Honeycrate Reflectors: Cinematic Light Quality
As filmmakers, we are constantly in a dance with light. We shape it, diffuse it, flag it, and bounce it. While powerful lights create our key, the subtle art of the bounce is often what brings an image to life, especially when working with actors in challenging lighting conditions. How do you fill in shadows without overwhelming your talent? How do you add warmth without swapping a light? And critically, how do you do it all without making your actor squint, compromising the very performance you’re trying to capture?
In this lesson excerpt from our Cinematic Light Quality Masterclass, renowned cinematographer Shane Hurlbut, ASC, breaks down his practical, on-set approach to using a variety of reflectors — specifically the versatile Honeycrate system. Read on for a hands-on demonstration of how choosing the right reflective surface can solve common lighting problems, enhance skin tones, and ultimately, protect the emotional integrity of a scene.
YOU WILL LEARN:
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More Lessons on Cinematic Light Quality:
- Cinematic Light Quality: Silver Bounce
- Cinematic Light Quality: Batten Lights
- Light Quality Lab: DMG Maxi & Depron Dome for Soft Light
- Cinematic Lighting with Shane Hurlbut, ASC: Xenon Light
WATCH NOW:
THE BASELINE SETUP AND THE SQUINTING PROBLEM:
In the demonstration, Shane begins with a common lighting scenario: a strong backlight (in this case, a powerful Q10 light) creating a beautiful edge on the talent, Kyra Grace. The natural next step is to add fill light from the front to see into her eyes and soften the shadows under her chin. The initial choice is a standard White and Silver Honeycrate reflector. This surface provides a bright, clean fill and creates a nice reflection in the eyes.
However, this presents a common on-set challenge. “The sun’s super bright,” Shane notes, and even a powerful bounced source can be intense. “I have found that a lot of people with blue eyes are super sensitive, especially with the sun.”
When a bright reflector is brought in, actors instinctively squint to protect their eyes. This physical reaction can take them out of the moment and compromise the emotional performance that is so crucial for the scene. So, what’s the solution when your bounce is too powerful?
THE SOLUTION FOR SENSITIVE EYES: THE BLACK & WHITE REFLECTOR
This is where Shane reveals a custom tool born from practical experience.
“For blue eyes,” he says, “I’ve had Honeycrate make me a black and white [reflector] so it’s not so intense.”
By replacing the highly reflective silver side with a non-reflective black surface, the intensity of the bounce is cut dramatically.
The white side still provides a soft, beautiful fill light that gently lifts the shadows under the eyes and chin, but without the overwhelming intensity that causes squinting. It’s a perfect example of prioritizing the actor’s comfort to preserve the integrity of their performance. You get the necessary fill without the distracting, performance-killing brightness.
ADDING PUNCH AND WARMTH: SILVER & GOLD SURFACES
Sometimes, you need more punch or a specific color temperature from your bounce. This is where silver and gold surfaces come into play.
First, Shane demonstrates the Hard Silver side of the reflector. This surface is far more specular and intense, delivering a powerful kick of light.
“Now I can kind of make her squint with the hard silver,” he jokes, showing how the intensity immediately affects the talent.
While powerful, it must be used with caution and often from a greater distance.
Next, he introduces a more nuanced tool: the Silver and Gold reflector, often called a “checkerboard” or “zebra” pattern. This surface provides a beautiful blend of a clean silver bounce with a warm golden hue.
“Look how good that looks on Kyra’s skin tone,” Shane points out. “It’s just bringing that kind of slight gold and silver into there.”
This technique adds a pleasing warmth without being overwhelmingly golden, often creating a healthy, sun-kissed look. Shane adds a crucial tip:
“I find that this is incredible on darker skin tones […] and this really separates them from the background.”
For an even stronger warming effect, one can use the Super Gold reflector, which delivers a very rich, warm kick of light, perfect for emulating a deep sunset or adding significant warmth to a scene.
THE GUIDING PHILOSOPHY: PROTECTING THE PERFORMANCE
Shane’s demonstration reveals his core lighting philosophy: balancing technical needs with the human element of filmmaking. Every choice is made to support the story and the actors.
“The performance and the emotion is so important,” Shane emphasizes. “And if you’re bringing in and filling a lot of that light in there, it’s gonna make them squint and not deliver that emotion that’s so important for the scene.”
Using different reflectors isn’t just about changing the look; it’s about finding the right tool that allows the actor to remain comfortable and emotionally present. This journey from a powerful silver bounce to a gentler black and white surface is a perfect illustration of a cinematographer’s problem-solving on the fly to protect the performance above all else.
THE BOTTOM LINE: GET THE FULL MASTERCLASS
This exploration of silver bounce and foam lighting is just a small part of the Cinematic Light Quality Masterclass. To unlock the full power of cinematic lighting and learn from detailed, on-set demonstrations, purchase the complete masterclass today!
You’ll gain the knowledge and skills to transform your lighting from ordinary to extraordinary and to tell stories with light in a way you never thought possible.
More Lessons on Cinematic Light Quality:
- Cinematic Light Quality: Silver Bounce
- Cinematic Light Quality: Batten Lights
- Light Quality Lab: DMG Maxi & Depron Dome for Soft Light
- Cinematic Lighting with Shane Hurlbut, ASC: Xenon Light
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