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Index Page: Measuring Light

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"Bouncing" Light to Brighten Dark Areas
(Bodie, California, USA)

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Location: Bodie, California, USA
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The "busy-ness" of this fully-stocked tack room is part of its turn-of-the-century charm. You can almost hear the harmonica playing in the background.

Photo Technique Just as a flash can introduce more light to a dark area, you can also reflect light into the dark areas using reflective material. This is often called bouncing light, using reflectors. Many are made specifically for photographers, costing upwards $50. I use the $10 car windshield panels you can buy in auto parts stores. They come conveniently in two colors: shiny silver and shiny gold. They make them shiny because light reflecting out of the car keeps it cooler. For photography, these reflective materials are great for adding a cooler (silver) or warmer (gold) tone to your images. The interior of this room was lit entirely by bouncing afternoon light using a gold panel. The "bluer" areas at the bottom of the room is not getting the benefit of the gold tone, which adds to the drama of the scene.