Buying a reflector

bartoszwozniak

bartoszwozniak

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Bartosz Wozniak
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I am thinking of buying a reflector. I have a flashgun and I am learning how to use it well, however for a lot of the work I do, it is much too powerful and too harsh even with a diffuser and at lowest power settings, the light is not that great. I am trying to get into some portraiture work now, so I was thinking of getting a reflector.

I need some advice:
1. Which reflectors are the best? (size, color, grip, circular, fold up or not etc.)
2. Where to get one from? (seen some on Ebay e.g.http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/60CM-22-5-1-Light-Multi-Photo-Collapsible-Reflector-/140474075087?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item20b4e847cf#ht_2871wt_1219
3. Any other advice regarding using them?

Of course if anyone has a reflector spare, I wouldn't mind buying one of a member here! :D

Bart
 
its a reflector, it does shiny do you want blood?

I have one about that size and a 5foot long rectangular one

for using them it has 5 roles:
The inner sheet is a diffuser
the zip over cover is double sided on both sides (so 4)
black absorbs the light deepening shadows and increasing contrast
white bounces back a soft light with no speculars
silver is more efficient and bounces back a harsh light
gold is silver but with a warm tone

its worth having a few about
 
bartoszwozniak said:
I am thinking of buying a reflector. I have a flashgun and I am learning how to use it well, however for a lot of the work I do, it is much too powerful and too harsh even with a diffuser and at lowest power settings, the light is not that great.
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It sounds more like you need a bit more practice with your flashgun and perhaps invest in a shoot-through umbrella or something along those lines to diffuse the light properly.
 
Would you not be better to move the flash gun further away from the subject to lessen the power? Unless you are not firing it remotely that is.
 
gman said:
Would you not be better to move the flash gun further away from the subject to lessen the power? Unless you are not firing it remotely that is.
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That would give a different effect. Moving the flash away would tend to harden the light. Bouncing it into a reflector will soften it and spread it (and may change colour etc).

As for best reflector....it's going to depend on what you're shooting, where and whether you have an assistant. Cali Sunbounce Pros are really nice - but terrifyingly expensive. I'll bet Calumet's knockoff are also nice :)

Personally I like the Lastolite Tri-Flip. Not cheap but very nice. I'll bet other people have made illegal copies of it too.
 
Ok, guys so what do you think of the ones from the Ebay link?? Will they do the job alright??? I just want to make more use of natural light.

Please let me know, as I am looking for a cheap solution really.
 
I bought this one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=350401958368 which is a bit bigger. Came quickly and definitely helps with filling light is. Not used it fully in anger yet, but I can see the difference it makes in the test shots I have done with it. For £10 you can't really go wrong..
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Great! Looks really good. I think that I will order one of these now. Thanks for the help everyone! :D
 
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