Taking pictures with reflections is a fun and challenging way to improve photography skills.
Armed with a digital camera, the photographer no longer knows any bounds. In the past, a photographer had to wait hours or days for the film to be developed to see if what he saw is also what the film captured. Today, any photographer can experiment with capturing reflections of objects and instantly see and adjust the camera settings to obtain the desired effect. Photographing reflections can now be fun and challenging.
Instructions
1. Find a reflective surface. Any water source will work, as well as mirrors, glass, chrome or a polished surface like dark marble. Look for landmarks near the reflective surface that are interesting, easily recognizable or colorful.
2. Time of day is important. If taking photos of reflections in water, wait until a few hours before sunset or a few hours after sunrise. Those are the times of the day when the wind is typically calmest and the water surface will be flat. That time of day also has the best light. It is soft and has tints of oranges and pinks in it, making for a more dramatic photo reflection.
3. Use a wide angle lens. Get a wide view of the subject to include both the reflected surface and the object being reflected.
4. Set the camera on a tripod. The light source will not be strong early or late in the day, so using a tripod ensures a clear, crisp image will be taken in low-light conditions.
5. Put the lens on a small f-stop like F-11 to get a sharp picture from close to near infinity.
6. Be creative. Change angles, move around and experiment with the shot. The first attempts may seem boring when viewed in the viewfinder, so keep trying. When you get the angle you like, shot and keep shooting.
Tags: experiment with, reflections challenging, reflective surface, source will
