Perplexed: Not the image I was looking for but, on the way back to the car, this caught my eye. Can anyone tell me why the windows look 'normal' but in the reflection looks as if they...

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Not the image I was looking for but, on the way back to the car, this caught my eye.

Can anyone tell me why the windows look 'normal' but in the reflection looks as if they are reflecting the sunlight?

Photo was taken late Golden hour but not quite blue hence the subdued colours.

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Richard Engelmann Loc: Boulder, Colorado

It appears that the sunlight reflected off the windows is directed toward the water, not the camera and that the reflection in the water then bounces that bright light to the lens.

adedeluca Loc: holbrook ny

Excellent

angler Loc: StHelens England

Excellent Shot John.

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

Postcard material!

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

If you were at the water level, the windows would have been illuminated to you. Angle of incidence. https://byjus.com/physics/angle-of-incidence/

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Richard Engelmann wrote:

It appears that the sunlight reflected off the windows is directed toward the water, not the camera and that the reflection in the water then bounces that bright light to the lens.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Richard Engelmann wrote:

It appears that the sunlight reflected off the windows is directed toward the water, not the camera and that the reflection in the water then bounces that bright light to the lens.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Richard Engelmann wrote:

It appears that the sunlight reflected off the windows is directed toward the water, not the camera and that the reflection in the water then bounces that bright light to the lens.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Richard Engelmann wrote:

It appears that the sunlight reflected off the windows is directed toward the water, not the camera and that the reflection in the water then bounces that bright light to the lens.

I think that's hit the nail on the head. Thinking back the sun was probably shining directly or no more than a few ° either side onto the windows.

thanks.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

John N wrote:

Not the image I was looking for but, on the way back to the car, this caught my eye.

Can anyone tell me why the windows look 'normal' but in the reflection looks as if they are reflecting the sunlight?

Photo was taken late Golden hour but not quite blue hence the subdued colours.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Great capture, John.

goofybruce

...simple answer (although needs math, geometry, meteorology, etc. to draw it out): The camera is looking "directly" at the sun.
(The angle of the sun to window, then to the reflection off the lake, then to camera equals 180 degrees.... so, for that small area of the lake, the camera is getting light as if it were coming DIRECTLY from the sun.)
Love the picture!!! My question...did you take other pictures a couple minutes later, or stand off to the side a bit and take more pictures? Bet there is no "bright" light where the window reflections are.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

John N wrote:

Not the image I was looking for but, on the way back to the car, this caught my eye.

Can anyone tell me why the windows look 'normal' but in the reflection looks as if they are reflecting the sunlight?

Photo was taken late Golden hour but not quite blue hence the subdued colours.

Simple physics, angle of incidence equals angle of reflection. Sunlight hits the windows at a different angle that its reflection from the windows hits the water.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Very nice result, John. The above replies give you your answer.