CONTRAST AND SHADOW FILL

Objective- set a still life and show the different contrast levels
between diffused light and un diffused light.

Use both white and silver reflectors at different distances from
the object and note the changes in contrast and shadow levels

WHICH IMAGE HAS THE MOST CONTRAST?


FULL LIGHT

The most contrasted image is the one below
which is a harsh light with no reflector
There is a greater level of light and dark areas in the image

 The white reflector has reduced the shadows and
filled in the light on the dark side of the object. The light is
softer than that of the silver reflector. There has only been
a little light reflected when the white reflector was placed 3 ft away
from the object.

The silver reflector has given the strongest reflected light
back onto the shadow area of the object. As the light is not
diffused it is very strong and



DIFFUSED LIGHT

The light that is diffused is less harsh so ideally I should have
increased the exposure by a stop or two. This is because the light
is more spread across the surface of the object.

Even though the light is darker it is much softer as it is being

diffused

The white reflector is bouncing back the soft diffused light

onto the shadow side of the object. Placing the white card

next too the object has reduced the shadow and so for

reduced the contrast of the image



The silver reflector has given the strongest reflected
light back onto the object. The light is harder than the white
card so could be better to use if you want to " fill in" the light
in a dark area of your image.

COMMENTS

Use reflectors to fill in shadows on images that have high contrast
and light variances. Note that silver reflectors give the maximum
reflection that the distance between the reflector and the object
can increase the level of light reflected back.

Diffused lighting is softer than harsh lighting and shadows are softer
Note that diffused light requires for different exposure levels to harsh
lights.