reflector type ?

I'm learning portrait photography. I do a lot of black and white work but I
also do a lot of beach/bikini color photo shots (seems thats all everybody
wants here in Hawaii). I'm about to purchase a reflector to hopefully
improve the look of my photos. I'm getting a Lastolite Tri-grip reflector.
My question is which colors will work best with the type of photography I'm
doing? The sunfire/silver or white/silver? Money is tight so I have to buy
one reflector that will adapt to black-n-white and color. Thanks.

Sean

I always used super silver and sometimes a gold inside a church. But
for outside I always wanted as much as possible with the super silver.

"Sean Ras" wrote in message . ..
I'm learning portrait photography. I do a lot of black and white work but I
also do a lot of beach/bikini color photo shots (seems thats all everybody
wants here in Hawaii). I'm about to purchase a reflector to hopefully
improve the look of my photos. I'm getting a Lastolite Tri-grip reflector.
My question is which colors will work best with the type of photography I'm
doing? The sunfire/silver or white/silver? Money is tight so I have to buy
one reflector that will adapt to black-n-white and color. Thanks.

Sean

B&W work requires hard light with fill, not soft light. The poularity
of soft light in recent years is to be deplored. DON'T BE AFRAID OF
SHADOWS!

See:

http://www.lafterhall.com/hurrell.html

http://www.lynnpdesign.com/classicmo...d/gallery.html

B&W work requires hard light with fill, not soft light. The poularity
of soft light in recent years is to be deplored. DON'T BE AFRAID OF
SHADOWS!

The average person can't stand harsh light when it comes to
portraiture. And you'll have trouble selling it to them. On the
whole, soft is better. You can still have a lighting ratio with soft
light.

Randall Ainsworth wrote in message . ..
B&W work requires hard light with fill, not soft light. The poularity
of soft light in recent years is to be deplored. DON'T BE AFRAID OF
SHADOWS!

The average person can't stand harsh light when it comes to
portraiture. And you'll have trouble selling it to them. On the
whole, soft is better. You can still have a lighting ratio with soft
light.

I'm speaking of B&W. And the sharp shadopws are essential to it. It's
not a matter of ratios, but of sharp shadows.

Show them the Crawford pics and they'll go nuts, and want something
similar!

Randall Ainsworth wrote in message . ..
B&W work requires hard light with fill, not soft light. The poularity
of soft light in recent years is to be deplored. DON'T BE AFRAID OF
SHADOWS!

The average person can't stand harsh light when it comes to
portraiture. And you'll have trouble selling it to them. On the
whole, soft is better. You can still have a lighting ratio with soft
light.

True, but soft-lit photos look dated; harsher light is more in these days.

"Sean Ras" wrote in message . ..
I'm learning portrait photography. I do a lot of black and white work but I
also do a lot of beach/bikini color photo shots (seems thats all everybody
wants here in Hawaii). I'm about to purchase a reflector to hopefully
improve the look of my photos. I'm getting a Lastolite Tri-grip reflector.
My question is which colors will work best with the type of photography I'm
doing? The sunfire/silver or white/silver? Money is tight so I have to buy
one reflector that will adapt to black-n-white and color. Thanks.

Sean

Silver.

I agree, Randall.... Young, perfect skin and good bone structure can
handle fashion lighting. Portraiture for the more typical subject is
more appealing (to the subject) with more diffused lighting than
overly dramatic light. There's certainly a place for both in the
market and simply needs to be tailored to the task and subject at
hand. I think that we, as photographers struggle to add some drama or
emotion to portraits and the dramatic light is the easy way out and
most appealing to us but we need to remember who the work is for....
If us, then feed our own need to express and if for the customer,
sensitivity to the subject is what is called for.

On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 07:58:37 -0700, Randall Ainsworth
wrote:

B&W work requires hard light with fill, not soft light. The poularity
of soft light in recent years is to be deplored. DON'T BE AFRAID OF
SHADOWS!

The average person can't stand harsh light when it comes to
portraiture. And you'll have trouble selling it to them. On the
whole, soft is better. You can still have a lighting ratio with soft
light.

I agree, Randall.... Young, perfect skin and good bone structure can
handle fashion lighting. Portraiture for the more typical subject is
more appealing (to the subject) with more diffused lighting than
overly dramatic light. There's certainly a place for both in the
market and simply needs to be tailored to the task and subject at
hand. I think that we, as photographers struggle to add some drama or
emotion to portraits and the dramatic light is the easy way out and
most appealing to us but we need to remember who the work is for....
If us, then feed our own need to express and if for the customer,
sensitivity to the subject is what is called for.

I agree completely.

Craig Schroeder wrote in message . ..
I agree, Randall.... Young, perfect skin and good bone structure can
handle fashion lighting. Portraiture for the more typical subject is
more appealing (to the subject) with more diffused lighting than
overly dramatic light. There's certainly a place for both in the
market and simply needs to be tailored to the task and subject at
hand. I think that we, as photographers struggle to add some drama or
emotion to portraits and the dramatic light is the easy way out and
most appealing to us but we need to remember who the work is for....
If us, then feed our own need to express and if for the customer,
sensitivity to the subject is what is called for.

On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 07:58:37 -0700, Randall Ainsworth
wrote:

B&W work requires hard light with fill, not soft light. The poularity
of soft light in recent years is to be deplored. DON'T BE AFRAID OF
SHADOWS!

The average person can't stand harsh light when it comes to
portraiture. And you'll have trouble selling it to them. On the
whole, soft is better. You can still have a lighting ratio with soft
light.



Soft lighting should be used only for little old ladies. It's a
cop-out otherwise. Look at Hurrell's stuff:

http://www.lafterhall.com/hurrell.html

In particular, note:

http://www.lafterhall.com/cagneysm.jpg
http://www.lafterhall.com/coopersm.jpg
http://www.lafterhall.com/boyersm.jpg
http://www.lafterhall.com/johnsm.jpg
http://www.lafterhall.com/taylorsm.jpg
http://www.lafterhall.com/rolandsm.jpg
http://www.lafterhall.com/bogartlg.jpg
http://www.lafterhall.com/katesm.jpg