Example of Using Multiple Reflectors Consecutively

Example

The image below shows the light coming from the parallel beam projector PB70, shining onto the hard, big聽3 x 3 ft (100 x 100 cm) reflector R1, which is redirecting聽the light. Redirecting the light does not change the character, nor does it influence much the beam angle聽of the redirected light.

The redirected light now is used by reflector R2, which could be a reflector R2, relatively hard, changing the direction of the light towards R4, which would be a softer, gentler reflector, possibly surface R3 or surface R4, spreading the angle of exit, thus, acting as a gentler fill light on the person behind the desk, whilst reflector R3 could be surface R2 or R3, reflecting the light onto the person, possibly acting as a key light.

It might be mentioned that when reflector R1 is placed in an ideal position, redirecting the light coming up from street level, it should possibly be placed in such a way that the view out of the window may remain totally unhindered, adding further possibilities in the creation聽of a natural light simulation.

Re-reflecting the light several times allows to reach different areas of the set. This makes it possible from a single light source, to have the effect of lighting coming from many different directions.

Being able to vary the depth of insertion of the reflectors, deeper or less deep into the narrow redirected beam of the reflected light, works like an opto-mechanical dimming, where only as much light can be used by the reflector, reaching into the beam as it takes out of the beam, depending on the surface that is hit by the incoming light, and thus, it brings with it a very elegant and convincing method of influencing the amount of light to be used.

As mentioned previously, the effect of harder or softer light is not directly dependent on the angle of light exit from the reflector, but mainly by the surface area of the reflector used. The larger the area used on the reflector is, the softer, the gentler the function of the light, and the shadow edges will appear gentler and more with a soft transition when a larger area of a reflector is used.

This is often confused with the amount of light, but then again the perception of a soft light, as depicted in the final image, is dependent on the size of the actual light-emitting area.

This of course can be done in such a way that the view out of the window is perfectly unhindered.

All these examples show how the light character can be influenced by the reflector surfaces, and of course the light- and shadow-shaping of the reflectors does not only depend on the structure on the surface of the reflector, but always on the size of the reflector in relation to the distance of such a reflector to the lit object.