Whats better for reflections?

[faeriegodess612]

Was thinking,...what would be better for reflections in shots? Mirror, glass, or plexi-glass. Although I've heard that plexiglass attracts a lot of dust and pet hair. I remember seeing a thing that I think Jim Poor did about plexi-glass and how doggy hair is attracted to it like magnets to steel. Kitty hair would do the same. Tried finding something in relation to this in search, but came up with a lot that had nothing to do with this.

[i speak in math]

Mirrors and glass have two reflective layers and will give you a blurry looking double reflection. You will have the reflection off the top layer as well as the bottom layer. It still works as you can see here:


Plexiglass will give you only one reflection and is a better option. They all get dusty and attract hair.

[faeriegodess612]

Thank you. I was wondering if anybody was going to be able to answer that. I'd assume too that you'd have to get a somewhat large piece as well. Like 4x4 or 5x5,... something large enough so that you can photo something on one side and not have that telltale sign of the edge,....just make sure that when you take the shot that the edge is not in the frame. Correct?

[i speak in math]

Depends on what you are photographing. The above picture was on a long mirror, maybe 3x1 ft. Since the vase was small, I didn't need a lot of room on the sides. Then I shot so that the rear edge was out of frame. If you are shooting a person on plexi, then you will need a lot more.

Nothing better than black plexiglass. Like he said above, a mirror or glass will give a blurred reflection...plexiglass is nice and clean.

[faeriegodess612]

Dude! Is that Jell-o, or just colored gelatin? And I looked at the plexiglass at work earlier today. That crap is more expensive than I thought it would be. Still under $20, I just wasnt expecting a piece of plastic to cost that much. Where would I find black plexiglass,...Cuz I dont think we carry it.