The Reflections Field Guide: A Visual Roadmap

Over the past few years, I’ve actively looked for reflections. Recently, I merged that obsession with my enjoyment of Burlingame Point, and the Reflections Photo Walk was born (next one on March 8). 

In the process, I built this Reflections Field Guide—part scavenger hunt, part composition playbook. My hope is that it helps you notice reflections more often, and then actually use them: to add layering, ambiguity, structure, or so much else.

Here are some of the many ways I have found the to put reflections to work:

• Puzzle shot

• Negative reflection space

• The framed reflection

• The window as portal

• Facade as canvas

• Low, high, and very high distortion

• Reflection squared

• Full frame reflection

• The puddle shot

• The still lake

Here is the roadmap:

Puzzle shot

Puzzle Shot with Negative Reflection Space

Framed Reflection

Window Portal

Facade as Canvas

Image Credit: Michael House

Image credit: Michael House

Low, High, and Very High Distortion

Reflection Squared

Full Frame Reflection

Puddle Reflection

Puddle Reflection (with the puddle flipped… hat tip to Nico)

Check out Donald Kinney’s San Francisco work for amazing use of puddles. And a hat-tip to Nico van Dongen for the suggestion to flip the reflection

Still Lake Reflections

Still Lake Reflection — Not my usual subject, so I had to dig into my archives to find one. Bear Lake and Bear Mountain from the beautiful shores of Camp Wigam, 2002

Interested in Reflections?

If you’re in the Bay Area and interested in my reflection-focused photo walks chcek my upcoming events or email me at josh@weinbergphoto.com.

For one-on-one photography lessons, details are at weinbergphoto.com, including instructions for booking a free 30-minute consultation.