7. REFLECTORS
Now, let’s take a quick step back and look at something that might seem quite basic but actually generates a lot of questions from my students: reflectors. Reflectors are
perhaps the easiest way to control/direct the available light when shooting outdoors. Reflectors give you the ability to photograph at any time of day, regardless of whether there is cloud cover or not. If you only created portraits when the sun was low in the sky, you would only be able to photograph a couple of portraits a day. I prefer to control the sun, so I can shoot whenever I want—all day long, if I so desire.
Though there are many reflectors on the market, my reflectors of choice are those made by California Sunbounce. They provide an even source of illumination, and their design and craftsmanship is superb. Also made by Sunbounce is the Sun-Swatter, a large translucent scrim that attaches to an extension pole and acts as a diffuser for sunny days. I consider this an essential modifier when shooting any type of portrait outdoors.
PHOTOGRAPH 7-1. This is a good example of available light that is quite harsh for portraits. I could wait until the sun was lower in the horizon or I could actively control the lighting situation—as in the next image.
92 THE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHER’S GUIDE TO LIGHT MODIFIERS
PHOTOGRAPH 7-2. Without moving the model, I placed the Sunbounce Sun-Swat- ter above Shirley, softening the highlights on her face. Compare this to the previous image and you’ll see a big difference.
PHOTOGRAPH 7-3. Here, the Sun-Swatter is still in place (although moved slightly toward the camera to allow a bit of hard light through, adding further depth on the subject’s hair). Then, a Sunbounce mini zebra reflector was added at a 45 degree angle to camera left, bouncing warm light onto Shirley. You can see the difference adding a simple reflector makes in your image.
PHOTOGRAPH 7-4. In this example, a silver reflector was used to redirect sunlight into the image. Silver is specular and hard. When used properly, though, it creates a beautiful quality of light.
7-5. White reflectors create softer light and less contrast when used for fill. The white reflector used in this image was a piece of white foam-core board, a material that can be found at any hobby store.
PHOTOGRAPH 7-6. Here, a silver reflector was used to redirect the sun onto the subject from camera right. An additional subtracting modifier (black) was then placed close to Shirley’s left side to block light and create the soft shadow on her left cheek. Sunbounce makes a great black gobo, but in this case I used a piece of black foam-core board (also available at any hobby store). It just proves you don’t have to have expensive equipment to create expensive-looking photographs.
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