Reflections

[Michael_2010]

Not sure if this is the right category for this question, but I do think the answer will have to do with a combination of composition and lighting.

I'm playing around with some Christmas balls that have a mirror-like finish. I don't want to see myself, or the camera in the reflections? How do I work around that situation and still have some freedom with the angle of the lens?

This is not what I want in the end, but it represents many trial runs and each one ends up with my old arse bouncing off those balls.

[IABoomer]

There's two things I'm considering, but without a good setup to experiment with, I couldn't say if either will work, or if one will work better than the other.

Option 1: Create something to shoot through that will be reflected instead of you and the random stuff behind you. Get a big white panel and cut a hole in it for the lens. Shoot your scene through that. The panel will be reflected in the ornaments instead of the background giving you smooth white highlights with a pinpoint of dark circle where the lens is.

Option 2: Setup the shot you want. Get a large enough mirror to reflect the scene. Set it at 45 degrees to your scene, so the mirror is where you were shooting from and you're off to the side. Put a polarizing filter on the lens and adjust it. If you're lucky, your reflection coming off the mirror and onto the ornaments won't match the polarization of the light, making you not stand out.

Good luck, and post pics if you try either of these and they work. I'd like to know if pulling something out of my backside was worth getting my hands dirty.

[Michael_2010]

I might try that. I was about ready to go to the store and get a Santa suit, or to the sporting goods place and get a duck blind. lol

Hmmmmmmmmm....... I do have a small table top Christmas tree. Maybe I could get behind that and stick the lens through the branches. Hmmmmmmmmm.......... think I will give that a try after dark.
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Well, I can hide behind the Christmas tree, but that doesn't give me the look I want. Too busy........ Maybe I should setup a scene that would look interesting in the reflections......

With tree camouflage:

[IABoomer]

You could also try hanging a white sheet and either cutting a hole for the lens, or draping it over the lens and letting it fall to the sides. That might provide enough camouflage and not be so busy.

[edbayani]

if you have enough space, try a 200mm or 300mm to be far away from the balls.

[Michael_2010]

Hmmmmm……… I’ve been playing around with this idea so much that I managed to scratch my balls!

I’ve done a good bit of reading about the situation since yesterday, and I think one does need a duck blind for such a shot. Photographers just call it a light box, cube, tent, etc. and it uses translucent material to allow for diffused light plus zippers to allow for the lens to stick through the material. That is basically IABoomer’s idea with the sheet, but polished up a bit. I used a cardboard box and an old tablecloth to hide me and the camera, but the lens still shows up in the reflections. I don’t much care for that look either.

So, after much consideration, I decided using a ball with a matte finish helped to minimize the impact of the reflection. Oh well…. It has been an interesting introduction to artificial lighting.

[Michael_2010]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think the reflection of my photo duck blind looks a little odd?