Reflections: At my photo club we had a talk from a guy named Mike Curry (a renowned UK photographer) about his "Reflection" photographs -...

amersfoort

At my photo club we had a talk from a guy named Mike Curry (a renowned UK photographer) about his "Reflection" photographs - https://www.mikecurryphotography.com/portfolio/reflection/ . He basically takes shots of buildings reflected in rivers or canals. Shooting at 1/8000 sec and F8 and whatever ISO is required. In a few weeks time the club members are invited to show their own efforts to replicate his technique.

Today was fairly sunny so I went into town to take some shots. The attached shot shows the Royal Shakespeare Theatre reflected in the River Avon. Unfortunately it was not really sunny enough so I had to shoot at ISO 6400 so the picture is very noisy. It was also rather windy which disturbed the water too much. Early tomorrow morning it should be sunny with a lot less wind so I will be out at about 6 am to try again.

Anybody have similar photos to share?

(Download)

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I think that having smoother undulations in the water is key to getting the sort of look that he gets. You'll need that to get distinct shapes and details.

amersfoort

I fully agree. That is why I will be going out early tomorrow when the wind speed should be lower.

User ID

Consider that a polarizer can be deployed
for the OPPOSITE of the usual intention in
water surface shots. Instead of minimizing
the "interference" of the surface reflection,
the desire to better see what's below that
surface, just go 90 degrees away from the
"see below" position, and in most instances
you will make the reflections stronger than
they would have appeared if unfiltered.

User ID

amersfoort wrote:

Anybody have similar photos to share?

Similar with a difference. I am OK,
truly quite happy, with fast moving
water. I have not engaged in such
high shutter speeds as the 1/8000
sec you mention, but very possibly
I should have.

Thank you for the reflections ideas.
The attached style of moving water
images can only only be acquired
when shipboard, and that era has
just now ended for me. However,
I am moving into a 7th floor flat
right on the river bank, so maybe
I can use reflections as a source
instead of prop wash :-)

The very last pic is "fake water",
hammered steel. Kinda like your
rippled water reflections, except
these "ripples" are standing still,
so it's easy to see what you are
catching for a final image.

Varying degrees of PP:

(Download)

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

amersfoort wrote:

At my photo club we had a talk from a guy named Mi... (show quote)

I think you are on to something here. Also, there were some very good tips offered. This is not going to be a one time outing where you get exactly the shot you are looking for. You will be trying this quite often ; and each time you go out you will learn. Might be a good idea to take along a notebook and write down information about conditions and settings. That way you have a good reference when you get home and are looking at the photos. I know the settings and camera and lens information is in the file; but I'm suggesting comments about wind and light and those kind of considerations.
Erich

amersfoort

User ID wrote:

Consider that a polarizer can be deployed
for the OPPOSITE of the usual intention in
water surface shots. Instead of minimizing
the "interference" of the surface reflection,
the desire to better see what's below that
surface, just go 90 degrees away from the
"see below" position, and in most instances
you will make the reflections stronger than
they would have appeared if unfiltered.

Interesting idea. I will give it a go next time the weather conditions are appropriate.

amersfoort

USERID

Nice set of shots. The hammered steel looks really good.

amersfoort

ebrunner wrote:

I think you are on to something here. Also, there ... (show quote)

Certainly not a one time outing. I was out for four hours this morning and took some 300 reflections shots none of which are worth doing anything with. Happily I did get a reasonable shot of two swans flying together so it was not a complete waste of time.

I always take a notebook with me and have done so since I first took up photography a long time back in the film era. I still have all my notebooks and sometimes I pull one out to e.g. remind me what I was doing in 1972. It's good fun.

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

amersfoort wrote:

At my photo club we had a talk from a guy named Mi... (show quote)

I am sorry, but I can't see the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in the reflection. For these to work you really have to actually see the photo clearly in the water and with practice, you will get there.

My Partner takes a lot of these reflections and is always pointing them out to me and trees overhanging water is particularly good ones.

Buildings with a lot of colour also work too, as you can actually see the colours in the water. Just keep trying and good luck.

I am not sure if 6.00 a.m. in the UK is the best time for taking such photos.

P.S. Mike Curry's reflections are just out of this world, but of course, he knows what works and he has had a lot of practice. Don't give up is my motto.

amersfoort

Heather Iles wrote:

I am sorry, but I can't see the Royal Shakespeare ... (show quote)

Heather,

Thanks very much for the feedback but you seem to have missed the point of the shot. It was taken as an abstract shot. You are not supposed to be able to make out the RSC. It was an experiment using a new (to me) technique.

I have lots of conventional reflection shoots on my HDDs see below for an example

(Download)

srt101fan

amersfoort wrote:

At my photo club we had a talk from a guy named Mi... (show quote)

Fascinating topic. I'm still trying to figure out how the abstracts are created and the significance of the very high shutter speed. I look forward to seeking out reflections of this kind if the conditions are right when I'm near a body of water again....

amersfoort

I think the very high shutter speed is required to "freeze the moment". If you look at the second to last shot on the first page of Mike Curry's web site it is of the mast of a boat. If it were at a slower shutter speed I fancy that the reflected mast would not have a sharp edge.

Reply to srt101fan.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

A terrific topic, thanks! I have good luck at a little man-made pond, sometimes shooting towards the sun, but always right after sunrise. Often the ducks and swans stir up the water to help with look

1/1000 sec

reflection1, on Flickr

Below at 1/750 sec. Note the sun's reflection; the rest are bare-limb trees on a frigid February morning.

water and ice, on Flickr

Building distortions are a different kind of fun

reflection2 , on Flickr

amersfoort

Linda From Maine wrote:

A terrific topic, thanks! I have good luck at a li... (show quote)

I guess that Linda's photos suggest that very high shutter speeds are not necessary for sharp abstract reflection shots. When the sun next comes out I will try slower speeds and see what my outcome is.