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50 Stunning Examples Of Reflective Photography
Using reflections in photography can lead to some amazing effects and beautiful images. Using water, windows, mirrors or any sort of reflective surface can change an image into a work of art. The wonderful thing about using reflections when taking photos is that they can completely alter the image from something fairly straightforward to something richer or abstract or otherwise more artistic. Sometimes reflections can be annoying and certainly not artistic. But creativity and good-quality photos depend on the photographer being able to see things differently, rather than seeing only one part of a larger whole.
Also, using reflected light can vastly improve the quality of lighting available. Diffused light is generally better for taking photos, and using reflected light, either as the main source of light or for highlighting, is an excellent way to capture diffused light.
Whether you choose to use reflection in an artistic way or as a source of lightning, learning to use reflections in photography will help take your photographic skills to the next level.
Below we present over 50 beautiful examples of reflective photography. All examples are linked to their sources. Below, you can also explore other works of the photographers we’ve featured here.
You may also want to take a look at the following related showcases:
- Beautiful Black-and-White Photography
- 35 Fantastic HDR Pictures
- (Really) Stunning Pictures and Photos
- Let There Be Light: Light Painting and Sculptures
- 45 Beautiful Motion-Blur Photos
- 35 Beautiful Examples Of Rain Photography
Showcase Of Photos With Reflections:
AmsterS@m The Wicked Reflectah
“Old School Beauty BMW reflected in a puddle in Amsterdam…no Photoshop, as usual, just some added saturation and contrast.”
Mackay Botanical Gardens, QLD Australia.
Last Click
Resources
- Examples Of Reflective and Symmetrical Phoography
- Amsterd@m Reflected
Over 400 beautiful reflection shots of Amsterdam, Holland. - The Best Pictures Of Reflection Flickr Group
- *Reflection* Award Flickr Group
Related posts
Also consider our previous articles:
- Beautiful Black-and-White Photography
- 35 Fantastic HDR Pictures
- (Really) Stunning Pictures and Photos
- Let There Be Light: Light Painting and Sculptures
- 45 Beautiful Motion-Blur Photos
- 35 Beautiful Examples Of Rain Photography
(al)
Vailancio Rodrigues, born and currently living in scenic beauty of Goa, spent most of his childhood in art and creativity. At present a College student who likes to try and do different things at every moment. Also an webmaster and web designer – Tiny Goa and Pixel Art.
- 94 Comments
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- 3November 30th, 2008 3:21 pm
Great images. Very inspiring work. Love to know what equipment some of them were taken with. Well done for putting these together.
- 4November 30th, 2008 3:25 pm
it’s funny, how colors changed after digital photography and photoshop postprocessing came up. it’s much more brilliant and contrasted and the effect of the movement of the picture as itself is more merging into the search of detailed information in big connotations – this search for deep meanings and expressions in photography was always there, the perspective is just changing a lot through modern equipment.
anyway, sometimes there was a “wow” looking at the pictures of this list.
- 5November 30th, 2008 3:27 pm
Great collection of photos!
- 6November 30th, 2008 3:27 pm
Thanks. great photos. !!!
- 7November 30th, 2008 3:36 pm
Nice colors – but Some are a bit too Photoshopped
- 8November 30th, 2008 4:02 pm
Niiiice!!
Thanks =) - 9November 30th, 2008 5:11 pm
I miss the days of the darkroom….
- 10November 30th, 2008 5:21 pm
I also got to great examples photographed by me right here:
- Water reflection
- The world seen through my eyes - 11November 30th, 2008 5:48 pm
Awesome selection!
- 12November 30th, 2008 6:34 pm
Lools like water and clouds are in a lot of these. You gave me some great ideas.
- 13November 30th, 2008 6:43 pm
Great Collection!
- 14November 30th, 2008 7:51 pm
Gorgeous!!!!!
- 15November 30th, 2008 8:15 pm
Amazing collection. a smash hit.
- 16November 30th, 2008 8:52 pm
Some of them are truly amazing! Some of them are a bit ‘regular’ though inspiring. Thanks.
- 17November 30th, 2008 9:47 pm
http://flickr.com/photos/marshallsutcliffe/2959961115/
perhaps another photo to consider?
- 18November 30th, 2008 9:56 pm
I’m a sucker for a good reflective photograph with still water and a few lights like the Kristy Lee, Hobart taken a few nights ago.
Nice set. HDR is starting to wear a bit thin on me though, its getting oversold lately IMO.
- 19November 30th, 2008 10:35 pm
Thanks for giving so many new ideas!
- 20November 30th, 2008 11:06 pm
Amazing!!!
I like all these, but my first one is “Linda O’Dell”
- 21December 1st, 2008 12:31 am
Some more : http://www.flickr.com/photos/niklausgerber/869658954/in/set-72157600224856825/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/niklausgerber/509182629/in/set-72157600243901296/
- 22December 1st, 2008 12:46 am
i hate this ucking HDR.
- 23December 1st, 2008 12:50 am
Though some of these underwent Photoshop and what nots, it would have been kick a$$ if they were raw…Im not complaining, I mean Im a photographer myself and I know that mastering the camera is no palk in the wark…I mean…Walk in the Park…beautiful post of really inspiring images and place i wish I could afford to go to someday.
- 24December 1st, 2008 1:03 am
I think that the reflection in the geko last click is a post-production fake reflection (waves can’t be like that).
Also: I like when a photo with reflection is flipped uspide down, like this one from a friend of mine. Original and clever!
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- 26December 1st, 2008 1:31 am
Maybe too picky, but at least a couple of them are not reflections, but refractions. :-)
Nice set, anyway - 27December 1st, 2008 1:38 am
Some awesome shots there :-)
Two of my reflection shots on flickr
B&W with colour
and
Marina at Night - 28December 1st, 2008 2:23 am
some nice shots on here.
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- 31December 1st, 2008 5:49 am
Very beautiful images thanks so much for sharing these!
If i could share some of my reflective images… - 32December 1st, 2008 5:56 am
the third photo from the bottom has a faked reflection. (bad one too)
It most likely was never near water at the time of the photo.all else are nice.
..well, except for the exaggerated HDR in some.
- 33December 1st, 2008 6:05 am
All of mine tagged Reflection [flickr]
Reflection Image [flickr]
Refelection Image [flickr]
A few by me. - 34December 1st, 2008 6:06 am
Great inspiration in this post, thanks.
- 35December 1st, 2008 7:07 am
These images are beautifull! Thanks for sharing
- 36December 1st, 2008 7:18 am
Great list! Here’s another one I’d recommend:
http://flickr.com/photos/blakesamic/2066771462/in/set-72157602124237457/ - 37December 1st, 2008 7:39 am
Stunning! Great pictures…
- 38December 1st, 2008 8:04 am
Thanks for showcasing my picture on the Wawasan bridge!
- 39December 1st, 2008 8:22 am
Hehe…yes the Gecko is a digital reflection. Most likely done with Flaming Pear’s “Flood” plugin, which actually is a great plugin for reflections. A roll of the random seed dice might have made a better effect though.
I’m stilll shocked that people take the time to leave messages like “these have nothing to do with design”.
It’s called INSPIRATION.
Any graphic designer worth their salt has a creative bug in them, and should have hobbies including photography. It’s all in the eye people… composition, framing etc.
Good times!
- 40December 1st, 2008 9:13 am
mmmm too much saturation, sharpen, contrast for my taste. Even if subject matter is interesting there’s too much post processing going on. Effects up to eleven FTL.
- 41December 1st, 2008 9:31 am
Amazing. Thanks!
- 42December 1st, 2008 10:05 am
stunning! love the castle!
- 43December 1st, 2008 10:12 am
I also made some studies with water reflections (but using body parts….I think the results are curious):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andre_graciotti/279562088/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andre_graciotti/279562090/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andre_graciotti/279562085/ - 44December 1st, 2008 11:37 am
>Elumalai: The “photo” by Linda O’Dell was created digitally. The real reflection on the water would not skew proportions and the perspective would be slightly different.
- 45December 1st, 2008 12:56 pm
Thanks to the eds for picking up my photo! To anyone who is curious I shot it with a Nikon D100 an old and nearly broken 14mm f/3.5 that I picked up on ebay some years ago. As with all the images of which I am proud, it is the product less of meticulous work and more of being the lucky one to walk by the cabin at the right time. “f/8 and be there” will hold true no matter whether post is in the dark room or the cpu!
- 46December 1st, 2008 2:06 pm
Very nice work. Thou i have this feeling some of them are photoshoped, if there not photoshoped then its ashame as they feel photoshoped. Allot of these look like there not fully created by a camera. Anyways allot of them are really nice, so good work :)
- 47December 1st, 2008 2:16 pm
as always…love the photograph posts. very inspirational!
- 48December 1st, 2008 2:23 pm
Vedd, thought you’d like the inside reflection at Christmas time here: http://www.wels.net/s3/uploaded/76992/treeview.jpg
- 49December 1st, 2008 3:30 pm
You missed one guy’s worked… He was featured in Time magazine some years back for his mostly reflective photography on the beaches of Karachi. See his work on flickr.
- 50December 1st, 2008 7:05 pm
Probably the greatest shot ever at:
- 51December 2nd, 2008 6:24 am
I love the focus points. It is amazing to see itmes in the forground blurry with a focus point through water or similar items. Also reflective framing is also fantastic. Always love eye candy.
- 52December 2nd, 2008 8:39 am
This photographer has very good reflections photos
- 53December 2nd, 2008 9:33 am
You’ve gotta see the work of Gilad Benari, he’s awesome using reflections. http://gilad.deviantart.com/gallery
Awesome list nonetheless.
.SCHL
- 54December 2nd, 2008 9:54 am
What an inspiring collection of reflections.
I captured some wonderful reflections in Rome and Venice recently, not only in canals and puddles, but also on cars and in windows which made for some great results.
Check them out here: Projectwoman.com
- 55December 2nd, 2008 2:36 pm
“Hehe…yes the Gecko is a digital reflection. Most likely done with Flaming Pear’s “Flood” plugin, which actually is a great plugin for reflections.”
not only that one, several others as well (except for the gecko, there are 3 other really evident ones). it’s a shame, as the real ones in this bunch are truly stunning. the first one reminds me of The Shining ;) - 56December 2nd, 2008 3:30 pm
Can t beleive how much these are photoshoped!!
Do we talk about photography or virtual imagery!???
Sorry, looks like crap - 57December 2nd, 2008 4:27 pm
Beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing :)
- 58December 3rd, 2008 2:36 am
Some of them are made using HDR techniques but not overdone.
- 59December 3rd, 2008 7:43 am
Very cool!!! And what about this…
http://photo-forum.net/en/index.php?APP_ACTION=USER_IMAGES&USER_ID=16753
? - 60December 3rd, 2008 11:36 am
http://www.megapixelphotos.com/index.php?showimage=327 <– Another cloud gate example.
Also hard to believe a US monument in the reflecting pool wasnt there but I suppose there are a lot of those..
- 61December 3rd, 2008 6:31 pm
great ! ..thank’s for sharing.
- 62December 3rd, 2008 7:02 pm
Stunning pictures!
I have taken a reflection picture of my friend. It is a different style, where a sunset reflects on his glasses. Tell me what you think!http://www.antoyoussef.com/2008/09/antoine-watching-the-sunset-salar-de-atacama/
- 63December 4th, 2008 1:55 am
Incredible. Smashing Collection as usual
Visit My ArtWord on my blog
Angeloff - 64December 4th, 2008 5:38 am
whats so stunning? how easy it is to use photoshop?
- 65December 4th, 2008 6:40 am
Great Pictures, Thanks!
Here are some more great reflection-pictures i found recently. The second one is my absolute favorite.
- 66December 4th, 2008 9:13 am
wheres the reflecto-porn
- 67December 4th, 2008 9:26 am
Here is one of my photos with reflection: http://www.harhakuva.org/view/117609
(sorry finnish language)
- 68December 4th, 2008 2:55 pm
One of my favourite pictures I’ve ever taken is a reflection pic, here.
A lot of them were stunning, some.. not so much.
- 69December 5th, 2008 7:41 am
I really liked that feather shot, and the last one, too. Who can beat an awesome reflection mixed with some sunset silhouettes…..dream photo!
“But creativity and good-quality photos depend on the photographer being able to see things differently, rather than seeing only one part of a larger whole.” AMEN TO THAT!!!!!!
- 70December 5th, 2008 11:01 am
if all these werent photoshoped i would like them. but the computer is taking away form the true beauty of life, i stick to film and that’s what i prefer. the real deal.
- 71December 8th, 2008 5:50 am
thanks, it’s a real inspiration!!!! lovely pieces of work …this things i’m looking at …wow
- 72December 8th, 2008 4:45 pm
Too bad a lot of these are photoshopped.
These are some good reflective pictures.
http://robinsoulier.com/ - 73December 9th, 2008 12:48 am
Dolphins aren’t that great . . .
That’s right, I said it. Dolphins. Not that smart. Do you think a dolphin could take a picture? - 74December 18th, 2008 3:00 am
beautiful photographs, fantastic locations, treat for the eye, love it.
- 75December 19th, 2008 12:56 pm
i luv it!!!
i wish i can go 2 those places! - 76December 19th, 2008 8:10 pm
every one of them photoshopped within an inch of their lives
- 77December 22nd, 2008 6:50 pm
赞!how beautiful
- 78January 1st, 2009 5:56 pm
Several of those were actually better examples of Refraction not Reflection (Looking through a clear droplet http://www.flickr.com/photos/12708811@N07/2633069893/ or glass of water http://www.flickr.com/photos/merwells/464167469/) It is otherwise a nice collection.
- 79January 4th, 2009 7:54 am
Most of the shots are good ones, but some are a bit oversaturated and artificial amateur pictures, not really suitable for demonstration in a high class place like this one – in my opinion.
- 80January 19th, 2009 8:26 am
muito lindas as imagens
- 81January 19th, 2009 1:05 pm
Reflections really amplify the beauty of a photograph… Very nice job here; thank you for sharing.
- 82January 22nd, 2009 10:02 pm
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very beautiful pictures ” great” thanks
- 84February 7th, 2009 1:22 pm
Nice. Perhaps a little heavy on the saturation and/or dynamic range ‘cranks’ in photo shop, but nice example of reflections none the less.
- 85February 16th, 2009 5:22 am
fantastic work,the best one is the 1st one.
- 86February 17th, 2009 2:46 pm
soooo pretty!
- 87February 27th, 2009 6:01 am
Glorious, gorgeous and great! Loved looking at all these beautiful images – inspirational, thank you :)
- 88March 2nd, 2009 2:47 pm
beatiful pictures!!
thanks for sharing. - 89March 11th, 2009 12:32 pm
So I was wondering about settings on a manual non digital camera?
- 90April 13th, 2009 11:57 pm
Some pictures are really beautiful.
- 91June 21st, 2009 2:04 pm
amazing and cool picsssssss !!!!!!!!!
- 92August 2nd, 2009 12:55 am
not top 50 photos here.. but top 50 photoshop examples.
yes, the final picture is beautiful.. but its not REAL photo anymore, if all visual effects, colors and mirrors was changed or modified by some image redactor.
sad. - 93October 7th, 2009 2:08 am
All I can say is Wow! Great photographs.
- 94October 15th, 2009 11:33 pm
The photographs here are sadly not quite there inter,s of quality or content. They are poor cases of bad pj photography.
- 00
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cool! thank’s