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Illuminations: Reflecting on Reflectors (page 2)

Final Reflections

Good lighting is created through the imaginative use of lighting techniques and the tools available. The reflector is one of the most useful tools you have at your disposal. Use your imagination and reflectors to help create the mood or feel of your project. Reflectors used effectively will provide lighting that is believable, beautiful and give your projects that professional polish.

Contributing editor Robert G. Nulph, Ph.D. is an independent video/film producer/ director and teaches video production courses at the college level.

Sidebar: Homemade vs. Professional

We have often talked about using homemade reflectors to enhance your videos. While fairly effective, homemade reflectors do not have the consistency of color, the reflective properties or the durability of professional reflectors. For example, automobile sun shades act much like hard reflectors because of their fairly smooth surface yet are not rigid and smooth enough to give you the true reflection of the hard reflector. However, they are too smooth to be good soft reflectors. The variety, durability and consistency of professional reflectors make them a worthwhile investment for the serious video producer.

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