Reflection or diffusion? Which would you do?

[Les Wilson]

I have shot several interviews in bright outside locations using a reflector to fill the shadows. I found this tricky because lighting up the subject makes the subject squint unless the reflector an sun are on the sides.

I have a shoot coming up on a military base and will be interviewing officers outside. I'm expecting them to be wearing officer's caps with bills (nicely shadowing the all important eyes).

The whole point of shooting on the base is for the background so I don't want to expose the subject and blow out the background.

How would you do this shoot?

[Michael Wisniewski]

If you're using sunlite, then I'd have the subject face the sun, and stand in the shade of a diffuser. That way the sun will act as the key light for the both subject and the background. Add reflected or artificial light as needed to balance the subject's exposure. You could also try reflecting more light into the diffuser, it creates a very flattering light for your subjects. Experiment with a back light/reflector to separate the subject & background.

Try a frame / panel kit or a big shoot-thru umbrella high up on a light stand. A nice leafy tree can work as well.

Another option is to have the subject stand under an awning protected from the sun and bring artifical lights and reflectors to balance the exposure of the subject with a sunny background.

[Marcus Marchesseault]

Follow those links to the soloflex site and look at their tutorials. They answer your question with pictures and show the kit used.

[Les Wilson]

Good points. Thanks. The Photoflex lite panels look do-able.