To create a dramatic, sculpted look on a subject's face using only one portable LED panel and a reflector, where would an expert place the reflector relative to the light source and subject?

To achieve a dramatic, sculpted look on a subject's face, the single portable LED panel, acting as the main light source, is first positioned above and to one side of the subject. This off-axis placement creates strong, directional light and prominent shadows, which are essential for defining facial contours and adding dimension. The reflector's purpose in this setup is to act as a "fill light," subtly illuminating the shadows created by the main LED panel without eliminating them. This reduces overall contrast to a desirable level, preventing the deepest shadows from becoming entirely black while preserving the sculpted quality of the light. An expert would place the reflector on the "shadow side" of the subject's face. The shadow side is the area of the face that receives the least direct light from the main LED panel. This means the reflector is positioned on the side of the subject opposite to where the main LED panel is placed. The reflector is then angled to catch light from the main LED panel and bounce it back into these specific shadow areas. This targeted reflection gently lifts the detail within the shadows, creating a sense of depth and form. For a dramatic, sculpted look, the reflector's distance and angle are carefully adjusted to provide just enough fill to reveal detail without flattening the strong light and shadow contrast, thus enhancing the three-dimensional appearance of the face.