Reflectors for Flower Photography
The difference between a good or bad image often depends on the lighting. Poor lighting or insufficient lighting can affect the overall appeal of the final image. There are many techniques that are used by photographers to utilize the ambient light to their advantage; One of the most versatile, inexpensive and convenient ways is with the use of light reflectors.
Reflectors do exactly what they say they do, they reflect light. The most obvious place to try out a reflector is outside but they are also used for indoor shooting. One way that I like to use reflectors is when the available light is from the side. This helps to add light to shadowed areas or to even out the available lighting. Available light or ambient light usually refers to any natural light source. Another use for reflectors would be to diffuse or soften harsh light. I also use the reflectors to shade flowers when the light is too harsh. I prefer to photograph my flowers with natural light and using a reflector is a great way to harness or control the sunlight.
I am always set up on a tripod when using a reflector and I use my camera’s timer or a remote. You can purchase things to hold the reflectors in place but I prefer to hand hold them so that I can move them around freely.
Make sure that when you are positioning your reflector that it is actually reflecting the light where you want it. It is important to experiment with the positioning until you get the desired lighting. Your goal is to have nice even lighting on your subject without any shadows.
Don’t get caught with the wrong reflector. An oversized reflector in a crowded area is a recipe for disaster. You will end up hitting someone or something. I use small 12” inch reflectors that fit in my pocket when not in use. They work perfectly for close-up flower photography in tight spaces or public gardens.
I also like the reflector kits that have five reflectors inside. These kits usually contain an assortment of the most popular collapsible reflectors such as: gold, sunlight, silver, white, and translucent. These larger reflectors are great when photographing fields of flowers, open spaces or studio work at home. Below are some explanations to the different types of reflectors in these kits.
- White Opaque – Produces an even, neutral-colored reflected light that works as a fill light. Can be used both indoors and outdoors.
- Silver – Silver increases the highlights with a bright and whiter reflection which creates a higher contrast look. I like to use this for cooler toned flowers.
- Gold – Works the same as the silver filter but with a warming tone that is more subtle. Recommended use is outdoors with very early or late sunlight.
- White Translucent – Softens harsh light sources, may also be used as a soft diffuser.
- Black – Does the opposite of reflect, it absorbs light. Black can also be used to shade flowers when the light is too harsh.
Do you use reflector for your flower photography? If so we would love to hear about it in the comments below.
About Author Denise Ippolito
Denise Ippolito is a full time award winning professional photographer, workshop leader, and artist living in New Jersey. Denise travels extensively presenting slide lectures and seminars and teaching photography and Photoshop. Her workshops feature a variety of subjects including: avian, flower, landscape and creative photography.
Denise’s love for nature started at an early age; she has always felt very passionate about wildlife. Knowing, that every living being, depends on the human race to conserve and preserve our natural environment. Through her photography she hopes to broaden awareness and inspire others to share her love for our planet and its resources.
In 2017 Denise’s image titled, Snow Globe was selected as the First Place "Winged Life" category winner for the BigPicture: Natural World Photography Competition. Her image of a Moseley's Rockhopper Penguin was selected as the "Birds" Category Winner in the prestigious Nature's Best 2016 Windland Smith Rice International Awards Competition. In 2015 she also won the Category for "Art in Nature" in the Nature's Best 2015 Windland Smith Rice International Awards Competition.
In 2010 and again in 2014, Denise received a Highly Honored award in the prestigious Windland Smith Rice Nature's Best competition. Also in 2014 one of her images was selected as part of the People's Choice Awards Top 50 Images in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. She has also won several PSA (Photographic Society of America) awards. Her images have been published in the Wall Street Journal, magazines and books, sold as greeting cards, calendars and featured in a Sierra Club Documentary. Most recently, Denise appeared in an episode of Xploration Awesome Planet for Fox 5 television.
