I recently wrote a piece on using natural and architectural elements like trees, arches, windows, and other apertures in my photography to frame the central subject and add visual interest. In this post, I want to explore another technique that’s a favorite of mine – reflection photography. If you’ve ever captured the mirror image of a landscape in a lake or the reflection of a building in a puddle, then you know what I’m talking about. Of course, water is not the only medium that can work for this purpose, as mirrors, glass, and other reflective surfaces can also do the trick beautifully. Regardless of the vehicle, the technique adds interest, sometimes even an abstract or surreal element, and lends the photo greater depth, dimension, and drama.
In looking through my collection of photographs and selecting images for this post, I came to realize two things. One, I seem to gravitate towards this type of shot, particularly in an urban context using water, and sometimes windows and glass, to capture the reflected subject. Two, while my inventory is fairly extensive, it’s not particularly good. As in, I could do a lot more creatively to take better, more imaginative shots and to play with angles to achieve abstract photos.
While I would love to continue practicing said techniques in fun new locales, unfortunately, it’s unlikely that I’ll be doing much traveling in the near future. But with the right vantage and conditions and enough imagination, reflection photography can be practiced anywhere. Right at home, even – Seattle, in my case. Which is fortunate, for if there’s one thing that the Pacific Northwest has in abundance, it’s water. And it’s not short on stunning vantages either.
With that, I present 35 photos featuring reflected images. Judge them – if you must – but definitely use them as inspiration to get out there and practice this technique yourself.
Mirror nature
Urban reflections
Bridge under water
Poolside lounging, and other reflections
Seeing double at dawn and dusk
