Managing Reflection

The subject’s material can transmit, absorb or reflect the light that hits it.

Types of reflections:

  1. Diffuse reflections-the material reflects the light equally in all directions. Neither the angle nor the size of the light source changes the appearance of a diffuse reflection. The distance of the light to the subject will make the subject look brighter.  An example of a material that creates diffuse reflection is paper.
  2. Direct reflections are a mirror image of the light that produces them. If a direct reflection is seen is determined by the angles between the light source, the subject, and the camera. Brightly polished metal or glass are both examples of materials that create direct reflection.

Metal

To manage reflections on metal, either light it and let it go dark or fill the surface with light so the whole thing is reflecting the light.

  • Rany Selem
  • Jonathan Baez

Glass

Glass produces direct reflection but it is also transparent. One needs to bring out the edges to see the shape of the glass. So there are two problems when photographing glass:

Controlling the direct reflection 

Bringing out the edges by reflecting onto them so they are visible.

Lighting diagram from Light, Science and Magic

Labs

Photographing Glass

Homework

Final Project

Next week

Class is online. Everyone is welcome to come in to the classroom as I will be there.