How the heck do you fold this thing???

[ndsimm]

OK, so I got the 5ft reflector in the nice little pouch silver on one side and gold on the other.... took it out and did some test shots and love it...got ready to put it back in and.....
How do you fold this thing back into the pouch??????

[msthomas]

Don't you love it. They NEVER go back in the same box/pouch the same as when you take it out. Good Luck

[TxKent]

I had a similar issue with some jumper cables, and the other day I was cleaning out the garage, and had a few beers, and got them back in their case. :) Now, the plan is that the cables are only for me - unless somebody hands me a six pack after I give them a jump-start.

[babybluetx23]

Originally Posted by ndsimm

OK, so I got the 5ft reflector in the nice little pouch silver on one side and gold on the other.... took it out and did some test shots and love it...got ready to put it back in and.....
How do you fold this thing back into the pouch??????

Very Carefully? lol

[Cope]

Try a 30 gallon Rubbermaid trash can. Nothing ever goes back in the original package for me, except jumper cables.

[dreemes]

Those refllectors are hard to get back... You've got to hold your mouth just right.

[CaptainTom]

left hand on left side of reflector in normal position.. right hand on right side of reflector but upside down as relative to left hand. twist in opposite directions. It should flip right in half.

[Holly]

Nathan I know exactly how you feel. My reflector stayed in my trunk wide open...could never figure out how to close it. :) Thanks Tom for the tip!! Sounds deceptively simple...

[Brenda]

I bought a set of five 32" reflectors from Ebay and they came in this handy dandy little black pouch. When the package arrived and I pulled it out, I thought "huh ..... 32" isn't nearly as big as I thought it was" then I unzipped the pouch and out popped the reflectors. I was able to twist them and get them back in the pouch. Just play with it - you'll get the hang of it.

[ndsimm]

I have a bridal shoot this weekend and if I don't figure it out by then, mine will be in the trunk as well
Thanks for the help Tom, I'll let you know if and/or when I get it....

[hhscr]

I have a spring hoop type camo blind for hunting that uses the same spring hoops. The best I have been able to get it to work is to start out like Tom suggests but then I have to push the hoop onto the ground and try to fold it in half (not squezzed into semi circle straight down) to get it started and then twist your hands together. It takes a little practice but once you get it, its pretty easy.

[Gordon]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

left hand on left side of reflector in normal position.. right hand on right side of reflector but upside down as relative to left hand. twist in opposite directions. It should flip right in half.

That's a good way to describe it. You need to push together slightly as you twist and it should end up a third of the original size or so.

[gardener]

While reading the "twist and turn inwards" instructions, it came to me that I've been doing that with my windshield shades for years. Anyone ever use one of the silver sunshields for a light reflector in a pinch? Seems like it would work although not ever having used a reflector in photography, I have no clue if the color would be right... It'd be a darn cheap substitute for that which is expensive just because it's found on the photo counter instead of in the automotive section.
Just curious...
Steve W

[Gordon]

Originally Posted by gardener

While reading the "twist and turn inwards" instructions, it came to me that I've been doing that with my windshield shades for years. Anyone ever use one of the silver sunshields for a light reflector in a pinch? Seems like it would work although not ever having used a reflector in photography, I have no clue if the color would be right... It'd be a darn cheap substitute for that which is expensive just because it's found on the photo counter instead of in the automotive section.
Just curious...
Steve W

Yup, its basically the same product. I prefer using a gold reflector for a bit of warmth, a silver one can look quite cold in photos. The only advantage some of the photo ones have is they have 5 'sides' with the reverseable covers

black reflection kill
white bounce
silver bounce
gold bounce
diffuser/ passthrough/ portable cloud

[Clayton Wallace]

Ok, don't laugh. My zipper broke. My reflector WAS a 5 way, but the zipper broke off entirely, leaving it zipped up. I now have a very handy two way unless I bust it open for a diffuser. I was nearly desperate enough this weekend but actually used my shoot though umbrella for the occasion with a helper holding it!

You'll get the hang of the folding thing. It is like those stupid pictures in the early 90's that you had to keep staring at, trying to see the picture. Once you see it once, you got it...man I've made a bunch of dumb decisions in my day, but buying one of those images fortunately hasn't been one of them...