An Improvised Reflector For Small Subjects In Habitat

[Harold Gough]

This is very basic and is more to do with improvising when we cannot carry everything we might have available at base. I tend to carry two shoulder bags of hardware when away from home, rationalising it to one for long treks, especially in the hot sun/high humidty.

Last week I was in The Zagori region of Greece, when vehicular access to the narrow streets of remote villages is, at best, unwise. So I rearrange a bag to contain only those cameras, lenses, etc. which I almost cetainly need.

It was when walking through the narrow, cobbled streets of such a village that I spotted a snail on a stone wall. Lighting conditions were very harsh, with midday sun from a cloudless sky. The shadows were deep and I don't have any provison for fill flash or the capacity to carry it. So I improvised a reflector. I do carry plenty of tissue, including for wiping away prispiration!

I crumpled up a white tissue and asked my wife to hold it just out of the frame on the side of the snail away from the sun, low and on the camera side. The tissue made a wall about 2cm high and 10cm long, curved concavely on the side towards the snail. The effect is shown in the second shot (slightly different shooting angle):



I prefer reflectors anyway, because you can see the effects in the viewfinder and adjust before shooting.

Harold
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Happiness is having the correct adapter.

My manual flash setup for high magnification:

http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=117843#117843

[Craig Gerard]

Harold,

Good result, the reflector worked well. Can definitely see its influence in the second shot. You have a good 'crew'


Craig
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To use a classic quote from 'Antz' - "I almost know exactly what I'm doing!"

[Harold Gough]