How to take reflective photos

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How to accurately render reflected objects through the lens?

Taking a reflective surface or object is a challenge for many photographers and photographers, as it can easily destroy your work and make you despair. Although reflection is an elusive beast, it is not difficult to overcome them if we can master the rules.

In the following article, the authors will show how to effectively control the reflection, use it for their own purposes, and create an impact-rich photographic work. Just like the following picture of still life, only use some simple shooting techniques and the necessary skills and equipment, but can show good results.

　　

In general, an object with a reflective surface reflects the light like a mirror, so if the main light source of our image coincides with or comes from the same direction as the camera's shooting angle, then this reflective light will overflow the highlights of the screen and lose valuable detail, thus making the whole body look lacking in texture and level, The effect looks as if it was made directly from the top of the flash camera.

　　

The key to solving the problem is to understand the basic principles of light and the way in which they are used, the most commonly used is the law of reflection that we have come into contact with in our country's physics class. In general, when light is directed from a homogeneous substance to another homogeneous substance, the incident light, the reflected light, the normal is in the same plane, the reflected light and the incident light are separated on both sides of the normal, and the reflection angle is equal to the angle of incidence.

　　

Aside from the stiff physics theorem, it's easy for photography to understand, and it's actually about telling us not to have the camera's seat in the same angle as the light source when we're shooting something with a reflective surface. The trick is to use a larger light source and place it in a position relative to the camera's seat. For better results, I recommend using a studio flash and a large soft box, and of course you can also use small devices, or less expensive ways, such as preparing some white cardboard, a standalone flash, and a strobe.

　　

Here's a picture of me using these devices to make a scene:

　　

Through the reflection of the white cardboard, the light emitted by the flash forms a larger light source, the corresponding light also becomes softer, and can create an excessively uniform effect on the subject to avoid high light overflow. This light also helps to highlight the texture of the background slate.

　　

Although this technique is simple, it can simulate the effect of multiple light illumination. After that, we are able to adjust the overall effect of the picture by experimenting with different camera angles and changing the position of the light source, including the stones and water droplets in the background to enhance the image of the picture is very important. Here is a set of my test shot proofs, you can see through the transformation position, the screen presents a very different effect.

　　

Since we have already learned that the light is fixed at the reflective angle after the reflective surface, this allows us to determine which camera seat and light position are more likely to achieve better results.

　　

In the above schematic, the light that is in the "family of angles" position will directly produce the reflected light, and the light from the same direction as the camera is located outside the "family of angles" and will not illuminate the specular reflective object. Even though there are times when the light angle is not very clear diffuse light, "family of angles" also gives us the opportunity to decide how to place the light source according to the camera's position. When we first look at it, we may feel a bit overwhelmed by all the technical messages, but once you actually start setting up and shooting, you'll find it's not difficult. So let's give it a try and I'm sure you'll be able to shoot a good piece of work. Photography actually brings us a kind of pursuit of a beautiful life, because want to film more beautiful, so will go to explore and search. The above is a tutorial network small series for everyone carefully collected content, hope can be a beginner photography friends benefit Oh.