Jump to content

Recommended Posts

I stumbled upon this behind-the-scenes photo of the Transformers: The Last Knight and saw the grip holding a gold reflector. I know that for many of you this is probably nothing extraordinary, but I didnt really find many instances of it being mentioned in an interview with a DOP or something like that.

 

TransformersSBgr1.jpg

 

The Last Knight really did have some lovely tanned, copperish skin tones in some scenes, and I wonder if at least in part that is thanks to the gold reflector.

 

So I wanted to know is it really rare or not rare at all? Are there any DOPs that are known to use it whenever the scene might call for it or be suitable for its use?

 

Then I saw that Manfrotto offers some other possibilities: Sunfire, Sunlite, and SoftSilver:

 

https://www.manfrotto.us/30-tri-flip-kit-2-stop-trigrip-diffuser-7-colors

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/418586-REG/Lastolite_LL_LR3696_TriFlip_8_in_1.html

 

Some Web sites, however, seem to show that Sunfire and Sunlite are not uniform, monochromatic, but rather striped, coming in two colours. Or maybe Im not getting something.

acabados-lastolite.jpg

 

Sunfire seems nice, though I cant firmly say which one I like best. I presume that these reflectors are mostly used by portrait and wedding photographers.

 

trigrip-colour-options.jpglastolite-circular-colour-options.jpg

 

I know that white, silver, and black are the most widely used, but what about the others? Anyone tried them? Anyone saw them used or mentioned somewhere? I remember that I asked David and Satsuki about the checkerboard reflector in some thread around here, and I think that they said that they seem to recall perhaps Deakins using it somewhere.

 

https://www.filmandvideolighting.com/6x6chregolim.html

http://www.filmtools.com/6x6chlacat30.html

http://www.cinemagadgets.com/productdetail/465

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They've been around for decades for portraiture. They were invented by Lastolite in England.

Their predecessors, metal, then tinfoil, have been used as fill in outdoor scenes since at least the 30s- the giveaway is a rather specular look as someone walks by.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Handy for docs etc, Lastolite can fit nicely into the lighting case, so can be used when lighting interiors. They also have green screen and other backgrounds, although the folding can be even more interesting than the circular reflectors.

First time I took one of the 6'x8's down I had to stuff it in the back of the car because I hadn't got the hang of collapsing it.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It seems that in cinematography there’s hardly an instance where a DOP wants some kind of colour cast. Instead, it’s as if the main goal is to first shoot everything as neutrally as possible, setting up contrast ratios and stuff like that, and then mess with everything regarding colour in post. Or something like that.

 

But these reflectors seem to be pretty subtle. Perhaps that’s my answer: if they’re subtle, hardly different than a white bounce board, then why use them?

 

Then there’s the impression that everything these days is going for dark and moody, as opposed to light, feathery, and sunny.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Member

I"ve used gold quite a few time; you also have checkerboard on a mix of gold and silver. Nice when you have it in a 12x12 frame.

It's a case of; honestly, if you like the look you get, go for it.

We used shower-curtains for diffusion on occasion and carboard for bounces

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

From experience the effect of the gold reflector is quite pronounced.

 

 

 

The gold can be a bit too much on caucasian skin, but works really nicely with darker skin tones.

 

Gold indeed does seem like a bit to much in that Spanish panel above. treasurechest.giftreasuresmile1.gif

 

I’d really like to know what they used it for for The Last Knight. I’m a bit intrigued. :) It’s not a big frame, it seems to me.

Edited by Alexandros Angelopoulos Apostolos
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

 

Gold indeed does seem like a bit to much in that Spanish panel above. treasurechest.giftreasuresmile1.gif

 

I’d really like to know what they used it for for The Last Knight. I’m a bit intrigued. :) It’s not a big frame, it seems to me.

The reflector in the frame is obviously not what is lighting her face. Without seeing the movie, it's hard to say why they would have been using gold. Maybe just to accentuate warm skintones, or maybe to complement some VFX to be added later.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

I stumbled upon this behind-the-scenes photo of the Transformers: The Last Knight and saw the grip holding a gold reflector. I know that for many of you this is probably nothing extraordinary, but I didnt really find many instances of it being mentioned in an interview with a DOP or something like that.

 

TransformersSBgr1.jpg

 

The Last Knight really did have some lovely tanned, copperish skin tones in some scenes, and I wonder if at least in part that is thanks to the gold reflector.

 

So I wanted to know is it really rare or not rare at all? Are there any DOPs that are known to use it whenever the scene might call for it or be suitable for its use?

 

Then I saw that Manfrotto offers some other possibilities: Sunfire, Sunlite, and SoftSilver:

 

https://www.manfrotto.us/30-tri-flip-kit-2-stop-trigrip-diffuser-7-colors

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/418586-REG/Lastolite_LL_LR3696_TriFlip_8_in_1.html

 

Some Web sites, however, seem to show that Sunfire and Sunlite are not uniform, monochromatic, but rather striped, coming in two colours. Or maybe Im not getting something.

acabados-lastolite.jpg

 

Sunfire seems nice, though I cant firmly say which one I like best. I presume that these reflectors are mostly used by portrait and wedding photographers.

 

trigrip-colour-options.jpglastolite-circular-colour-options.jpg

 

I know that white, silver, and black are the most widely used, but what about the others? Anyone tried them? Anyone saw them used or mentioned somewhere? I remember that I asked David and Satsuki about the checkerboard reflector in some thread around here, and I think that they said that they seem to recall perhaps Deakins using it somewhere.

 

https://www.filmandvideolighting.com/6x6chregolim.html

http://www.filmtools.com/6x6chlacat30.html

http://www.cinemagadgets.com/productdetail/465

Sorry to open this thread up again after it finished, but, was this the same method that was used in previous western classics? Like the Once upon a time in the west?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Member

The old Sergio Leone westerns used a mix of techniques to fill in the shadows outdoors, from regular lights (from carbon arcs to maxi and mini-brutes) to silver reflector boards. I don't think they used gold reflectors, the actors were tanned enough.

 

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/once-upon-a-time-in-the-west/

BTSoncewestbig.jpg?1301095551

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Member

Balancing the camera for 4500k and then using a gold bounce on skintones, can work quite nicely for pushing a really heightened, saturated look. Super blue skies and bronze skin.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...