By: TONY C. OSBORN

TONY C. OSBORN — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:02:13 +0000

Reflector is a welcome development in photo world, i use it here in Nigeria, it helps me clear jaw shadows during indoor shoot and brightens eye socket during hash sunning weather.

By: Dave Duister

Dave Duister — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:29:10 +0000

I don’t think photo 2 is washed out. The eyes now have colour in them instead of being dark as in #1.
As we don’t know the subject, maybe she is is fair skinned. If your using an LCD screen check your viewing angle, I don’t see any loss of facial detail that someone else mentioned.

Cheers

By: Kimberly Ford

Kimberly Ford — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:07:57 +0000

The first image of the little girl looks like a snapshot. The second image looks like a portrait. There is a big difference between the two when you are trying to sell a portrait image to the little girl’s mom. Reflectors are handy outdoors, and I often use them in the studio for fill light instead of a second strobe.

By: Elizabeth Halford

Elizabeth Halford — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:58:38 +0000

The photos were taken at the same length I just cropped and rotated the second. No colour editing or other editing of any kind.

By: James Hoagland

James Hoagland — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:11:48 +0000

2nd pic is definitely washed out, though I will say that reflectors don’t have to be as dramatic as pic 2 but you also have to take into consideration that the 2nd pic is at a different angle and focal length for that matter. When used correctly, reflectors are very useful against unwanted shadows and even bright sunshine. If one were real good you can just point the reflector to fill the eyes to show there color.

By: hipnz

hipnz — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:25:21 +0000

Lol Bull Rhino, cheeky!!

But yeah, definite difference. Am looking forward to experimenting.

I’m curious, does anyone else think she looks washed out in #2 or is that me? I prefer shot #1, it just seems more natural to me.

By: Bull Rhino

Bull Rhino — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:38:49 +0000

Amazing difference. In the first photo you can’t even see the little girls shiny white teeth.

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:33:20 +0000

I have experimented with car windshield reflectors with mixed results. You get some very interesting effects with the silver but I found the blue and the red to give even more obscure lighting effects!

Mostly use one of the 5 in 1 reflectors mentioned by others……

It’s worth a go though Gene and they are really quite cheap!

By: James Hoagland

James Hoagland — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:45:46 +0000

I definitely see the difference except in the second picture the girl is closer. Why not have exactly the same focus point to make it more believable? Also is it me or is the second picture shot at a different angle than the first?