Reflectors & Diffusers

I love these old Parks and Rec episodes

Note the smaller the hole the better the focus, I found that to support the back of the foil against a hard surface whilst piercing the hole worked well

Got the reflector. Where do I get an assitent? 😉

thank you!

Lightning from the bottom up … is that a bad idea ? Thx

Hahaha! I love how her facial expressions change as he replaces and removes the diffuser after having explained it 😄😂🤣😃😆💥🤘 But this is also a great video that explains these concepts very well. Thank you for sharing!

Loved the video!

remember kids, never place a reflector anywhere you wouldn't use a strobe

Goodness, these guys take sharp photos out of nothing. How I wish I could have them next to me when I struggle to get decent image out there in the wild.

I already have that book. Totally worth it to get. Good video guys!

Under the word "Chill" is Tony's face.

I love your content

Super

What do you recommend for outdoors if you dont have an assistant to hold the diffuser

Very informative

Tony as a professional, do you use the 5 in one styles, or do you use a single colour one (is it possible to buy a single colour one?

So shiny side is reflector and the matte one is diffuser?

Love your content, thanks so much for doing these videos

You guys look really happy in this video 😂

Thank you so much! I love the way you explained this to amateur photographers like myself. This video is super helpful. :)

Great informative video.

5 years later, this article was helpful. thankyou

Very useful!

The voice of the man is so so cool I love it

The helicopter is the sound of freedom.

Tony so good in this

Iam sure this couple is very have cemistry, and loving each other.

love u mam

looking beautifull mam

These work really well but you definitely need an assistant to get the most of them

i like her expressions ... lol

the guy is the calmest person ive ever seen in my whole life/

That video was fun watching. Thanks.

Does size matter? For outdoor portrait photography I mean please.

HURRAY - at last, an Internet video on photographic reflectors that's got it right!

99% of Internet videos on Reflectors are talking complete rubbish. Believe me, I'm an art school trained professional photographer with 40+ years experience. This video is the one to watch.

The mistake you see almost always is holding a reflector under someone's chin. Whereas these guys are holding it, the correct way, to one side. That's because, when used to reflect sunlight, the reflector has one of two jobs:

1. To add more contrast light into the picture (what's called 'key' lighting) so we get more shadows and more shape to the image (such as when you're photographing on a dull day when everything looks flat);
or
2. When you're shooting on a very bright sunny day, and the sunlight is creating too much contrast between highlights and shadows for the camera's sensor to cope with. In this case, we reflect some light into the shadow areas -- termed 'fill' lighting -- so that the difference between highlight and shadow is lessened to a degree where the camera's sensor can cope with capturing both highlight and shadow detail.

NEVER, but Never, follow those idiots who put the reflector under the model's chin. You will create totally unnatural shadows or simply 'flatten' the contrast so there is no form (shape) to the image.

Yes, if the harsh sunlight is coming down at an angle of say 35° to the right and above, then you may position the reflector at 35° below and to the left, so it is working as a fill light opposite to the key light source. But, don't go putting it directly under someone's chin, as 99% of there self-proclaimed experts are telling you.

Why believe me? Don't. Check this out for yourself. The simple test is to try your reflector in various positions. Then put your colour images through monochrome converter (included in most free picture editing software) and look to see how your positioning of the reflector has improved the shot. You should have detail in both highlights and shadows, with no stark areas of solid impenetrable black nor burned out white. You should also see realistic modelling of the face, which you won't get if the reflector is under someone's chin.

Anyway, this video is a good one, but don't believe everything you read on the Internet (including what I tell you!), the great thing about digital photography is it costs nothing to experiment, as versus the thousands of pounds in film, processing, and photographic print paper, when I was learning. If I tell you that some professional large studio camera format 10x8 transparency film (slide film) cost £80 per exposure, you'll know what I mean.

Have fun,
Rick

You two make me sick, you're both gorgeous, you're both smart, and you're both doing what you love. :) Thanks for the great tutorials, and the inspiration.

I noticed how much she was squinting with the diffuser.

Really helpful video, thanks! Also the dogs in the background make me happy. :)

Tony should moonlight as one of 'em narrators - he got the voice.

Good video

Can you use this in combination with an external flash or is this when you don’t have flash available?

Very useful and i really appreciate

So flattering

You never hold a reflector form under the model, it creates some strange shadows, you do not want that