Reflector Question w/Cloudy weather

[rob_piontek]

<p>I have a sunbounce mini with the zebra/white fabric. I love it, and when the light is right I try to use it whenever possible instead of off camera flash. To me that means there needs to be some strong directional light which I can bounce with the reflector back into the subjects eyes. <br>

<img src="http://robertpiontek.com/en/images/blog/2011.09.28/.junecode/450x950/DSC_6851-Edit.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="596" /><br>

In this example the girl is in the shade, the sun is on it's way down behind her, and I'm bouncing that strong light back into her from the front. My problem is when there isn't enough directional light to get the effect I want on the subject. For example a cloudy day in an open area. I end up using off camera flash most of the time.</p>

<p>But... I debate about buying a silver color fabric for my mini sunbounce (this is about 4 feet by 3 feet in size), or else a larger size reflector (6 feet by 4 feet) also with a silver fabric. How much more flexibility would a larger silver reflector get me?</p>

<p>Thank you! </p>

[john_h.1]

<blockquote>

<p>I'm bouncing that strong light back into her from the front. My problem is when there isn't enough directional light to get the effect I want on the subject.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I'm not sure what you're trying to do. The subject's face is approaching blowout already and her left sleeve and part of her hair already is. The rest of the scene seems shadowed enough already.</p>

<p>Consider a gold reflector instead for cloudy conditions to add warmth rather than keeping the subject appearing with a shade of ghoul or zombie.</p>

[howard_m]

<p>maybe you want to try bouncing an off-camera low-power small strobe into the Sunbounce to augment the natural light?</p>

[rob_piontek]

<p>Hi Howard - I'd rather not use strobe... I can and do use an umbrella with a strobe if I need to. The main question is if a large silver reflector is more useful than the normal size gold one I have already, when there isn't much directional light. </p>

[john_deerfield]

<p>If there isn't light to bounce, then there isn't light to bounce. We had an overcast day a few days ago and I did some sample shots with my wife for class. We went outside and I wasn't quite getting flat lighting, camera left had a tiny bit more light than camera right. Camera left had an entire house bouncing more light onto my subject. So I suppose if you have a reflector the size of a house, you might get 1/2 a stop fill on an overcast day! Otherwise, simply use a black reflector to give you direction of light. This will prevent light from coming in on all sides equally. If you like more specularity in the image, simply add some on camera flash, dialed down, for fill. The black reflector will still give direction to the light.</p>

[Marcus Ian]

<p>If you can shape it, then yes, a larger one will be more useful. Effectiveness varies, but it depends on just how diffused the light is. The trick is to use a large one whos curve you can adjust (that's what a helper is for) Just like a sat. dish reflects a signal onto an antennae, the same principal can be used with varied effectiveness (depending on the scattering of the source) for a reflector. A three panel one is easy enough to build (if you can't find one in an appropriate size), and will work much the same.</p>