Another try at reflection

[kkraczek]

Thought this one might please my photo class instructor more than my previous shot, since she is looking for the reflection to be the subject of the photo. All opinions are welcome!

[Peter_AUS]

This is really well done mostly, but the background is still distracting. The motorcycle on the right is still I think isn't blurred enough. What settings were you taking this image at, f/stop I specifically mean. If the rest of the image was thrown out of focus and just the mirror/reflection image was still clear, I think that makes a very powerful shot for what you are trying to get. Also the bottom left of the image is distracting as well, can you reposition the bike to exclude it.

[kkraczek]

This is really well done mostly, but the background is still distracting. The motorcycle on the right is still I think isn't blurred enough. What settings were you taking this image at, f/stop I specifically mean. If the rest of the image was thrown out of focus and just the mirror/reflection image was still clear, I think that makes a very powerful shot for what you are trying to get. Also the bottom left of the image is distracting as well, can you reposition the bike to exclude it.

Thanks, I agree about the distractibility... I wish I could edit the photo! The bottom left corner definitely caught my eye right away. As far as the background, I was at f/4.0. I probably could have opened up a little more, although it was very bright that day and I was already at S.S.1000. So, maybe I can get back out there tomorrow morning... thanks for your help!

[Peter_AUS]

You can edit the photo, using photoshop as an example, you can blur the areas you want and leave the areas you want clear, you could also clone the area on the bottom left out with the background next to it as your source. Most of this can be done in other editing software as well.

[kkraczek]

You can edit the photo, using photoshop as an example, you can blur the areas you want and leave the areas you want clear, you could also clone the area on the bottom left out with the background next to it as your source. Most of this can be done in other editing software as well.

Sorry, I guess I should have said that this is a film class, otherwise I would be able to edit it. Drats!


Thanks anyway!

[Peter_AUS]

Ah, OK that does make a difference doesn't it. What is the tacher going to be looking at, is it the negative or a print.

[kkraczek]

Ah, OK that does make a difference doesn't it. What is the tacher going to be looking at, is it the negative or a print.

We just turn in the prints. In all honesty, we haven't gone into composition in class yet, and she has said that she doesn't care too much about it at this point. She just wants to make sure that we do the projects correctly... which is why I am a little paranoid about getting it just right. Her main request for this project was to make sure that the subject of the picture is the reflection. I posted another reflection photo a few days ago that I really like, but I am still not sure that the reflection in that photo qualifies as the "subject". So, I'm going to turn in both photos and let her choose which one to keep!

[Peter_AUS]

Good idea, I haven't seen the other one yet that you posted will look later on today. I think if you recomposed the photo again, taking the distraction of the lower left out and maybe opening the lens aperture more to blur the background more it will meet probably the criteria you have been set. Maybe having the mirror pointing at the reflection and taking the photo from the rightside of the bike instead of the left side, this will exclude the bik mostly from the shot, that way you are going to get a better blurred background without the head of the bike in it, unless you wanted that with the handle bar as well.

[SunnySideUp]

Really nice photo and well done. Maybe a little cropping or a little blur, but really nice.

[PuckJunkey]

...first I think that if you're trying to more obviously make the reflection into the actual subject, you'd be better to pick a subject that really "says something". Maybe something that actually related to the bike? Could be a person, could be traffic backed up two miles, could be a sunset even. I suspect that your instructor is looking for something a little more literal in terms of subject.

The actual reflection you have captured is an interesting piece of architecture, as well as being very sharp and nicely saturated. So in that respect it definitely works. But I think it's too abstract a reflection (at least as I now understand the assignment).

Second, the only thing that bugs me about the overal picure... is that white "triangle" at the bottom left part of the frame. A bit of sidewalk I'm guessing. It tends to pull my eye away from the mirror when I really stop and examine the image.

[kkraczek]

...first I think that if you're trying to more obviously make the reflection into the actual subject, you'd be better to pick a subject that really "says something". Maybe something that actually related to the bike? Could be a person, could be traffic backed up two miles, could be a sunset even. I suspect that your instructor is looking for something a little more literal in terms of subject.

The actual reflection you have captured is an interesting piece of architecture, as well as being very sharp and nicely saturated. So in that respect it definitely works. But I think it's too abstract a reflection (at least as I now understand the assignment).

Second, the only thing that bugs me about the overal picure... is that white "triangle" at the bottom left part of the frame. A bit of sidewalk I'm guessing. It tends to pull my eye away from the mirror when I really stop and examine the image.

She thought that my first one was definitely more of a landscape photo, (although she definitely liked it!) but she approved the motorcycle shot and the shot below... even though the composition isn't great in either, (and the lighting is terrible in this photo) because they suited the purpose of the project. I am looking forward to the next class, because I know we'll be focusing more on composition... but for now, they just want us to follow directions. So, I will keep coming here for my composition advice! Thanks Puck!

[bighitboy]

i love shooting outta mirrors. some thing about it makes it so neat. a different view that cant be seen other than in a photo, i have a few good 1s, i took this tuesday nite

[kkraczek]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone think that this shot has potential as a cropped B&W?

[dadas115]

I can see too much of the background and would like for the reflection to be clearer. I really like the color contrast in this shot. The picture might also hold my attention longer if there was something more interesting being reflected like a person.

Greg