Photography Tips for Everyday Moments

In a world filled with extraordinary beauty, sometimes it's the ordinary moments that hold the most magic. In the "Photography Tips for Everyday Moments" series, William Stanek invites you to see the world through a new lens, where the everyday becomes art. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or just beginning your journey, these articles are designed to help you capture the subtle beauty that often goes unnoticed.

National Parks | US Itineraries | American Roadtrips

Reflections in photography offer a unique opportunity to capture the world in a way that is both familiar and surreal. Whether found in a calm lake, a shiny window, or a polished surface, reflections can double the beauty of a scene, create perfect symmetry, or distort reality in intriguing ways. Here, we’ll explore the art of photographing reflections, focusing on composition, symmetry, and perspective to help you create compelling images that capture the magic of mirrored worlds.

Introduction: The Allure of Reflections in Photography

Reflections have a special place in photography, offering a way to see the world from a different perspective. They can create striking symmetry, add depth to a composition, and even introduce an element of mystery or abstraction to an image. When you photograph reflections, you’re not just capturing a scene—you’re capturing the interaction between reality and its mirror image, creating a dialogue between the two that can be visually captivating and conceptually rich.

Mastering the art of photographing reflections requires an understanding of how to compose your shots, make the most of symmetry, and play with perspective. By exploring these techniques, you can create images that not only capture the beauty of a scene but also invite viewers to see the world in a new and intriguing way.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the nuances of photographing reflections, helping you to capture images that are as reflective as they are reflective—doubling the beauty and impact of your photography.

Reflection Composition: How to Compose Your Shot to Make the Most of Reflections

The key to successful reflection photography lies in your composition. How you frame the scene and position the reflection can dramatically affect the impact of your image.

Including the Horizon Line:
One of the simplest and most effective ways to compose a reflection shot is to include the horizon line, where the real scene and its reflection meet. Placing the horizon line in the center of the frame creates a balanced, mirror-like effect that emphasizes the symmetry of the reflection. This technique works particularly well with calm water surfaces, where the reflection is almost as clear as the scene itself, creating a perfect duplicate of the sky, trees, or buildings.

Alternatively, placing the horizon line higher or lower in the frame can create a more dynamic composition. A lower horizon line emphasizes the reflection, while a higher horizon line highlights the sky or landscape above. Experiment with different placements to see how they change the mood and focus of your image.

Framing the Reflection:
When photographing reflections, consider how you frame the reflection within the overall composition. For example, you might use natural elements like trees, rocks, or architecture to frame the reflection, adding depth and context to the image. This approach can help guide the viewer’s eye through the scene, creating a sense of balance and harmony between the reflection and its surroundings.

You can also frame the reflection more abstractly, focusing solely on the reflected image without showing its source. This technique can create a sense of mystery or disorientation, as the viewer is left to guess what the original scene might look like.

Filling the Frame with Reflection:
Another powerful composition technique is to fill the entire frame with the reflection, eliminating the original scene altogether. This approach can turn an ordinary scene into a surreal or abstract image, where the reflection becomes the main subject. By focusing solely on the reflected image, you can create compositions that play with shapes, colors, and textures in unique and unexpected ways.

This technique is particularly effective when photographing reflections in water, where ripples and waves can distort the reflection, creating a painterly effect. By filling the frame with these distorted reflections, you can create images that are more about mood and impression than realism.

Pro Tip: Pay attention to the clarity of the reflection. The smoother the reflective surface, the clearer the reflection will be. For water reflections, try shooting early in the morning or late in the evening when the water is calm. For reflections in glass or metal, consider the angle of the light and the cleanliness of the surface.

Exercise: Choose a reflective surface—whether it’s water, glass, or a polished object—and experiment with different compositions. Try placing the horizon line in various positions, framing the reflection with natural elements, and filling the frame with the reflection. Reflect on how each composition technique changes the mood and impact of the image.

Symmetry and Reflection: Using Reflections to Create Symmetrical Compositions

One of the most striking uses of reflections in photography is to create symmetrical compositions. Symmetry naturally appeals to our sense of order and balance, and when combined with reflections, it can create images that are both visually stunning and deeply satisfying.

Perfect Symmetry with Reflections:
To create perfect symmetry with reflections, place the horizon line in the center of the frame, so the real scene and its reflection mirror each other exactly. This technique works best with scenes that are naturally symmetrical, such as bridges, buildings, or landscapes with a central focal point. The reflection doubles the symmetry, creating a composition that is harmonious and balanced.

For example, photographing a bridge with its reflection in the water can create a perfect arch, where the reflection completes the shape of the structure. Similarly, capturing the reflection of a mountain or tree line in a calm lake can create a mirror image that feels peaceful and serene.

Breaking Symmetry for Interest:
While perfect symmetry can be visually compelling, breaking the symmetry can add interest and tension to your composition. For example, you might capture a reflection where the water is slightly disturbed, creating ripples that distort the symmetrical image. This subtle imperfection can add depth and texture to the composition, making it more dynamic and engaging.

You can also break symmetry by including an element in the scene that is not reflected, such as a person, animal, or object that only appears in the original scene or only in the reflection. This approach creates a contrast between the two halves of the image, adding a layer of complexity and intrigue.

Using Reflections for Vertical Symmetry:
Reflections are particularly effective for creating vertical symmetry, where the top and bottom halves of the image mirror each other. This technique can be used to emphasize the height of tall structures, such as skyscrapers or trees, by showing them both above and below the horizon line. The reflection elongates the subject, creating a sense of grandeur and scale.

Vertical symmetry is also a powerful tool for creating abstract or surreal images. For example, photographing the reflection of a building in a puddle can create an image where the architecture seems to float in an undefined space, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.

Pro Tip: When composing symmetrical reflections, take the time to align your camera with the horizon line and ensure that the reflection is perfectly mirrored. Use a tripod if necessary to stabilize your camera and make precise adjustments to the composition.

Exercise: Find a location where you can create a symmetrical composition using reflections. Experiment with both perfect symmetry and breaking symmetry by introducing elements that disrupt the reflection. Reflect on how symmetry and asymmetry affect the balance and mood of your images.

Playing with Perspective: How Changing Your Angle Affects the Reflection

Perspective plays a crucial role in photographing reflections, as even a small change in your angle can dramatically alter the appearance of the reflection. By experimenting with different perspectives, you can create images that range from realistic to abstract, from literal to surreal.

Low Angles for Dramatic Reflections:
Shooting from a low angle, close to the reflective surface, can enhance the reflection and make it more prominent in the composition. This technique works particularly well with water reflections, where getting close to the surface can create the illusion of a seamless mirror, merging the reflection with the original scene.

A low angle can also add drama and depth to the image, as it emphasizes the foreground and leads the viewer’s eye through the reflection to the background. For example, photographing a city skyline reflected in a puddle from a low angle can make the buildings appear to rise out of the water, creating a sense of depth and scale.

High Angles for Abstract Reflections:
Conversely, shooting from a high angle can create more abstract reflections, where the reflection is distorted or fragmented by the angle of view. This technique is effective when photographing reflections in uneven or textured surfaces, such as rippling water, glass, or metal.

A high angle can also create interesting juxtapositions between the reflection and its surroundings, as the reflection may appear in unexpected places or at unusual angles. For example, photographing the reflection of a tree in a window from a high angle can create an image where the tree seems to grow out of the building, blending nature with architecture in a surreal way.

Experimenting with Angles for Unique Reflections:
One of the joys of photographing reflections is discovering how different angles can create unique and unexpected effects. Don’t be afraid to experiment with unconventional perspectives, such as shooting at an angle to the reflective surface or capturing the reflection from an oblique view.

These unconventional perspectives can create images that challenge the viewer’s perception, making them question what is real and what is reflected. For example, photographing a reflection at an angle can create the illusion of depth and layers, where the reflection seems to recede into the distance, creating a sense of space and complexity.

Pro Tip: When experimenting with perspective, take multiple shots from different angles to see how the reflection changes. Review the images to find the angle that creates the most interesting or impactful reflection, and use that perspective to craft your final composition.

Exercise: Choose a reflective surface and photograph it from various angles—low, high, and oblique. Observe how each angle affects the appearance of the reflection and the overall composition. Reflect on how perspective can change the mood, depth, and meaning of the image, and consider how you can use these techniques in future reflection photography.

Mastering the Art of Photographing Reflections

Photographing reflections is a fascinating and rewarding pursuit that offers endless creative possibilities. By mastering the techniques of composition, symmetry, and perspective, you can create images that capture the beauty and mystery of reflected worlds, doubling the impact of your photography.

Reflections as a Creative Tool:
Reflections are more than just a mirror of reality—they are a creative tool that allows you to explore new perspectives, play with symmetry, and create abstract or surreal images. Whether you’re photographing reflections in water, glass, or metal, the key is to experiment and push the boundaries of your creativity. By embracing the nuances of reflection photography, you can create images that are visually stunning, conceptually rich, and emotionally engaging.

Pro Tip: Always be open to the unexpected when photographing reflections. Sometimes the most interesting reflections are the ones you didn’t plan for—those fleeting moments when light, angle, and surface come together to create something magical. Stay curious, and let your creativity guide you as you explore the reflective world around you.

Exercise: Create a portfolio of reflection images, exploring different reflective surfaces, compositions, and perspectives. Focus on capturing both literal and abstract reflections, and reflect on how each approach changes the mood and meaning of the image. Share your work with a photography group or mentor for feedback, and continue refining your skills through practice and experimentation.

Conclusion: Capturing Double the Beauty with Reflections

Photographing reflections offers a unique way to see the world, doubling the beauty of a scene and creating images that are both familiar and surreal. By mastering composition, symmetry, and perspective, you can create reflection photographs that are visually compelling and rich in meaning.

As you continue to explore the creative potential of reflections, remember that the key to great reflection photography is to see beyond the surface. Use reflections to tell stories, to challenge perceptions, and to create images that captivate and inspire.

Share your reflection photography with us on Instagram using #ReflectionInFocus. We’re excited to see how you’re capturing the beauty and mystery of reflections in your images.