My Favourite Things: Using Reflections in Photography

Always be on the look out for reflections that can provide a more three-dimensional effect to your pictures! These can really add depth to your picture composition. In fact, although not new, we don’t  explore the use of reflections enough in our photography.

Ghosts of Tuol Sleng

This picture is inspired by an exhibition at the Tuol Sleng Prison, a former Khmer Rouge prison that was used to detain innocent Cambodians. The original photographer makes use of the reflections in the glass to create a super-imposed, layered picture of these mugshots. It produced a really ghostly effect that impressed my husband so much he decided to replicate it.

Living relics

Having been identified and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Angkor Wat has become synonymous with Cambodia. In fact, most travellers go to Cambodia precisely because of Angkor Wat. We had the opportunity to join a sunrise tour package of the temples which had us on location way before the sun came up. What really helped in the composition of this picture was the enormous body of water almost directly in front of the main temple. Coincidentally, there was some movement in the pond which created a ripple, giving the picture a touch of life.

Here are two other examples of how reflections can add dimensional depth to your photographs.

Lights by night

Mirrors