How to Photograph Reflections

Reflection in a Window

I use the polarizing filter to reduce reflections when I want to minimize the reflections off of glass or water in an image. However, there are times that you may want to use the reflections to create an artistic image. Shooting for a deep depth of field and cropping unwanted reflections from an image will maximize the use of a reflection. Read on to learn more about how to use reflections to create an artistic image.

Things You'll Need

• Camera
• Glass or water reflections in a scene

Instructions

1. 

   Photographing reflections of people enables the photographer to capture natural expressions. It is kind of a sneaky way to take candid pictures of people. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that the simple act of observing something may change the outcome of the event. If I had pointed my camera directly at this couple to take their picture and they saw me, would the young lady's smile have been so natural and broad? I doubt it.

2. 

   Photographing a reflection gives an eerie quality to the light and is different at different times of the day. I prefer sunset for this sort of work when the shadows are not as hard and the angle of the sun is more dramatic. Notice there is a doubling effect that occurs from the glass, which in this case gives a "soft" feel to the candid portrait.

3. 

   While photographing reflections, pay attention to the shadow reflections. I like to sometimes create images of things that aren't really there. In this case the "eye flow" takes you directly to the subject. The eye usually travels to the brightest spot, which in this case is the wall with the shadows of the people and trees. The "story" is in the shadows, not the items in the window.

4. 

   Sometimes the lighting may be perfect as in this image, but so what. The reflection has too much going on and it is not clear what this is really a picture of. When shooting reflections of people take a lot of pictures. It is kind of like "wild shooting," although you are looking through the viewfinder. You are not always sure of what you are getting. The only thing you are sure of is your exposure and that the Heisenberg Principle is not in play.

5. 

   Sometimes the reflection is the whole story. This is a reflection of a sunset at a Sushi restaurant in Maui. The golden setting sun gives great texture to the wood and frames the setting sun reflected in the glass. The depth of field is limited, so the sun is just a glow in the glass window. The "story" here is the mood of the setting and the feelings it generates.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with different aperture settings; sometimes it is good to have the reflection blurred.