One of the best light modifiers might be at your local hardware store rather than photo store

 

 

Strobes can be very expensive, ranging from hundreds of dollars well into the thousands. If you're just starting out, the cost of artificial lighting can be prohibitive. Fortunately, every day a bright, very useful light source rises above the horizon, its lighting prowess just waiting to be harnessed. Professional photographer Alexis Cuarezma has created a video focused on lighting without strobes to help you learn the best ways to take advantage of natural light and put it to work for you.

Cuarezma's favorite light modifier and tool for utilizing natural light isn't photography gear at all, but rather a piece of Styrofoam insulation that you can get at any hardware store. On one side of the insulation is a very reflective silver coating. It works as an excellent light bouncing tool. You can see a variety of images Cuarezma has shot using these reflective tools in the video below. He sometimes utilizes more than one to gain greater control over lighting. You can purchase them for around $5 a piece. Make sure you get one with a nice textured surface rather than a smooth surface, as a rough surface helps reflect light more evenly.

By the way, if you already have strobes or flashes, you can utilize these reflectors to bounce your artificial light source too! To see more from Alexis Cuarezma, visit his website and YouTube channel.

(Via SLR Lounge)