Using Reflectors Outdoors

jamiebonline

jamiebonline

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Jamie
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Hi everyone,

I would like your ideas and experiences on using reflectors outdoors as fill. I have a 5in1 42 inch reflector and I am finding it too awkward. So I bought a boom arm for my lightstand and clips to hold it. It's still a bit awkward. Cumbersome. Slows things down on shoots. So I am looking into getting a smaller one, a 32-inch, and hand-holding it using the boom arm as a grip like it's a shield or a racket :) My camera is a small mirrorless one so it is totally easy to hold both.

Do any of you use reflectors regularly? What sizes and how do you support or control them?

Thanks :)
 
Indoors I use a reflector bracket, outdoors, a VAL
 
Paul-H said:
For outdoor reflector use you cannot beat using an assistant or as Phil said a Val or what're SWMBO is called in your house.
Click to expand...

I don't know what a VAL is. I can't find it on google either. Could you explain please? Or is it what I have, a lightstand with a boom arm.
 
I use a person if I can, if not I will clip the reflector to a lightstand and hope its not windy :)
 
Reflectors are extremely useful always, though even more so outdoors. The big advantage outdoors is if the light is bright, as it often is, then the reflector will automatically be bright too. You need a very powerful flash unit to match that level of brightness.

The Lastolite Tri-grip types with a handle are easy to hold.
 
HoppyUK said:
Reflectors are extremely useful always, though even more so outdoors. The big advantage outdoors is if the light is bright, as it often is, then the reflector will automatically be bright too. You need a very powerful flash unit to match that level of brightness.

The Lastolite Tri-grip types with a handle are easy to hold.
Click to expand...

Yeah I am experimenting with them outdoors. I don't have an assistant to hold them unfortunately but I have a grip and it is possible to hold the camera in one hand and the reflector in the other plus I have a lightstand which is a bit awkward but doable. I love using natural light. Even off camera flash with a softbox creates a flat effect to my eyes and on a very bright day you do need a lot of power and maybe high speed synch. Plus slow recycle time is so annoying.
 
HoppyUK said:
Reflectors are extremely useful always, though even more so outdoors. The big advantage outdoors is if the light is bright, as it often is, then the reflector will automatically be bright too. You need a very powerful flash unit to match that level of brightness.

The Lastolite Tri-grip types with a handle are easy to hold.
Click to expand...

Agree, and they'll sit on top of a tripod, too.
 
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