MIRROR MAGIC

Learn how to see right through a subject

Reflections are a great way to add intrigue to your images by offering a glimpse of the scene beyond the edges of the frame. Whether it’s a reflected mountain in a lake, a street scene caught in a shop window, or a landscape glimpsed in a car wing mirror, reflections show the world beyond the edges of the viewfinder, a natural frame-within-aframe. And this makes it all the more captivating when we see an unnatural reflection like the one we’re showing in the mirror here.

Two photographs were used to create this image: one of the model, and the other of the empty scene. (Obviously, you need an interesting location – a blank wall won’t do!) By putting the camera on a tripod, we can ensure that both frames are perfectly aligned. It’s then possible to remove the face of the mirror in Photoshop, revealing the empty area beneath. The result is a striking portrait that forces you to look twice.

The best Photoshop effects have a subtlety that – if you’ll excuse the pun

Reflections show the world beyond the edges of the viewfinder, a natural frame-within-a-frame. And this makes it all the more captivating when we see an unnatural reflection

– adds another layer of meaning to the image. At first glance the reflection in the mirror here looks natural, but on closer inspection it’s revealed to be the scenery behind the model. This is something even a Photoshop novice could achieve. All you have to do is copy the image with the model onto the empty scene, so that it sits on the layer above, then cut a hole in the mirror to reveal the empty area below. Selections and Layer Masks prove useful here, allowing you to quickly select the mirror, then remove the area. It’s surprisingly simple.

So if you’re feeling in a reflective mood, read on to find out how to shoot and edit your own stunning magic mirror portraits.