Portraits in natural light with reflectors

11 years 10 months ago #236207 by Archie
If you are going to be taking portraits in natural lighting only with no flash, what are the essential reflectors you would have on you? I don't have any and going to buy.

Thanks!


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11 years 10 months ago #236247 by KCook
A just got my first reflector, a 5-in-1 folding kit. Lots of fun to play with, a few early thoughts:

Silver packs a lot more punch, and is a whole lot more directional than white. Tricky enough that I'd like an assistant to wrangle the silver reflector. But should be very effective when the shot is wide and needs the reflector to be some distance away.

White is a whole lot easier to live with. For closeups I can hold the white reflector in one hand while still operating the camera with the other hand. Much lower "output" than silver, so needs to be fairly close to the subject or really LARGE.

This 5-in-1 kit included a translucent scrim, which is not exactly a reflector. But I still find good uses for it, at least for closeup work.

White reflectors can easily be cooked up on a DIY basis with ordinary foamboard, bought from a crafts store. But for location shooting a folding (cloth) reflector is handier for me.

Fun topic to Google -

www.photographytalk.com/photography-arti...oor-bridal-portraits

digital-photography-school.com/reflectio...le-light-photography

blog.microstockgroup.com/reflecting-light/

jazphotographyblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/...ernately-titled.html

neilvn.com/tangents/2010/02/23/simple-on-location-lighting/

Kelly Cook

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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11 years 10 months ago #237000 by Ziggy


Photo Comments
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11 years 10 months ago #237020 by KCook
I will bet that these 5-in-1 jobs all come out of the same shop, then are sold under different names. Mine is the 22" size. Perfect for what I got it for, cramped aircraft interiors. But I can see where a bigger one would be much better for full length portraits. I think you get a lot of bang-for-the-buck with these, regardless of size.

Kelly

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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11 years 10 months ago #237036 by John37
I have the 5-in-1 from Ritz Camera. It came with a heavy duty stand, which has been really useful. It really helps when I'm shooting in mid-day sun. It was a little pricy at $110. But people don't like me very much, so I have to resort to a stand instead of a friend to hold it for me! :lol:

"The most endangered species? The honest man!"
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11 years 9 months ago #237197 by SJM

John37 wrote: I have the 5-in-1 from Ritz Camera. It came with a heavy duty stand, which has been really useful. It really helps when I'm shooting in mid-day sun. It was a little pricy at $110. But people don't like me very much, so I have to resort to a stand instead of a friend to hold it for me! :lol:


Didn't Ritz just file for BK?

Country guy living in the big Apple!
Photo Comments
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11 years 9 months ago #237265 by John37

SJM wrote:

John37 wrote: I have the 5-in-1 from Ritz Camera. It came with a heavy duty stand, which has been really useful. It really helps when I'm shooting in mid-day sun. It was a little pricy at $110. But people don't like me very much, so I have to resort to a stand instead of a friend to hold it for me! :lol:


Didn't Ritz just file for BK?


Chapter 11 if I remember correctly. This would be there 2nd time. Good riddens to them! :dry:

"The most endangered species? The honest man!"
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