Reflector (photography)

In photography and cinematography, a reflector is an improvised or specialised reflective surface used to redirect light towards a given subject or scene.

Apart from certain highly specialized components found in enlargers, projectors and scanners, photographic reflectors fall into two main groups: Similar to a domestic lampshade, these reflectors are fixed to an artificial light source (for example, a filament bulb or flash tube) to direct and shape the otherwise scattered light, reflecting it off their concave inner surfaces and directing it towards the scene to be photographed.

In tabletop still life photography, small mirrors and card stock are used extensively, both to reduce lighting contrast and create highlights on reflective subjects such as glassware and jewelry.

Location photography calls for much more portable materials and a large range of lightweight, folding reflectors are commercially available in a variety of colors.

Photographers make regular use of walls, ceilings and even entire rooms as reflectors, especially with the interior of buildings which may lack sufficient available light.

Used extensively throughout film history, in 1956 Subrata Mitra further pioneered the technique with the use of large scale diffusers to match studio lighting with location shooting.