Reflections in the foreground of your landscape always provide a pleasing viewing experience because of the depth and symmetry they create. Here are some steps that can help you achieve a more refined output.
One of the most compelling image design techniques in landscape photography is the use of symmetry. In a natural setting, where shapes and patterns appear and form at random, it’s eye-catching to find views with near-perfect symmetry. To be able to find perspectives that are often obscure to a random passerby is a powerful expression of artistic vision and intent.
These symmetrical patterns are, of course, created by reflections found on the surface of bodies of water. In the natural environment, it is almost impossible to find reflections on other surfaces. No matter how big or small, whether it’s water in the ocean or from a small puddle, they can be used to create symmetry when given the right circumstances.
Light quality and intensity
The biggest determining factor is the direction and quality of the light. There are loads of factors around this, but in general, you need the landscape or main landscape element to be brighter than the water for it to reflect properly. Light (almost like the sun) can come from any direction. However, when it is generally behind the landscape, in the same way that a photograph will give you a silhouette, the reflection will also give you the silhouette. Of course, the feasibility of this will depend on the photographer’s preferences and their artistic goals.
Reflective surface
The surface to which the light will reflect is almost equally important. In natural landscape scenarios, this surface is largely water, and much of what this article will discuss would be applicable to that. However, other reflective surfaces, such as glass and metal, can still be commonly used in urban environments. Either way, how clean the surface is plays an important role in the overall aesthetic of the shot. On metal and glass, smudges and cracks can be noticeably messy, and on water, floating objects and even surface ripples can distract from an image. reflection and main subject. How objects are placed in the frame and compared to the reflection of the landscape will be important, especially when it is expected to clean it up in post-processing.
Circular polarizer
Circular polarizing filter or CPL can greatly improve and enhance the reflection on the water surface. The CPL filter manipulates and redirects light in such a way that it manages reflection and glare. With this principle, the CPL filter can also redirect glare from particles reflected in the atmosphere, which enhances the blue color of the clear sky and enhances the contrast between the blue sky and the projected clouds. shining. However, in the context of foreground reflection, the filter can actually reduce the clarity of (or even eliminate) the reflection or improve the contrast depending on the position of the polarizing filter. .
Motion blur
It may seem counterproductive to use motion blur on reflection for the sake of better clarity and contrast, but it’s actually the opposite. Water creates a moving surface while the reflection is relatively stationary. By exposing the water long enough to smooth and flatten the surface of the water, one can achieve a cleaner surface on which the light will be reflected. The length of the contact will depend entirely on the speed of the water, as well as the movement of the floating turbulence, if any. Furthermore, the water condition for high levels of floating litter is preferred because if, during the exposure period, the object (which can be trash or even floating leaves, especially when the color is noticeably bright). narrated) can cover important. parts of the reflection and spoil the layout.
To achieve this, ND filter plays an important role as most applicable shooting situations are during the day when there is a lot of ambient light. However, it is also possible to shoot reflections at night, even with the night sky in the background, as long as the conditions are favorable for night photography. During the day, the drying process can take a long time to ensure that the pavement in the water is as smooth and clean as possible. Some instances of perfectly still water can be captured with a fast shutter speed, then simply retouched for any imperfections. On the other hand, for any situation with running water and any moving elements, the exposure time required will depend on how long it takes to achieve a smooth texture and make the clutter disappear. loss, and so this will determine what type of ND Filter is needed.
Tweak and Edit
If and when the shooting is done meticulously for the reflective background, retouching may not be entirely necessary. This is also the case for clutter cases that are recognized in water as natural objects as well as leaves and flowers. Solid objects in the foreground, such as rocks and driftwood, are not necessarily automatically considered cluttered. While they may not completely contribute to the symmetry created by the water in the foreground, if they are placed in a part of the frame that benefits the overall flow and visual design, they really do. can add a sense of depth to the overall image and in turn does not necessarily have to be removed to achieve a refined output.
The aim of a landscape photographer’s workflow in photographing places with interesting reflections is to be able to capture symmetry as perfectly as possible. Perfect symmetry is almost impossible to achieve, but an attempt to get close to it is sure to yield an eye-catching and visually pleasing result. This perfection is achieved through meticulous image design realized through a variety of exposure techniques commonly used in landscape photography.
