I use Reflectasols for smallish reflectors (up to 36-inch square). They are far more compact and versatile than "twist-o-flex" reflectors. Photoflex for larger, only because larger Reflectasols become too pricey.
Start with some foam core. Its cheap and available in art shops enabling you to experiment with various sizes. For more specular fill cover it with foil, trying both the shiny and dull sides. With that experience under your belt you'll make a more informed purchasing decision.
FWIW - You will find reflectors have pros and cons. The pro is that they are cheap. The cons are:
1) Conventional wisdom seems to be to put the refector off to the side, but that creates cross shadow lighting and dead spots on the front of the face in low areas shaded by the shadow side cheekbone. Its impossible to position one where fill is needed on the front of the subject unless you use a big one with cut-out to stick the lens through (which is very effective for Macro work BTW).
2) Sticking a brightly lit reflector in front of a subject causes squinting.
3) The are difficult to wrangle on a windy day without an assistant.
Outdoors fill flash is a more practical solution. It is easy to keep on the camera axis where it is needed (a flash bracket is ideal) doesn't cause the subject to squint, and doesn't require an assistant and sandbags.
Indoors its actually more effective to use reflectors in concert with axis fill. The fill flash does the "heavy lifting" of the shadows, making it much easier to nuance them with reflectors on the side. You get all the benefits of the reflector without the pitfall of unlit dark cross shadow voids on the front of the face. For example here's a setup shot for a centered "butterfly" lighting strategy where I added reflectors on each side as "kickers":
RDKirk wrote:
I use Reflectasols for smallish reflectors (up to 36-inch square). They are far more compact and versatile than "twist-o-flex" reflectors. Photoflex for larger, only because larger Reflectasols become too pricey.
happen to have a link? I just searched B&H/calumet/adorama for reflectasol and came up with nothing.
In what way are they more versatile?
edit: just found them from larson, but not available through any of the above stores. Is Larson the only company that makes these, and where did you get yours?
cathpah wrote:
happen to have a link? I just searched B&H/calumet/adorama for reflectasol and came up with nothing.
In what way are they more versatile?
edit: just found them from larson, but not available through any of the above stores. Is Larson the only company that makes these, and where did you get yours?
I've got six or seven Reflectasols--a couple of them I've had for over twenty years. I like them for several reasons:
1. More compact than anything else. Reflectasols fold like umbrellas, so even the largest sizes are easy to stick into all kinds of cases and crevices.
2. Extremely durable. The framework (unlike umbrellas) is thick extruded and machined aluminum. They last forever.
3. Easy to employ. They open and close in a simple, straightforward manner like umbrellas. No magical sleight-of-hand needed to get them refolded.
4. The fabric is interchangeable and dry-cleanable. There is translucent, white, silver/super silver, mirror silver, gold/super gold, and black. The design of the fabric is also simple enough to be duplicated by any halfway decent seamstress or tailor.
5. They can be opened completely and used as reflectors. As reflectors, they already have a support arm that can be fastened to a light stand. They are also super flat as reflectors--none of that "pototo chip" warping that many twist-o-flex reflectors are prone to do.
6. They can be opened partially and used as umbrellas. They're not quite as good as true parabolic umbrellas, but if you don't normally use umbrellas, they do the job.
Although they're rather pricey from the Larson site (the price is mitigated by the fact that they last so long), you can usually find them for sale at bargain prices on eBay.
Added: Chuck has two Reflectasols opened fully on the right and left sides of his set-up pictured above.
