Reflector question

[markperez]

Ok I posted my latest bridals on fredmiranda.com and got a reply that said this

"They all look like it was shot in available light only in the shade of the building. And that isn't a bad thing, if you are careful and PURPOSEFUL with your shadow and light control.

Where the light isn't flat and cool, it is putting unflattering shadows about the eyes. A reflector or a small kick light would really help that."

Now he was right that we shot in the shadow of a building(s) so the whole area was shade. That being said the sun had gone behind the building so that you could not see it from where we were shooting.

My question is (maybe a stupid one) how can you use a reflector if you have no sight of the sun?

[srwatters]

As long as there is light, it comes from a source. Even very diffused light comes from a source and has direction. While your reflector won't be as powerful as with direct light, you still can bounce light into your subject. Often it's just enough. Sometimes it's harder to control a full sun bounce than a diffused one. A 5-in-one reflector gives you silver, gold, white and black surfaces to use as you need. White for bright light, silver for more diffused source, gold to warm the subject, and black as a light sink. They are cheap and I recommend a 42" to start. Impact and Photoflex are two well known brands.

[Kar]

Originally Posted by srwatters

for bright light, silver for more diffused source, gold to warm the subject, and black as a light sink.

How does the black work or rather what is light sink?

I have also seen checkerd board (red/silver or gold) reflectors. Best of both worlds senario?


One more,

I have seen round and oval, I guess just photog preference.

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by KHlava

How does the black work or rather what is light sink?

I have also seen checkerd board (red/silver or gold) reflectors. Best of both worlds senario?

One more,

I have seen round and oval, I guess just photog preference.

I have both a round 42" 5-in-1 (the 5th color is transparent white which can be used as a scrim to diffuse light and make the source bigger and not so bright) and a 42"x72" panel that I use. The panel has a zebra zig-zag pattern of silver and gold. When I post that I used my reflector panel, it almost always has the zebra pattern on it. It really works well for fill to warm up the color of an image. I got a good deal from Calumet on the whole panel kit including the standard 5 colors and the zebra for $169. Check it out, I highly recommend it.

The black side will absorb most of the light that hits it. If you are indoors, even walls that are quite a distance can still reflect light back onto your subject. Specially strobe light which is quite bright. The black will not allow that light to reach other reflective surfaces and therefore it can't get back to the subject. I also use the black panel as a gobo (go-between) to flag light when I don't want it directly from the source.

[markperez]

Great answers thanks. I figured that anyway you can add more light even a little bit is a help. I do have a reflector so I need to start using it.