The props of professional photographic equipment reflector are substitutes at home.

Reflecting plate is a kind of supplementary light equipment used in professional photography. But we don't have to use photographic equipment in our life, but what if you want to use a reflector? In fact, there are many ways to replace the reflector at home. Let's have a look!

For modern people, photography seems to be an indispensable part of life, whether using a mobile phone or a camera. Even at home, when you are inspired by generate to shoot children, family members, hairy children, or food potted plants, whether using natural light outside the window or indoor lighting, the effect may be better because of factors such as the projection angle of light and the position of the subject. Master the principle of light reflection and flexibly use some indoor props, even if there is no professional reflector, you can achieve the effect of supplementing light. But what can be used at home?

At home or indoors, there are mainly two kinds of movable props, cloth and paper products, which are convenient to move. They can be used flexibly, that is, they can be used together with ambient light to supplement the light, or they can be used together with the flash, which can not only supplement the light, but also sometimes increase the shooting atmosphere. Props that cannot be moved, such as white walls or ceilings, are often used in conjunction with flashlights or other lamps.

Substitute for photographic equipment

Fabric category: white sheets, curtains, clothes.

Props such as white sheets, clothes and other fabrics are translucent. Although light can really reflect light when it hits them, the amount of reflected light is bound to be less than the original light, and the intensity of supplementary light is also relatively small. If you want to slightly enhance the function of filling light by reducing transparency, you can choose a sheet or curtain with dense material. For example, when shooting with natural light by the window, you can hang a curtain or door curtain on the opposite side of the light to reflect the incoming light on the subject, delete the details in the shadow and reduce the contrast.

If there is a friend or family member wearing white at the scene, he can also be asked to stand in a suitable position and play a role when a temporary reflector is needed. When shooting portraits, the white clothes on the subject can also slightly reduce the shadow feeling at the chin and slow down the contrast between light and shadow.

Substitute for photographic equipment

Mirrors: small cosmetic mirrors, large wall mirrors.

The principle of light reflection is also called "specular reflection". As the name implies, a mirror can always reflect light, whether it is a liquid mirror (water, lake, etc.). ) or a solid mirror. Mirrors that can be used for indoor photography can be real "mirrors", ranging from small cosmetic mirrors that girls carry with them to large mirrors or full-length mirrors hanging on the wall. According to the size and area, different usage methods can be converted. For example, a small cosmetic mirror is suitable for taking small objects, while it may be ok to take portraits with a large-area mirror such as a full-length mirror.

Mirrors can sometimes be integrated into the shooting creation, on the one hand, as shooting props in the hands of the subject, on the other hand, they can supplement the light. In addition, when shooting small objects or ornaments, you can also put the objects on the mirror to create a reflection effect and increase the atmosphere of the picture.

Substitute for photographic equipment

Stationery: white cardboard, books, notebooks.

Compared with the cloth and mirror mentioned above, stationery props seem to be easier to obtain. For example, maybe only girls usually have small cosmetic mirrors, but if they are books or notebooks, there is no gender difference. Generally speaking, the density of paper is higher than that of cloth, and its reflective ability is slightly stronger. However, there are many kinds of paper materials, such as paper with smooth feel, paper with more uniform reflection and rough texture, which reflects more loosely and may hit the subject with less light.

Books or notebooks, as props for fill light shooting, can be used in a wider range of shooting subjects than small cosmetic mirrors, and are good props for shooting children, models, relatives and friends. When shooting, observe the direction of the main light source and adjust the posture of the subject holding or placing books. White cardboard can not only be used as a reflector alone, but also be DIY as a reflector on a flash.

Substitute for photographic equipment

Kitchenware: aluminum foil paper, fresh-keeping box cover.

There are generally three types of reflectors: white, silver and gold. White reflector is the most common, but gold and silver are more effective. Because of the bright metal material, the reflection effect is stronger than white, and the light reflected by gold is warmer than silver. Usually, when using an oven or barbecue outside, the commonly used aluminum foil paper can actually be DIY into a silver reflector. Remember to crumple the aluminum foil paper before use, and then spread it out, so that the reflected light will be more natural and soft.

There is also a white plastic box cover, which can be used as a reflector in kitchen supplies and can play a role similar to white cardboard, but it feels more durable and better preserved because of its different thickness and toughness, and you don't have to worry about folding when carrying it. You can also DIY it into a reflector on the top of a flash.

Substitute for photographic equipment

Difficult to move: white walls, ceilings, large furniture.

Compared with some props mentioned above, white walls, ceilings, etc. It is true that they are all immovable "big props", but if they are combined with external flash and movable lamps, they can also play a good role in supplementing light when shooting indoors. Take the "jumping light" that people often hear when taking pictures with a flash, that is, using the reflection principle of light and using walls and ceilings as "reflectors" to shine, which will produce more natural effects than direct lighting with a flash. In addition to the flash, if you sometimes use other lamps at home for lighting, you can change the lighting effect by the same principle and method when you feel that the light is too strong and concentrated.