Reflector (photography)

In photography and cinematography, a reflector is an improvised or specialised reflective surface

used to redirect light towards a given subject or scene.

Lamp reflectors
Similar to a domestic lampshade, these reflectors are fixed to an artificial light source (for
example, a filament bulb or flash tube) to direct and shape the otherwise scattered light,
reflecting it off their concave inner surfaces and directing it towards the scene to be
photographed. Although there are a large number of variants, the most common types are:
spherical, short-sided, giving a relatively broad spread of light;
parabolic, providing a tighter, parallel beam of light.
The reflector factor is the ratio of the illumination provided by a lamp fitted within a reflector to
the illumination provided without any reflector fitted. A matte reflector will typically have a
reflector factor of around 2, due to its more diffuse effect, while a polished or metallic-finished
reflector may have a factor of up to 6.
Board reflectors
Also known as plane reflectors, "flats" or bounce boards, this kind of reflector is located
independent of a light source; the light is reflected off its surface, either to achieve a broader
light source, or control shadows and highlights, or both. This kind of reflector generally has a
very low reflectivity factor that varies widely according to surface texture and colour. As a
result, it is most commonly used to control contrast in both artificial and natural lighting, in place
of a fill light or "kick" light. In this case, light "spilling" from the main ambient or key light
illuminating a scene is reflected back into the scene with a varying degrees of precision and
intensity, according to the chosen reflective surface and its position relative to the scene.
Reflectors may also be used as a means of increasing the size of the main light source, which
may (or may not) retain a direct path to the scene. By positioning a board reflector close to a
light source, its effective size can be increased by "bouncing" the light off it. A very common
example of this technique is the traditional umbrella reflector, typically having a gold, silver or
matte white interior onto which a lamp fitted with a circular reflector is projected, providing a
broad, soft illumination. The lamp faces away from the scene to be photographed, allowing only
reflected light to be thrown forward.

Techniques with board reflectors
Reflectors vary enormously in size, colour, reflectivity and portability. In tabletop still life
photography, small mirrors and card stock are used extensively, both to reduce lighting contrast
and create highlights on reflective subjects such as glassware and jewelry. Larger-scale subjects
such as motor vehicles require the use of huge "flats", often requiring specialised motorized
winches to position them accurately.
Location photography calls for much more portable materials and a large range of lightweight,
folding reflectors are commercially available in a variety of colors.
Bounce lighting

Photographers make regular use of walls, ceilings and even entire rooms as reflectors, especially
with the interior of buildings which may lack sufficient available light. Often known as "bounce
flash" photography but equally common with tungsten lights in cinematography, the area to be
photographed is lit by walls off-camera, which then provide illumination similar to that of a large
window. When "bounced" off a ceiling, the lighting resembles that of fluorescent tubes. As this
very broad, flat lighting is more typical of an overcast day outdoors, a more realistic interior
illumination is achieved by reducing the power of additional lighting relative to the available
light, so that either source may act as a fill to the other. Hence bounce lighting may provide
either the primary or secondary (fill) light source, depending on its intensity.This innovative idea
was discovered by Indian cinematographer Subrata Mitra who has done art direction for award
winning movies like The Apu Trilogy when he was facing problems with appropriate lighting
while shooting indoors.

Outdoor techniques

Walls also make ideal reflectors outdoors, reflecting sunlight back upon a subject and reducing
shadows (and hence overall contrast) according to the color, size and proximity of the wall. A
more readily available alternative is the portable, lightweight, collapsible reflector, commercially
available in a range of sizes and colors, or improvised using a sheet of card stock or even a bed
sheet. Stands may be erected to retain these reflectors, although it is often much more convenient
and practical to have an assistant hold and manipulate them