Reflections

[Mr Darcy]

I have been playing with reflections in my images of late.
These are a some of my better results.
All are taken with a D70s with the 18-200VR. Since I bought it, it hasn't left the camera. I am beginning to wonder why I have an SLR.
The only PP was to convert the RAW images to JPG, with some exposure adjustment along the way, though they are mostly as shot.

The first image uses the reflection to highlight the isolation of the figure in the foreground


In this case the image is the reflection. The mirror was a polished stone wall. The low exposure and gritty texture of the wall lend a "covert operation" feel to the image.



This image uses the same wall as a mirror. This time though, the texture of the wall is more in evidence. Combined with the clouds, it creates a feeling of snow in the air (it was actually quite warm)



Here I have used glass as a mirror. This allows for multiple layers in the image. There are the shoes in the foreground, their reflections, then the viewer, then finally the background all adding to the complexity of the images. The most subtle is the third, though I think that the second is the most powerful.




Finally, I find this a disturbing image. It reads as an advertising image, and at the same time as the opposite. THe result is quite uneasy, but powerful


Regards GregK

[gstark]

Greg,

I love the first of these.

Ordinarily, I'd say having the subject looking "out" of the image, as is the case here, is not a good idea, but in this case you've broken this rule to good effect.

With the subject facing as he is, this just adds to his apparent isolation and almost adds a touch of loneliness to the image.

By way of contrast, the second image seems to suffer, at least for me, from some sort of optical interference. I'm unsure if this is as a result of your PP, or moisture on the lens, or .... ??

But I'm seeing perhaps some exposure adjustment around the head of the gentle on the left, and none of this on the other gentleman. I'm guessing that this image may have been shot through the branches of a tree, and what I'm seeing is the results of some OOF branches impeding the view. For me it doesn't really work.

Image 3 has an almost painterly feel to it; I'm thinking French Impressionism perhaps? Shame the merry-go-round was closed and unilluminated; that would have made this image into a gem.



As an aside, and for your future reference, could you please note that it's best to include a smaller number of images in your post, and/or in any one thread. As a guide, four would be the maximum under normal circumstances. Please take a moment to review the FAQ for more details.

Keep up the good work, and let's see more of it.

[Mr Darcy]

Sorry.
I did read the FAQ, but must have missed the limit of 4 photos per post. Will comply in future.
Oops. Correction. I didn't read the FAQ. I read the Sticky "How to Post".

The second shot had no PP, except for conversion from raw. The uneven lighting came from the shadows both on the wall and the subject. I tried "correcting" the exposure PP, but everything I tried reduced the impact of the
composition for me. It became a very ordinary shot of two people on a bench. The photo works for me BECAUSE it is badly exposed.

Thanks for the critique.
Greg