>>REFLECTION
-------“There are two ways of spreading light… To be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton
>> DIFFUSE REFLECTION
▽The photographs below are the example of how diffuse reflections appear on particular surface.
The background, a paper, diffuses a light in both the photos at different lighting; the highlight on the paper looks almost same. I used a smaller light source (right), a speedlight with a grid, and larger light source (left), a light from speedlight reflected by a blind. It affected particularly on the shadows: In the first example, the shadows are softer compared to the second example, which uses a smaller light source. Whereas the highlight, the diffuse reflection on the paper is identical. Through this experiment, I have learned that the size of the light source nor the angle does not affect to diffuse reflection on particular surface.
-The book is for creating the shadows, and a Kindle is for adding the theme; The contrast between the thickness of just the 1st part of "The Lord of the Rings" (Paper ver.), and the thinness of this thin device that can hold all part of it (more than 1000 pages) and much more.
-I used a speedlight as a light source on both photographs because I could use it in different way to diffuse or reduce some light; in this case, I used a closed (white) blind to reflect the light from a speedlight, so that I can obtain more larger, reflected light.
Left: 1/50 sec, f/3.5, ISO 320 / Light Source: A Speedlight with a reflector (Closed blind)
Right: 1/320 sec, f/9, ISO 100 / Light Source: A Speedlight with a grid
>> DIRECT REFLECTION
▽The photographs below are the example of how direct reflections produced.
In the first photograph, a relatively small light source (a speedlight) was used, and the light source does not fill the specular part of the subject completely. Also, the shadows are rather hard compared to the second photograph.
In the second photograph, a larger light source (a light from speedlight reflected by closed blind) was used, so the shadows are softer and the light fills mirror surface evenly, compared to the first photograph.
In this experiment, I have learned that I can control the appearance of specular surface by manipulating the size and an angle of the light source.
-I chose this subject because it had a specular surface on it and was rather small; I thought this would be a convenient size for this experiment.
-I used a speedlight as a light source on both photographs because I could use it in different way to diffuse or reduce some light; in this case, I used a closed (white) blind to reflect the light from a speedlight, so that I can obtain more larger, reflected light. (Same as former experience)
Left: 1/20 sec, f/4.5, ISO 125 / Light Source: A Speedlight
Right: 1/20 sec, f/4.5, ISO 125 / Light Source: A Speedlight with a reflector (Closed blind)
>> POLARIZED DIRECT REFLECTION
In this section, I'm going to demonstrate how polarized direct reflection affects to particular subject.
▽Speedlight with a grid, faster shutter speed, and slower aperture setting were used to take photographs below.
The second photograph (on the right) was taken with a C-PL filter, and it erased the polarized direct reflection especially on the parts of the subject that are made out of rubber. I used a speedlight (with a grid) as a light source to shot this set of photographs with highest possible shutter speed and slower aperture to obtain a nice and dark, invisible background.
Despite the fact that this Nikon's expensive lens is not real (It's a tumbler; ) ), it had both a surface made out of a material which conducts electricity and parts which does not conduct electricity just like a real one. The parts of a subject that has been made out of metal (golden emblem on the middle) is easily visible on both photographs; Whereas the other parts of the subject, plastic and rubber parts, which does not conduct electricity, appears darker because of the C-PL filter which eliminates the polarized direct reflection.
Left (Without PL filter): 1/320 sec, f/7.1, ISO 100 / Light Source: A Speedlight with a grid
Right (With PL filter): 1/320 sec, f/5.0, ISO 100 / Light Source: A Speedlight with a grid
▽These are another example of how polarized direct reflection appears on particular surface.
The petal of a flower and leaves does not conduct electricity, thus their surfaces looks different when the C-PL filter
is used to eliminate the polarized direct reflection on them. By using this technique, the flower looks more natural.
Left (Without PL filter): 1/320 sec, f/5.3, ISO 640 / Light Source: Sunlight
Right (With PL filter): 1/200 sec, f/5.3, ISO 640 / Light Source: Sunlight