While some may stress over light fixtures, others are stressing over reflections.
Australian cinematographer Lewis Potts has been testing out a new kind of material, intended to bring a subtle realism to bounced light. Pott recently picked up an Alexa 35, which I assume he used to shoot this creative video.
Created by Nicholas Bluff, Bluff Bounce came from necessity. Bluff felt that he needed something that matched the real world. The designs generally fit outdoor situations, and I’d personally love to try out the “Brazilian Beach Bounce” and “Beige Bounce” on my studio sets.
Bluff feels that ultra-bounce or lamé materials can be harsh and aren’t needed with modern, sensitive camera sensors. As a result, there isn’t a specular quality to his material. I feel like this helps lean into realism.
I like the idea and think it would save time during the grade in post. Muted beige colors can be harder to get across in camera. I’ve seen people utilize a blue gel on their bounced lights, and plenty of DIY options exist, but not ad-hoc reflection like Bluff.
They’re only a small outfit, and shipping can take a couple of weeks. The smallest option, a 6x6 bounce, costs $350. Getting up to the 12x12 will set you back $600. In comparison, most of TRP Worldwide’s 12x12 materials run for about half that.
Obviously, you’re only buying the material here, and will need a frame. If you’re only utilizing something as small as the 6x6, then I thoroughly recommend Chimera’s frame options. They’re lightweight, easy to travel with, and are surprisingly strong. I wouldn’t recommend using them in challenging environments, though. They'll bend under the weight of sandbags and straps.
I saw this and all I can think is "why haven't we always used bounces this color?"