This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Reflections
Photographers love finding reflections; it’s almost like a scavenger hunt, seeking out as many reflective surfaces as possible. You can find reflections in windows, lakes, shiny metal, water puddles...the list goes on.
The key to photographing a reflective surface while achieving an acceptable level of sharpness is to use a high f-stop, such as f/12 or higher. A higher f-stop is necessary because, although the reflective surface is close to the camera, the subject being reflected is farther away. You need a long depth of field to get the entire reflection sharp and in focus (Figure 4.21). Also, changing your angle to the reflection will help minimize the chances of your own reflection being the image—unless, of course, the intention is to capture your reflection for a self-portrait.
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Figure 4.21 I used the trees to frame the reflection and a higher f-stop for maximum depth of field.
ISO 100 • 1/250 sec. • f/16 • 15mm lens
Reflections can be a great way to tell a story, and they allow us to frame our images in a creative manner. When you’re traveling to a city, see if you can photograph architecture reflected in another building’s windows. If it rains, use the wet streets and puddles to take reflection photos of the famous buildings, monuments, and sculptures. And don’t forget to use mirrors to take unique self-portraits while you’re traveling!