GanzChroma 0323
In the hands of an artist, reflections become a storytelling tool. During last week 2-hour mentorship session at Alpha Chromatica Education (ACE), Elmoatasem Ragab gave Moises notes on refining the firefighters' visor.
The takeaway?
It’s not just about adding fire reflections, it’s about making them behave realistically. If the character in the foreground blocks part of the fire, the reflection should show that occlusion, shaping the scene with subtle precision. Elmoatasem’s advice didn’t stop there.
He stressed the delicate art of glows: too much glow muddies details, but controlled, localized glows give the impression of light wrapping naturally, adding depth without overwhelming the scene.
Keeping contrasts crisp while allowing for soft falloff makes all the difference in creating a polished, believable shot.
These are the moments when compositing becomes more than technical, it becomes an exploration of light and its interplay.
The difference between good and great lies in mastering these details: knowing when to let light spill and when to hold it back, and experimenting until everything sits just right.
P.S. If you’re not playing with glows, are you even glowing? 🌟