Angles of Incidence and Reflection
Learn how to position your lights right every time.
If you’ve ever struggled to position a light correctly, or wondered how to avoid glaring reflections in an image, this class will answer all of your questions.
Here, Karl breaks down some simple laws of physics to help you get to grips with how reflections work and how you can optimise them in your photography.
After describing the four different types of reflection, Karl goes on to explain the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection. (In the video, the latter is sometimes referred to as the ‘angle of reflectance’.)
Understanding how these angles relate to one another is crucial to capturing successful photographs. Using graphical examples, mirrors, laser pointers, smoke pellets and even a Harley Davidson motorcycle, Karl demonstrates how to put this key aspect of lighting theory into practice.
To wrap up the class, he shares a handy technique for removing glaring reflections from a shot – without having to move your lights.
By the end of the video, you’ll have a deeper understanding of how light works and how to harness and manipulate it for stronger images.
In this photography class:
- The four types of reflection
- The angle of incidence
- The angle of reflection
- Using polarising filters in photography
- How to use a laser pointer to position studio lights
- Adjusting focal length to alter reflections
If you enjoyed this class, check out Understanding Light or Harley Davidson Night Rod Photoshoot.
You may also like to watch How and Why to Polarise Light in Studio Photography, which Karl mentions in the conclusion to this class.
Questions? Please post them in the comments below.
Comments
Dear Karl, This is very clear now. Thank you.
Yes!! Answered how to fix my problem. Thanks a bunch, Karl (& Emma for reminding me about this video).
Hello Karl, Just came across my mind. Is the concept of “angle of incidence and reflection” is applicable to only reflective surfaces or it also applies to where the light should be placed generally as well? Please advise. If yes, then i was wondering if there is a good source where it also explains the science behind placing the lights?
Hi, primarily the concepts covered in this video are to do with ‘image forming reflections’ on glossy reflective surfaces. Diffused and matt/satin surfaces scatter the light in all directions and therefore light can be coming from a far greater range of angles and still be brightly illuminating its surface, however the angles of reflection still apply if you want to record maximum brightness even on a diffused surface. Generally speaking with regards where to place lights this is dependent on many factors such as where you want shadows to fall or the size of the light for the type of shadow you require, fill lights for the density of shadows and much more. The process of creativity in lighting is something that comes with practise and by observing the classes on our platform. After a while you will begin to look at other photographers work and you will be able to calculate where the lights were and approximately what types of light were used and why. Lighting and the human response to lighting is an emotional/mood response and we essentially should be lighting to depict a certain mood such as, happy, bright, cheerful, edgy, dark, mysterious, sad, punchy, dynamic etc etc – you first have to think of the mood you want to portray and then you light accordingly.