CHAPTER 6 HOW TECHNOLOGY LETS THERE BE LIGHT^97
Areflector
located on the other
side of the camera from
the light creates a fill light
by bouncing the light back into
shadowed areas. A photographer
may use a reflector with a gold sur-
face to add warmth to the lighting or a
silver surface for a brighter, crisper fill.
The fill light makes the subject appear
less harsh.4
Softboxes for On-Camera Flash
A photographer in the field gets the same lighting effects as
if he were in the studio by using one of these devices that
attach to a portable flash. They diffuse the flash as a softbox
does, reflect it the same way an umbrella works, or both.
They’re inexpensive and lightweight. Combined with a light-
weight, collapsible reflector, they’re the easiest way to give
pictures taken “on the go” a studio look.An alternative to a reflector is a second light. A common addition to
studio lights is an umbrella, which can be used two ways. An
umbrella both reflects and diffuses light from the source pointed
away from the subject and into the umbrella’s concave underside.
Or the light and umbrella may be turned around so the light shines
through the umbrella. In both arrangements, the effect is similar to
that of a softbox. A snootlight is one that shines through a
long cylinder that restricts the light to a small spot. It is often
used to point down on the subject to add highlights in
the hair.5