An automated luminaire and method are presented. The luminaire includes a light source, an ellipsoidal reflector, an optical device, and a controller. The ellipsoidal reflector produces an emitted light beam and moves along an optical axis. The optical device receives the emitted light beam and produces either a modified light beam or an unmodified light beam. The controller determines whether the optical device is producing the modified or unmodified light beam. If the optical device is producing the modified light beam, the controller automatically moves the ellipsoidal reflector to a selected position to reduce an effect on the optical device of a hotspot in the emitted light beam. The controller may move the ellipsoidal reflector to a selected position relative to the light source in response to determining that the optical device is producing the modified light beam.