Field notes · Look · Try · Compare
Noticing reflections in a photograph
Explore the reflected view, the foreground, and a small change of viewpoint.
A reflection can give you two ways to look at a scene in one photograph. You might notice a face in a mirror first, then discover the person or room around it. Spend a moment moving between those views. Each can offer something different.
Find the reflection.
Woman in Ornate Mirror · Photograph: Yenra
The face in this oval mirror is clearer than the back of the head in the foreground. The ornate border helps separate the reflected view from the space around it. Other figures appear behind the reflected face, adding another layer to explore.
Look at the face, then the foreground, then the reflected background. Where does your eye return? A mirror can hold a small scene of its own, while the rest of the photograph gives it a place.
Notice both sides of the mirror.
Portrait beside a mirror · Photograph: Yenra
A reflected smile beside a mirror · Photograph: Yenra
In these two photographs, the wooden frame divides a clearer reflected face on the left from a softer profile on the right. Each photograph shows a person and their reflection. The feathered hat and the frame help you connect the views.
Compare the expression and position of the reflected face. Notice how much of the foreground profile you can see, too. The arrangement remains familiar while the moment changes. You might prefer one view, or enjoy what the pair lets you notice together.
Try a small change of viewpoint.
With a mirror already in place, a small move to one side can change which parts of a subject and its surroundings appear in the reflection. Start with an ordinary object, or invite a portrait partner to explore with you. Make a starting picture, move a little, and see what becomes visible.
You can give the reflection most of the frame or include more of the world around it. Both are useful experiments. These examples retain their whole original frames; let them inspire a question to try in your own setting.
Look back with curiosity.
- Which view catches your eye first?
- What does the reflected background contribute?
- What would you like to make visible in another attempt?
Continue with Finding frames within a photograph, Seeing depth in a photograph, Changing your viewpoint, or Noticing where a photograph is sharp.
Browse all 203 photographs from October 20 → · Explore the September 16 gallery · Take the reflections experiment with you →