5 in 1 reflectors

davidh6781

davidh6781

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David
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what are the 5 variations actually for?

Transparent
Silver
Gold
Black
White

any help would be great, what size would be recommended?
 
Transparent : very little diffusion (better for creating harsher light)
Silver: Reflecting bright, cold light
Gold: Reflecting warm light (can be good for skin tones if used right)
Black: Not sure, I've used it to half cover a flash head before now just to control light spill
White: Reflecting neutral light for fill in
 
Transparent: Used for diffusion of light sources
Silver: To get a lot of reflection - but harsher light
Gold: To creater warmer tones
Black: To soak up light, can create better shadows
White: Softer light reflection compared to silver.

Thats how I understand it anyhow.
 
How do these work in terms of positioning? Say you're doing a one on one shoot outdoors, do you take a stand to hold the reflector up by?
 
If you can get cheap volunteers on eBay you've got to post a link :P
 
The transparent are great for shielding out the sun when shooting outdoors. This one was shot with the transparent behind the flower. It shielded out the bright sun and hid the messy detail in the background.
4527278295_13fcdf3501.jpg


The black one is useful for a black backdrop for small items such as flowers. This one, for example which was shot outdoors....
4438732235_a6dbefc332.jpg


Who holds them? Your assistant of course! :)
 
Bendihossan said:
Transparent : very little diffusion (better for creating harsher light)
Click to expand...

Transparent actually diffuses the light - makes it less harsh and soft. Place a transparent diffuser between the light source and your subject and it will reduce the hard light caused by bright sunlight. Can also be used as a very soft fill when used as a reflector.

Bendihossan said:
Silver: Reflecting bright, cold light
Click to expand...
Silver is used to provide the maximum amount of light back towards your subject. It will be a specular light - harder than white with a slight edgy look. Great when you need as much light as you can get.

Bendihossan said:
Gold: Reflecting warm light (can be good for skin tones if used right)
Click to expand...

It's not actually for reflecting warm light because when you reflect warm light with a gold reflector you get an overly yellow look to the skin. Nice when you want to reflect light to warm up the skin tones though - eg say the subject is in the shade of a tree, the light there may be slightly blue so the gold reflector will lift the colour there and provide a nice warm glow.

Bendihossan said:
Black: Not sure, I've used it to half cover a flash head before now just to control light spill
Click to expand...

Black subtracts light. It absorbs light and creates more of shadow on the side it's used.

Bendihossan said:
White: Reflecting neutral light for fill in
Click to expand...

A white reflector creates a beautiful soft neutral coloured light.
 
MacroMania said:
The black one is useful for a black backdrop for small items such as flowers.
Click to expand...

Yup used the black one for for smoke trails, plus the black and white for portrait backdrops as an emergency.

I've also used the white side as a reflector for the flashgun. You look a little contorted but point the flashgun backwards on the camera and bounce it off the reflector held behind you, usually balanced on the back of your neck.

Jayst84 said:
You can get 7 in 1 reflectors which include green and blue as well. Not entirely sure what the designed purpose is of those though.
Click to expand...

Again backdrops. Blue and green are easy colours to pick out when masking.
 
EOS_JD said:
Transparent actually diffuses the light - makes it less harsh and soft. Place a transparent diffuser between the light source and your subject and it will reduce the hard light caused by bright sunlight. Can also be used as a very soft fill when used as a reflector.
Click to expand...

Well that's what I said, it provides for a small amount of diffusion. Less so than if the light was bounced from another type of diffuser.

EOS_JD said:
Silver is used to provide the maximum amount of light back towards your subject. It will be a specular light - harder than white with a slight edgy look. Great when you need as much light as you can get.
Click to expand...

Again, that's what I said. Silver reflects a large amount of bright light.

EOS_JD said:
It's not actually for reflecting warm light because when you reflect warm light with a gold reflector you get an overly yellow look to the skin. Nice when you want to reflect light to warm up the skin tones though - eg say the subject is in the shade of a tree, the light there may be slightly blue so the gold reflector will lift the colour there and provide a nice warm glow.
Click to expand...

Again, that's exactly what I said. It reflects a warm light onto the subject matter.
EOS_JD said:
Black subtracts light. It absorbs light and creates more of shadow on the side it's used.
Click to expand...
So...I was right?


EOS_JD said:
A white reflector creates a beautiful soft neutral coloured light.
Click to expand...
Right again, eh? A soft neutral light.
 
Bendihossan
I think it was the way you said it.

If you changed the word "reflecting" for "reflects" then it makes more sense - my fault for misunderstanding.

The only one point was the translucent - you said "better for creating harsher light" But using a translucent diffuser is better for creating a softer light.

Again maybe I misread what you said.

Regards
Jim
 
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