I try to use a lot of Bounce flash in my shots when I am on event shootings, however lately I am running into a lot of Bright colored walls, High ceilings, or just no good place to bounce. I was thinking about hauling a large white surface with me, and then attach it somehow to a light stand maybe, has anyone ever done or made something like that? ( I know there are expensive pro Reflectors available but the prices are crazy) An artist friend of mine suggested using a large stretched white canvas but those are pretty heavy. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
You can make your own using a large piece of foam core from an art supply. I hot glued 3/8" dowels to the back so I could mount them to light stands.
You can also try one of those collapsible windshield sun blockers, mine are about 30" in dia and silver on one side and white on the other. Might need an assistant to hold that one though.
NancyinLA wrote:
I try use a lot of Bounce flash in my shots when I am on event shootings, however lately I am running into a lot of Bright colored walls, High ceilings, or just no good place to bounce. I was thinking about hauling a large white surface with me, and then attach it somehow to a light stand maybe, has anyone ever done or made something like that? ( I know there are expensive pro Reflectors available but the prices are crazy) An artist friend of mine suggested using a large stretched white canvas but those are pretty heavy. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I don't know what you consider "crazy." They're pretty cheap--compared to anything else labeled "photo"--on eBay. And you can score cheap used Reflectasol reflectors on eBay, which IMO are the best reflectors in the world.
I was probably looking at something on Calumet's site, but they were very big and in the hundreads of dollars, it just struck me it was something I could probably make myself! ...Bye the Way how big a surface do you think I would need to get a good bounce involving lets say a 4 person three quarter group.
NancyinLA wrote:
I try to use a lot of Bounce flash in my shots when I am on event shootings, however lately I am running into a lot of Bright colored walls, High ceilings, or just no good place to bounce. I was thinking about hauling a large white surface with me, and then attach it somehow to a light stand maybe, has anyone ever done or made something like that? ( I know there are expensive pro Reflectors available but the prices are crazy) An artist friend of mine suggested using a large stretched white canvas but those are pretty heavy. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
NancyinLA wrote:
I was probably looking at something on Calumet's site, but they were very big and in the hundreads of dollars, it just struck me it was something I could probably make myself! ...Bye the Way how big a surface do you think I would need to get a good bounce involving lets say a 4 person three quarter group.
Nancy
You'll have trouble getting even light across a 4-person 3/4 length group with only one small reflector. I'd suggest you're going to need a 6-8 foot reflector at minimum.
Remember that for soft even light, you want the source to be larger than the subject.
If "hundreds of dollars" bothers you, maybe a cheaper hobby would be better. If you want pro results, you will need to spend some money.
cwebster wrote:
If "hundreds of dollars" bothers you, maybe a cheaper hobby would be better. If you want pro results, you will need to spend some money.
I assure you I have every intention of spending whatever amount I need to get the results! all I meant was if I can make something for much less I will! ...and save the money for the things I can't make! ....I had no idea of what size reflector I needed thats why I am asking here!
BrianO wrote:
Yes, or if you have time during the shoot you can do a custom white balance off of a gray card.
I prefer shooting raw and doing color correction in post.
I would not want to introduce that kind of color cast into even the raw image--especially if it's something like a green wall. It's not going to be the only light "source" in most images.
PeterBerressem wrote:
Look at California Sunbounce's Micro-Mini to get an idea:
www.sunbounce.com/index.php?id=1324&L=1
I seriously doubt the ability of that reflector to provide light for a group of four 3/4 length adults. You are talking about providing even light across an area at least 4 ft wide by about 4 ft high. That's not going to be happening with a 20" X 30" reflector.
The large Photoflex 41x74 reflectors are just large enough. They're less than $100 and the quality is quite good. They stay flat (which is definitely not a universal trait--I've got Westcott reflectors that have turned to potato chips) and they are easy to fold. I've decided ease of folding is a distinct mark of quality--the Photoflex reflectors collapse into neat circles as soon as you fold them any kind of way--no fancy procedure needed.
NancyinLA wrote:
...isn't [bouncing of a colored wall] going to put a color cast into my shots which I would have to filter out in PS?
BrianO wrote:
Yes, or if you have time during the shoot you can do a custom white balance off of a gray card. I prefer shooting raw and doing color correction in post.
RDKirk wrote:
I would not want to introduce that kind of color cast into even the raw image--especially if it's something like a green wall. It's not going to be the only light "source" in most images.
Very true, and in an ideal world everyone would paint their walls white.
Lacking that, a big white reflector would be nice to have; but if you don't...
When I'm faced with such a challenge I up my flash power to try to make it the dominant source, and then any color mismatch with the various ambient sources will be in shadows and highlights where it's usually not objectionable...unless we're talking about really strongly colored walls, in which case I'll usually just go with direct flash instead of bounce.
Hello Nancy, I don't really have any ideas for Reflectors but since you do a lot of Bounce on location I thought you may have an opinion on Hot Shoe Flash units, I am also planning on bouncing my flash and I notice some of these units have a small extra flash window built into the body to take out Eye Socket shadows. Does your flash have one of those built in extra windows, and is it a big advantage.
