For decades I've heard never use a gold reflector so i never did. But this the first time I can think of that someone, an expert explained why. Thank you for this.👍🏻
I occasionally used to use a gold reflector back in the film days. But with digital I don’t think it’s been open for over 20 years now. Excellent explanation of why we don’t
Yeah, I never use the gold side. I mean...I've seen some people use it well, as a really subtle bounce (bouncing weak light back into the subject so it doesn't look orange) so it ends up looking like a flattering warmth. But that's much harder to control than the soft gold, which I myself prefer and typically outdoors during the day. I also really love soft silver and super soft silver reflectors over silver in most cases on location.
I liked the last example of using the gold/silver mix as a rim light. I've only used reflectors once, out near the desert, to try them out on my poor dad and husband. My dad really hated that the metallic ones reflected bright light and heat onto his face, blinding him. I learned from that that it takes skill to actually know how to position them to reflect, and that it's probably better to just stick with the white one for the subject's comfort.
Great advice, I’ve tried golds but the ‘gold’ is, to me, always weird, some even go to a sickly yellow, “it’s gold Jim, but not as we know it” and no 2 makes are the same! The gold/silver mix is as far as I ever go but use it very rarely.
It's a great video and a good explanation for photo starters. However, my belief is that the gold reflector is for when your bounce can't be close to the subject, then you need a little extra punch from far away. I agree that you rarely need it but it's good to have it. I sometimes use soft gold for fashion photography because it may give the skin a bit of a glow, makes the skin look alive and not just flat. However, it has to make sense and look as if that gold comes from the subject's skin and not only one side as the examples here
Absolutely agree with you! I have never understood why the 5-in-1 reflectors had a gold reflector! Thanks as always for your clear and useful explanations!
I don't like using the gold reflector either. In your experience, what advantage would there be in using a gold reflector to heat the skin to change the color in PS?
Thank you Lindsey. Were gold reflectors used during the film era to counteract positive film's cooler tone? (I vaguely remember someone mentioned that slide films were cooler because the slide projector lamps being tungsten warm, but not sure if that applies to pro grade films).
Sometimes I wonder if I should use the gold side. You're absolutely right, may be the gold reflector could work on some king of products photography , but definitely not on skin. Thank you for the warning!
There's a very specific scenario where a gold reflector is... well, golden. Here the conditions: a) you are shooting with a DSLR camera with a maximum ISO of 3200 (or 6400); b) it's a bright but rather cloudyish day; c) you have no strobe with you or you have a strobe but without gels; a touristy set up; d) subject is standing in the dark doorway/hallway, inside and you are shooting from the outside, with the bright façade of the building additionally framing the doorway with subject in it. e) you want this war-toned the light, like sunny reflections, to light up your subject maybe separate it from the dark background; I am not sure if I have described the setting precisely enough, but such was the only time I used the golden reflector and was happy with it.
For decades I've heard never use a gold reflector so i never did. But this the first time I can think of that someone, an expert explained why. Thank you for this.👍🏻
I occasionally used to use a gold reflector back in the film days. But with digital I don’t think it’s been open for over 20 years now. Excellent explanation of why we don’t
Good refresher course. I use mostly the white reflector when in camera club for personal projects awhile back.
Yeah, I never use the gold side. I mean...I've seen some people use it well, as a really subtle bounce (bouncing weak light back into the subject so it doesn't look orange) so it ends up looking like a flattering warmth. But that's much harder to control than the soft gold, which I myself prefer and typically outdoors during the day. I also really love soft silver and super soft silver reflectors over silver in most cases on location.
I liked the last example of using the gold/silver mix as a rim light. I've only used reflectors once, out near the desert, to try them out on my poor dad and husband. My dad really hated that the metallic ones reflected bright light and heat onto his face, blinding him. I learned from that that it takes skill to actually know how to position them to reflect, and that it's probably better to just stick with the white one for the subject's comfort.
Great advice, I’ve tried golds but the ‘gold’ is, to me, always weird, some even go to a sickly yellow, “it’s gold Jim, but not as we know it” and no 2 makes are the same! The gold/silver mix is as far as I ever go but use it very rarely.
It's a great video and a good explanation for photo starters. However, my belief is that the gold reflector is for when your bounce can't be close to the subject, then you need a little extra punch from far away. I agree that you rarely need it but it's good to have it. I sometimes use soft gold for fashion photography because it may give the skin a bit of a glow, makes the skin look alive and not just flat. However, it has to make sense and look as if that gold comes from the subject's skin and not only one side as the examples here
Absolutely agree with you! I have never understood why the 5-in-1 reflectors had a gold reflector!
Thanks as always for your clear and useful explanations!
Well said Lindsay! I love how you don't like it and EXPLAIN why gold doesn't match :) ha ha #TheMoreYouKnow
I don't like using the gold reflector either. In your experience, what advantage would there be in using a gold reflector to heat the skin to change the color in PS?
You’re absolutely right! I found this out the hard way during an outdoor high school grad shoot. It’s only white or silver for me.
the color of the environmental background is key to using the right tonal reflector that matches the scene.
Thank you Lindsey. Were gold reflectors used during the film era to counteract positive film's cooler tone? (I vaguely remember someone mentioned that slide films were cooler because the slide projector lamps being tungsten warm, but not sure if that applies to pro grade films).
Someone who knows, please chime in!
Just use 2 reflectors to get the warm look with that kind of skintone.
Sometimes I wonder if I should use the gold side. You're absolutely right, may be the gold reflector could work on some king of products photography , but definitely not on skin. Thank you for the warning!
Thank you!
Great, thank you
There's a very specific scenario where a gold reflector is... well, golden. Here the conditions:
a) you are shooting with a DSLR camera with a maximum ISO of 3200 (or 6400);
b) it's a bright but rather cloudyish day;
c) you have no strobe with you or you have a strobe but without gels; a touristy set up;
d) subject is standing in the dark doorway/hallway, inside and you are shooting from the outside, with the bright façade of the building additionally framing the doorway with subject in it.
e) you want this war-toned the light, like sunny reflections, to light up your subject maybe separate it from the dark background;
I am not sure if I have described the setting precisely enough, but such was the only time I used the golden reflector and was happy with it.
All these reflectors are to used creatively, there is a very specific way to use it, don't use Gold as a bounce light.