Six ways to shoot... Reflections

Make the most of your time by the water with these reflective tips

1 Get up!

If you want mirrorcalm conditions for perfect lakeside reflections, you are most likely to get them at dawn, so get yourself out early to find those beautiful scenes.

2 Long exposure

You can get reflections even on a disturbed lake surface but you need a long exposure to smooth out the water and allow the reflection to appear in the image. Use a strong ND filter to extend exposure times into several seconds.

3 Trick of the light

Reflections are darker than the scene that’s being reflected. You can use an ND grad filter to bring the two exposures closer together, but your reflection should always be a little darker to make it look as natural as possible.

4 Keep your eyes peeled

You can get reflections of big scenes even in relatively small puddles so look out for chance opportunities in urban environments. Just make sure to get yourself down low so you can see how the surroundings appear in the puddle.

5 Go abstract

Abstract reflections can be effective for giving a reflected scene a creative twist. Surface movement can add to the mystery when you crop tight so there’s only the reflection in the frame.

6 Try a polariser

In bright conditions, a polarising filter can help reduce glare on the water and improve the clarity of the reflection – but make sure it doesn’t remove the reflection completely as you turn it.