CREATIVE TECHNIQUES
Set up your camera
We shot in Aperture Priority mode so we
could set the widest aperture to blur the
background. Keep the ISO low to maintain
image quality, but make sure your shutter
speed isn’t too slow, especially if it’s still
drizzling – any droplets falling into the
puddle will cause ripples, which could
distort your reflection.Get the weather right
To get photographs like these you’ll need
to shoot soon after a heavy rain shower.
Cloudy or overcast days work well for
helping to create moody reflections in the
images. Try shooting in woodland areas,
these work well as there’s lots of deep
puddles and trees to make for a more
interesting backdrop in your composition.
Practise your framing
To get the best perspective you’ll need to
get down low and shoot across the surface
of the puddle; this will make it look like a
much bigger body of water. Focus on your
subject’s reflection, rather than the subject
itself, and ensure that it is dominant in the
frame. Be prepared to get a little muddy
when trying to frame up the perfect shot.Find the right puddles
Find a puddle that’s smooth and wide
without too much poking out of it – you can
remove any large leaves or stones from the
puddle to create a clearer reflection. If you
are shooting in muddy areas, as we were,
make sure you use one that hasn’t been
walked through. Check that the reflection
shows the landscape around you clearly.
Flipping the image
In editing software, such as Photoshop,
rotate the photograph by 180 degrees
(Image>Image Rotation>180º) so that the
reflection is now at the top of the frame.
Crop out any distractions – bits of debris,
like leaves or stones, sticking out of the ‘sky’
will ruin the illusion. Finally, brighten up the
image and add a little Clarity if needs be.Shoot using models
If you’re shooting in a location like ours
there can be a lot of the same colours.
In our case the woodland location is very
green and brown. It helps if your model is
wearing an item of clothing that is from a
different colour palette to the rest of the
image. Try a brightly coloured raincoat
or hat to add some nice contrast.Quick Tip
On a showery day, it pays to
keep both yourself and your
camera kit safe from sudden
downpours. Wear waterproofs and
welllies or walking boots, and carry
your gear in a camera bag that
comes with a rainproof outer cover.
Stashing a carrier bag in a pocket,
into which you can quickly pop your
camera, is good for emergencies.1
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