standard reflector on studio flash

[Jay McLaughlin]

Just curious to see if anyone's got any shots using the standard reflector dish rather than an umbrella or softbox?

http://www.teamworkphoto.com/images/elinchrom/21cmstandardrefl.jpg


I realise it would give a strong hard light that's brighter in the centre. Has anyone managed to get any good effects?

[DaveG]

A flash tube light by itself, would be a point source, and so would a strobe with this kind of reflector. But so would a flash with a soft box or an umbrella if it's placed some distance from the subject. The largest light source there is, the sun, is a point source because it's so far away.

Size and proximity will make the light "soft". Nothing else will in spite of what the third party light modifier manufactures imply.

This brings us back to the reflector. When I shoot large groups I need all the power I can get. I use two strobes on each side of me. The reflectors are in place and the strobes are aimed directly at the subjects. The results are fine. Now would I like to be able to use softboxes and so forth? Sure but I'd need tons more power, and huge softboxes, or I'm just kidding myself that the light's "softer".

In situations like this I have no choice. More power from a slightly smaller point source, or much less power from a slightly larger point source.

The other use for a flash without a light modifier - although I guess to some extent the reflector is a light modifier too - is when I set up the flash well away from the camera position. Although I rarely use a studio strobe this way I routinely use a Canon flash on wireless in that position. THAT point source is even smaller, but the lighting effect is pleasing and doesn't look "harsh". I do fill flash in a lighting ratio most of the time, but even that's direct flash.

Here's a sample of what it looks like.