Using Reflectors when Lighting

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FilmBoy77

Veteran
i've never really used reflectors before so quick questions to those who have.

has anyone used black reflectors when lighting? what effect will this have when lighting either outside with regular sunlight or when you're inside with tungsten lighting? will it just darken the light?

also with a silver reflector will this affect tungsten lighting and make it appear to be more like daylight? I'm trying to avoid any unexpected results in changing the color temperature.

I was looking at buying the following: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/17795-REG/Flexfill_208_20_Reflector_Silver_Black.html
 
Black blocks light, think of black as NON reflective..
Black is great for subtractive lighting, flag off lights, hot spots even reflective objects..

The silver reflector does not change the color temperature of the light, so your answer to your question is NO
 
FilmBoy77 said:
has anyone used black reflectors when lighting?
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Black doesn't reflect. Black is used for flags (to block light) or for negative fill (to absorb light).

what effect will this have when lighting either outside with regular sunlight or when you're inside with tungsten lighting? will it just darken the light?
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It shades sections of the frame. You position the black flag in such a way to cast a shadow, to block the light from hitting that area.

Outdoors, you can use a black flag as "negative fill"; if there's too much light bouncing around and filling in the space, you can hold a black flag up to your actor's face to absorb and block some of that light, which will give the effect of making harsher contract between the lit and shaded sides.

also with a silver reflector will this affect tungsten lighting and make it appear to be more like daylight?
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No. Silver reflects the same color it receives, doesn't change the color temperature at all.

That little flexfill might work okay for outdoors; just be aware that if there's any wind at all, flexfills bounce and jiggle and it can mess with the reflections you get. It's also very small, 20" is about 1/4 the size of the flexfills I use (42" round). Bigger = more fill, smaller = more of a spotlight effect.

The cheapest bounce board is to go buy a sheet of beadboard at your home improvement store; it's a fairly thick sheet of foam insulation with silver foil on one side and white on the other. It's not flexible so it won't wobble in the wind (assuming you mount it tightly to a stand or have someone hold it firmly).
 
Good advice....heres a nice foamcore/beadboard holder from filmtools:

cinemasupplies_1997_289346548


Link
 
For a cheap silver flexfill alternative, Walmart sells a windshield reflector in RV size.

Those are about 40"+ for each of 2 rectangular panels. Use scissors to cut them apart and you have 2 folding reflectors.

...sorry, but they also catch the wind...
 
thats what I use, i taped cardcoard to the back and coverd it with black paint, so it doesn't wabble and make the crinkleing noise, and so i can use it as an absorber on the other side.
 
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