“Instant Inspirations” is my series for you if you feel you suffer from “Photographer’s Block” or simply want to shoot something that you have never tried. Or at least not recently. With Episode 14 I want to inspire you to go out and use the glossy paint and the glass of car windows to capture interesting reflections of buildings, pedestrians and lights. For more images and info and links to all previous editions continue reading after the jump….
Cars parked on the streets of your city, with their glossy paint and windshields, are an awesome prop to capture interesting street scenes. It works well in evenings and nights when the illumination of a cityscape can effectively add life to a photograph, but there are plenty opportunities to shoot interesting reflections during the day as well.
The trick is to shoot with wide angle lenses and hold the lens close to the reflective surface of the car. It is also advisable to use apertures around f/5.6 to f/8 and focus on a point about 1/3 into your frame to maximize depth of field, which you usually want in these kind of images.
Obviously, a clean surface (car that is) helps 😉 !
There are really plenty possibilities to find interesting reflections on car paint or car windows. Take your camera and wander around the streets of your hometown. Shoot nothing but reflections for an hour, try to get your creative juices flowing. I guarantee you will come some great pics. In high contrast images, try a conversion to monochrome. Best is to set your camera to a monochrome high contrast program if available and look at the scenes in black and white already on the LCD monitor when composing.
Most of all go out and have fun.
Have a great week!
Marcus
Related Posts:
Instant Inspiration (I) – Get Down Low
Instant Inspiration (2) – Motion Blur
Instant Inspiration (3) – Silhouettes
Instant Inspiration (4) – Juxtaposition
Instant Inspiration (5) – Puddle Shooting
Instant Inspiration (6) – Storefront Windows
Instant Inspiration (8) -Make a portrait of a stranger
Instant Inspiration (9) – Concert Photography
Instant Inspiration (10) – Nocturnal Skyline
Instant Inspiration (11) – Change of Perspective
I have used reflections off of puddles of water and once caught a sunset reflected on the window my jeep, but I love this idea of using the glossy paint to capture a scene. Thanks for sharing Marcus! -Amy
Thanks for your great feedback, Amy! Much appreciated!
Thanks for the tips – I have to try them!
Go for it and post the results 🙂 !
I will!
I read your bio because I thought you were a professional photographer. I really admire your works and I am also a bit envious…! 😉
Thank you so much for the compliment, Nicoletta, I wish I was the artist and professional you are !! Your work is so great! For me photography is a passion, one day maybe more. Ho un sogno 😉 ! Grazie per la visita 🙂 (parlo ancora un po d’Italiano, ho vissuto a Genova per un paio d’anni) 🙂
No I’m not a professional, this is a hobby for me too, I have a 8 hour a day job, 2 children, a man, a dog and a cat. I like Genova, I will be there next Sunday for a Photo Marathon and I will post some pictures.
wow….I can match that only no dog and cat 😉 Have a fun Photo Marathon in my city 🙂 !!
Sehr coole Idee! Ich mag sowas, einfach mal abseits vom gewöhnlichen schauen! Klasse!!!
Danke für das Kompliment, freut mich sehr!
What an inspiring idea, I will give it a try sometime, your photos are splendid Marcus.
Thanks, Marion, can also give monuments and attractions an unusual twist! Have a great week! Marcus
This is a great idea. Thank you.
Thank you, Claudia, much appreciated! Marcus
Nice series on reflections. Since it rains so much in Portland you probably have a few reflection with rain drops on the cars.
Indeed I have 😉
Wonderful!
What a great idea! I’m constantly on the lookout for water reflections, but very rarely do I take advantage of the many thousands of shiny cars that fill the streets. Thanks Marcus! -Verne
You are welcome, Verne, love your feedback! Have a great week! Marcus
Very nice! I take a lot of these kinds of photos.
Thank you so much!
Eine tolle Reihe! Besonders hat es mir die unglaubliche Tiefe der SW-Aufnahme angetan. (Off topic: Führst du eigentlich einen Putzlappen mit? ;-))
Danke, Maren, freut mich sehr 🙂 !! Die sauberen Autos, das liegt am ständigen Regen in Portland, da ist alles klinisch sauber 😉
Ah, okay, schade, dass das in Hamburg nicht ebenso funktioniert. 😉
Thanks a lot for this inspiration. I like this idea of shooting reflections on the cars. I certainly will try it. Like the neon lights in your pictures and their hues. Great pictures! All of them.
Have a nice week, Marcus.
Thank you Kaya, glad you like them. Have a nice week too! Marcus
sehr guter tip. das finde ich auch immer wieder spannend!
Danke 🙂