{"id":800,"date":"2019-02-28T13:35:08","date_gmt":"2019-02-28T13:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.smudgeonthelens.co.uk\/?p=800"},"modified":"2019-11-20T07:26:04","modified_gmt":"2019-11-20T07:26:04","slug":"using-reflectors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smudgeonthelens.co.uk\/?p=800","title":{"rendered":"Using Reflectors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Although it doesn’t feel like it today with the current torrent of rain, for the last few days a mini Summer arrived and I got a chance to photograph the flowers again. Sadly, still Crocus based, as they’re the main flowers in the garden at the moment, but I got a chance to experiment with my small reflector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My reflector folds up to a size no bigger than my open hand, with a useful little zip up bag. You have to be wary when unzipping reflectors, as they have a tendency to ping out the bags like a bored Jack-in-the-box! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My reflector essentially looks like the one below. White on one side, to be used as a diffuser, and silver on the other to bounce light back on any subject. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Other reflectors do exist, namely with a gold side like I’ve shown below. These help to give a golden, sun-kissed look. Depending on the subject, it can look a little unnatural, so it is worth a practise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gold Reflector. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So, it was a bright sunny, Winter’s day (although as I now learn, the hottest Winter day on record – so not your average day!). Around about midday in the garden, I decided to take some more photographs of the Crocus, while they were fully open in the sunshine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • \"\"
    Without Reflector<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
  • \"\"
    With Reflector<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    It may not show up so well for you, but in the images above, I can see that using a reflector and bouncing light back onto the flower has made the petals look warmer and brighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • \"\"
      Without reflector<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
    • \"\"
      With Reflector<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Again, there are lots of shadows in the first image, but using the reflector just warms and lightens the subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"
      And here’s my reflector supported by my trusty leg! There are probably tools on the market that will hold your reflector into position. I just don’t have one… <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      I would recommend getting a reflector. I know I’m a bit flower mad, but they can be used in most photography subjects and are especially great for portrait photography. I’m still on a mission to use one around my toddler, but I feel he’ll just run off with it thinking it’s a new toy…They’re not expensive, and my mini one was from Ebay for around \u00a310. Having said that, a piece of white paper, or even kitchen foil could have a similar effect if you want to give reflectors a go before buying one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Here is the final image I quite like from my Crocus photoshoot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Although it doesn’t feel like it today with the current torrent of rain, for the last few days a mini Summer …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,4],"tags":[21,27],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smudgeonthelens.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smudgeonthelens.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smudgeonthelens.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smudgeonthelens.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smudgeonthelens.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=800"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.smudgeonthelens.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1280,"href":"https:\/\/www.smudgeonthelens.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800\/revisions\/1280"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smudgeonthelens.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smudgeonthelens.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smudgeonthelens.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smudgeonthelens.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}