Following up my last post “Rainy Streets” I’m presenting Episode 5 of my popular Instant Inspirations. Don’t use the dull and wet November weather as excuse to not go out shooting. On the contrary, this weather provides for great opportunities to bring new creativity to your photography – go out and shoot puddles! To find out how and see more examples, continue reading after the jump….
Point your camera downwards where it is wet and shiny. Find yourself some puddles, look at them from different angles, go down low or take a high vantage point and see what you can “see” in them. They might be full of surprises. Look for the unusual, the abstract.
You can start with a more conventional approach, as you can see from the two examples below.
A more unusual but a very creative approach is taking a shot with the intention of later flipping the image vertically in post processing. See the following examples of “flipped” photo and the original images out of cam.
The fresh angle of seemingly “upright” objects within a strange surrounding can give your photographs a fresh and creative look.
As reflections in a puddle by their nature lose texture, tonality, clarity and color it is essential you bring back those things in post processing. I always start with the white balance first to warm up the images a bit. Then I push clarity and contrast to the right to get back some punch. The saturation of colors I adjust selectively via Lightroom’s HSL tool (using its color picker). Finally I play with the graduation curves until the tonality seems right. It’s a bit of trial and error, but hey, you are making “art” 🙂
Below find some more images that I hope to inspire you to try some puddle shooting of your own. All photos by the way were taken with the Ricoh GR II.
And to all of my American friends I wish a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving Day! With obviously lots of sunshine 🙂 !!!!
Marcus
Related Posts:
Instant Inspiration (I) – Get Down Low
Instant Inspiration (2) – Motion Blur
Instant Inspiration (3) – Silhouettes
Reblogged this on My Photography Journey and commented:
In my next session I am going to be learning how to freeze water in photography and use it as metaphors. I am definitely up for giving this a go with the puddles left.
Thanks so much for the reblog! Marcus
Reblogged this on WILDsound Writing and Film Festival Review.
Thank you for the reblog! Marcus
Reblogged this on WILDsound Writing and Film Festival Review.
Thanks for the reblog 🙂
it doesn’t rain where i’m but i will keep an eye for such a shot whenever i’m somewhere where it rains 😀 ironically, i was in Sri Lanka last week and it didn’t stop raining for the whole week i was there! hahahaha
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment 😊🙏! An occasional rain doesn’t hurt, but a whole week when traveling is nasty. Happened to me the last time I was in Seattle….
You are most welcome! I feel I’m getting rusty so checking your posts is kind of encouraging 🙂 It was nasty indeed, I had to cancel a couple of hikes because of the rain 🙁
Thanks, I enjoy reading your posts as well 😎👍!
I’m glad you enjoy them 🙂 Should be writing about Sri Lanka soon. Thanks a lot 🙂
Looking so much forward to it 😎👍! It is on my bucket list, as is Jordania (Petra). Loved your post and photos from there.
It’s a beautiful country but don’t go when it’s raining 😀 hahaha!! I was unlucky with the weather that the few rainy days in January gathering in the week I was visiting during 🙁 Thanks, glad you did! Whenever you are planning on going tell me and I will be glad to help. Petra was a dream came true <3
Will do, thanks for the offer 😊
Most welcome 🙂
really something so innovative! who can think that puddles on side of our streets can turn out to be so beautiful!
Thanks 😊🙏 Love your feedback!
Fantastic.
Thanks 😊🙏
I’m always looking for new angles to shoot. I love the puddle shooting idea. Nicely done!
So happy you like the idea! Thanks for visit and comment!
wunderbare Kunstwerke,meinen Glückwunsch
Danke – Efaristo poli !!
nice shots Marcus. Some people have issues with flipping images vertically, I see nothing wrong with it. Its all about the end result right 🙂
Thanks for you feedback, Yuri 😊🙏! True, the creative result counts. I could also in theory hold the camera upside down, them I would not need to flip 😉
Chapeau!! Einmal mehr! Was ne tolle Serie!! Eigentlich liegt das mit den Pfützen ja auf der Hand, trotzdem muss man das sehen, umsetzen und so festhalten. Wirklich klasse. Eine inspiration und ich geb zu, mich hat es gepackt das auch mal zu versuchen 😉
Danke!!! Du wärst ja eigentlich prädestiniert zu versuchen, Porträt und Pfütze zu kombinieren;-). Schönes Wochenende!
Die Anregung find ich echt klasse, ich werds im Hinterkopf behalten!!
You are incredibly creative! I love all these pictures very, very much! Thank you for sharing your ideas also. They are great!
Love your feedback, thank you very much, this means a lot to me and is an incentive for me to share more in the future!
Wonderful puddle shots!
Thanks you very much! Have a great day!
Wow!! I love these. Thanks for the idea and examples!!!
you are very welocome – enjoy !!!!!
Lol I really love these images. Fascinating, even if they do make me feel a little seasick haha. I will definitely have to photograph puddles next time it rains. 😀
Awesome 😀🙏 thanks for your kind words! That’s inspiration for me to look for more inspirations to share with you !!!
Lovely shots, makes me think of rain in whole different light, will have to go out puddle hunting 🙂
Thanks :-))) Seems a lot of people will get wet because of this post. But as long as they have as much fun as I did this is ok 😉
Ha ha we might get some odd looks from passing strangers, but it might put a smile on their faces too 🙂
Love the creativity in these shots and miss my cobble stone roads 😉. Have a great day my friend.
Thanks, this means a lot! Today I’m thankful for meeting people like you through my blogging, people that I feel enrich me. Thanks!
And the feeling is very mutual to say the least. Thank you for making my day always a little brighter. Even on rainy days and through puddles 😉
Nice ….. very Nice!!!!
Thanks, Herman :-))))
Very nice shots. We all must try to make ordinary into extra ordinary.
Thanks, this is a great comment and it means a lot to me!
Awesome stuff! Thank you for your great photos, tips and Thanksgiving wishes as well. It’s a beautiful day here in California. No puddles… but soon enough. Have a blessed evening Marcus!
Thanks :-))) Glad you have some sunshine for the holiday. Last weekend when I watched football it was pouring both at the 49ers game as well as in Los Angeles at the Rams game. That’s what I get out of the American Thanksgiving here in Germany, I get to watch NFL football tonight 🙂 ! Thanks for your great feedback, this is what keeps me looking already for new things to share!! Have a great remaining Thanksgiving!
Awesome. Well, I don’t know who is playing but good luck to your favorite team!
Love it! Some of those images look surreal and it takes a second to realize what you’re looking at. Will have to try it out when the next rain is coming 🙂
Love your feedback :-))) It means a lot ! Give it a try and have fun!
This is so creative! Always saw rain as a nuisance, but i’m now looking forward to do some puddle shots of my own when it next rains.
Thanks Sandra, this feedback means a lot, this is what keeps me looking for new things! Stay dry noneless 😉 ! Marcus
Thank you so much for the inspiration! and a happy Thanksgiving to you, too.
You are very welcome! Glad you find it useful! Thanks so much!
Right, I want to go out looking for puddles, there’s plenty in soggy West Yorkshire at the moment. Your puddles ideas are ACE!
Thanks :-)))) This feedback is awesome ! I guess when it comes to rain we are partners in pain 😉
Really enjoying these little pieces you’ve been sharing recently, keep it up 🙂
Thank so much for your great feedback, that means a lot! I promise I’ll keep going 😉 !
What a great idea. Love the “puddle shots.”
Thanks so much for visit and comment 🙂 !!
Gern geschehen
Thanks for the insight and the Thanksgiving wishes.
You are very welcome, I’m happy you like it!