A Time for Reflection

[Wirefox]

Having a play with a mirror again. I am having a lot of difficulty with the reflected edges. I think Dave told me that it is because the camera is focusing on the reflective coating rather than the glass. I have done a little P&P on the first to tone the effect down. No1b shows the unadjusted effect.

No1a


No1b


No2


No3

[arith]

I like them all but #3 the best.

[PopsPhotos]

I did a little of this type years ago. I was taught to run the focal length to maximum and focus tightly on some part of the image. Then run the focal length back to frame the picture. Drop a stop of exposure from the LV read by the meter.

I still couldn't get stuff to look the way my mentor did.

Pops

[Shadowman]

I like these types of projects. It lets you really open up the creative thinking process. If you don't get it right the first day, you spend the rest of the day and sometimes into the night thinking of ways to approach the difficulties.

[Donald]

Steve

Nos 1 & 2 I find a bit 'busy' for my old eyes. No 3 is sublime: the concept - the simplicity - the composition - etc.

But I'm intrigued. What am I looking at? Spectacles - Yes. But also ...? Is it a table lamp on the floor. But if it is, I can't see the edge of the mirror on which the specs. Have now been staring at this for ages - enjoying it, but wondering!

[Richard24]

Really great shots, I agree that no.3 is the best of the bunch. Have never tried anything like this myself, but you may have inspired me to try.

But I'm intrigued. What am I looking at? Spectacles - Yes. But also ...? Is it a table lamp on the floor. But if it is, I can't see the edge of the mirror on which the specs. Have now been staring at this for ages - enjoying it, but wondering!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's the pendant light hanging from the ceiling, reflected in the mirror.



Rich

[Donald]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's the pendant light hanging from the ceiling, reflected in the mirror.

Ah hah!. The penny drops. And Donald feels stupid!

[Steve H]

I am having a lot of difficulty with the reflected edges. I think Dave told me that it is because the camera is focusing on the reflective coating rather than the glass.

I'm a little confused (easily done) as to exactly what you are having problems with? Isn't the camera going to focus where you tell it to and then you would set aperture to adjust DOF?

Nevertheless they look great to me and yes I like number 3 the best also. Cool camera too!

(and thanks for the inspiration - I have the day off work and nothing 'productive' to do... until now).

[rogerb]

As Steve said, I think it's a matter of insufficient DOF.
The object (the camera in #1 & #2) is well away from the mirror so the path from the object, reflected to your camera's sensor is significantly longer than the direct path of object to sensor.
Therefore it is not possible to get everything in exact focus. I suppose you could try setting a very small aperture to maximize dof and focusing at hyper-focal distance. This might give you "acceptable" sharpness.
Roger

[Wirefox]

Firstly many thanks for all your comments. Secondly, apologies. I must get my brain into gear before setting off. As Steve quite rightly points out it is nothing to do with focus...provided only one focus point is set, which it was. However, if you are focusing on the reflection I believe Pops reply applies (thanks Pops this was very use information and I will try this fix). The ghosting on the edges of the reflection I believe are down to the thickness of the glass and the angle of incidence. HELP Dave! The reflection is on the mirror back but the ghosting is on the glass above it.

You can see the ghosting on this image where the angle of incidence is much shallower



Donald, I agree that number 3 is most effective in its simplicity. I might try this again but with the mirror nearer the ceiling and a bare light bulb (one of the few 'real' bulbs in the house (although I am expecting the echo of jack boots and the knock from the green gestapo at any minute). The fact that you did not immediately see the real image is exactly the intent. The mind does not always put 2 and 2 together when two or more objects are placed out of context.

Again thank you for all your replies.

Steve

[Dave Humphries]

~ The ghosting on the edges of the reflection I believe are down to the thickness of the glass and the angle of incidence. HELP Dave! The reflection is on the mirror back but the ghosting is on the glass above it.

You can see the ghosting on this image where the angle of incidence is much shallower

Hi Steve,

Absolutely right, what you really need for this is a "surface silvered mirror", but they are easily marked, damaged and even tarnished by fingers, scratches and air.

Thinking out loud, and with a high risk of soon feeling even more stupid than Donald ...
I wonder what a polarising filter would do?
Will it kill the glass reflection and leave the silver one? I think so
"Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to ...."

How about something thinner and reflective; kitchen foil, if you can spread it without creases, or some of that shiny plastic, at least the 'thin'-ness should avoid most of the problem with glass

The other problem I find, can be the 'gap effect' between, say, the rear tripod leg and it's reflection - my brain (often) wants them to touch, but they don't, by twice the glass thickness

I did a double-take on #3 before I twigged what I was looking at

The best for sure, although as others, I like the camera, they don't make 'em like that anymore.

Cheers,

[Wirefox]

Dave

Very useful information as usual. I have some vouchers for a local photographic shop and I may use those for a polarising filer. I fancy a play with one of those

Steve

[PopsPhotos]

The other problem I find, can be the 'gap effect' between, say, the rear tripod leg and it's reflection - my brain (often) wants them to touch, but they don't, by twice the glass thickness

Of course they don't touch. Can't you tell he has overbalanced that poor little tripod and it is about to spill the camera right on its nose? The technical expression for that is "action shot."



Pops