Shooting reflections

[newbie1]

<p>It is almost summer, the sky is bright, the tourists have their sun glasses on. I have been attempting to perfect shooting outdoor portrait shots on the street with what the people are looking at being reflected in their glasses. One on my very recent photos received comments on the reflection, with one wanting to know how it is done. As a novice at this I decided it best if I came to the best source of information, all of you; as I my shots doing this is for now just a hit and miss.<br>

I attempt to be able to see what the subject is seeing in her glasses through my lens. I try to keep the photo out of direct sun and try to not over expose it. I focus on her or his sun glasses.<br>

So, what is the best way to achieve this.</p>

<p> <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/photo?photo_id=9365396&size=lg"><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/9365396-md.jpg" border="0" alt="AS SHE WATCHS STREET PERFORMERS" width="680" height="1024" /></a></p>

[jpo3136b]

<p>Angle of incidence equals angle of reflection. These angles would need to be included in the field of view of the lens.</p>

<p>If you want to avoid the reflection, the angle of incidence has to be out of the lens' field of view. If you want to include it, it needs to fall within the field of view.</p>

<p>If you get confused, imagine the subject is like an anchor of a pendulum. Swing the camera position in a slow arc from left to right while pointing the camera at the subject. By changing the angle of camera to subject, you should see some changes in the reflections.</p>

<p>A good book that explains this in more detail is Fuqua's "Light: Science and Magic." There are several discussions about reflections; there are times when they will want to be avoided, and other times when they will want to be encouraged. Controlling the illumination of a reflective surface is an example of when a reflection might want to be included. I think Fuqua has an example in there lighting a spatula in the example photos. By changing the angles, the spatula can appear bright, dull, or dark.</p>

<p>Angle changes can be made in angle of incidence with lighting, by moving the lamp. Or, you can change the angle they are caught by changing the camera to subject angle, by moving the camera. In cases like the example photo above, you would want to move the camera from side to side until you see the reflection you want in the sunglasses. </p>

[Norma Desmond]

<p>While the exposure of your main subject is important, the exposure of what's being reflected can often be key. Notice how our eye is drawn to the sitting girl reflected in your main subject's left eye because the sun hits that sitting girl directly. Contrast that with how much less interesting is the empty dark street scene in the right eye. When the objects or people seen reflected in the glasses are in bright sunlight, you will often get that typical glimmer that comes with sunglass reflections, seems to convey summer, heat, action, etc. In many cases, this kind of shot will work best when slightly overexposed, especially if the lighting is right on your main subject and if the things reflected in the dark glasses are also grabbing some sun.</p>

<p>Don't look too much for formulas, because it'll get boring really quickly. Maybe you don't always focus on the sunglasses. Maybe you find the subject him or herself lit in such a way that you see not only the reflections but a bit of the eyes as well. And don't forget that you're still photographing a person (who's wearing the sunglasses). You called this a street portrait. You did get nice portrait lighting on the subject. Especially her hair has a nice feel and texture. The sun bringing attention to her nose is not great. And the sunglasses are so present on her face and in the shot that it feels like you were more interested in the reflections than in her. Perhaps if I felt some real connection (in terms of her expression, which I think is lacking here, or other things) between her and what she was looking at, the portrait aspect would come through more because I'd feel I knew something about her or at least engaged with her.</p>

<p>I ran across a street portrait with reflections in sunglasses recently that seemed to provide the sort of expression/connection I'm talking about. Certainly it has character.</p>

<p>By Ton Mestrom: http://www.photo.net/photo/9332498</p>

<p>By the way, I am compelled much more by your He Waits Patiently photograph. Really nice job on that one!</p>

[bobatkins]

<blockquote>

<p>So, what is the best way to achieve this.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Mirrored sunglasses?</p>

[newbie1]

<p>Thank you Fred. I also like that photo.</p>

[newbie1]

<p>Ahhh Bob. Yes mirrored sunglasses. However, not all sunglasses are mirrored. I have seen some great reflective photos here and am trying to learn.</p>

 

[Damon DAmato]

<p>I think the key is to have the reflection to be a stop or so over the subject. <br /> <br /> On the following two photos (click for larger size) you can see that the script in the hands of the subject are getting direct sun, and show up well. <br /> <br /> The Hollywood Blvd stars in the next photo barely show up, and the sidewalk was lit at about the same stop as the subject.</p>

<p align="center"> <br>

<a title="Andy Hirsch 3 by NoHoDamon, on Flickr" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2226/2515857870_7741528a0e_o.jpg" title="Andy Hirsch 3 by NoHoDamon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2226/2515857870_d2f7075d28.jpg" alt="Andy Hirsch 3" width="400" height="500" /> </a> <br /> <br /> <a title="Celluloid Hero by NoHoDamon, on Flickr" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2543072775_32a12eeda3_o.jpg" title="Celluloid Hero by NoHoDamon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2543072775_7964340c85.jpg" alt="Celluloid Hero" width="400" height="500" /> </a></p>

[Damon DAmato]

<p>Note to self. Work on skin tones.</p>

[charles_stobbs3]

If you want a reflection to be sharp focus on it, not the mirror or sunglasses

[newbie1]

<p>Message to Fred:</p>

<p>I visited your workspace. I found you work to be great, I love your photos. I tried to email you direct but I guess the server for emails is not working is the message I was given. Anyway, thank you for your input; it is greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Actually I appreciate all forum inputs and thoughts. This is how I learn from all of you.</p>

 

[mrraz]

<p>When shooting reflections DOF becomes important. You have to consider the distance between the camera(a), reflecting surface(b) and the reflected object©. The distance between b and c becomes the minimum DOF for both to be sharp. Sometimes that not an easy thing to accomplish, especially, when using a telephoto lens.</p>

<p>Experiment with mirrors around the house, and I think you'll find it's deceptively simple with practice.</p>