If you want a quick and easy way to take interesting portraits, mirror photography is for you. All you need is a mirror (or several mirrors, if you're feeling extra creative), a patient model, and a few tips. 1. Mirror Photography: Use Artificial Light to Enhance Your Model's Features One of the best things about mirror photography is that it offers unlimited possibilities. As long as you have access to a mirror, you can take photos wherever and whenever you want. If you want to stay in, experiment with different outfits, and take great photos with a limited amount of light, you can easily do so. You just need to work with artificial light and DSLR camera settings that are usually not needed during the warmer months. Artificial light can enhance your subject's features. As you take photos, make sure you manually change your photos' color temperature and ISO. Color temperature will let you fix unflattering tones and ISO will help you take sharp photos in locations with limited light. 2. Use Manual Focus for the Sharpest Results Depending on the concept of your shoot, you might have to deal with a lot of busy foregrounds and backgrounds in your compositions. Because of this, autofocus might capture the wrong subject or not be able to focus at all. Especially if you're working with a small f-number like f/1.2. You can avoid this by switching to manual focus. Manual focus will let you capture exactly what you want. If you don't use it regularly, it will feel very awkward at first. Don't let this bother you! It's also likely that the mirror you use will create distortions on your model's face. These will be noticeable only when you zoom into your photo, so they shouldn't be a problem. 3. Create Space in Small Rooms by Using Large Mirrors Small spaces like elevators have mirrors to give the illusion of more space. You can use this trick to your advantage when you shoot in small rooms. If you live in a small apartment, you can use a large mirror to take mirror images of your subject from a distance. This is especially handy if you use a zoom lens, which typically isn't practical to use indoors. You can also use large mirrors to create more space between yourself and your model. This will make them feel more comfortable and give them room to pose without worrying about bumping into your camera. 4. Shoot Through Multiple Mirrors to Create a Surreal Effect Surreal photography is all about otherworldly concepts and stories inspired by fairytales. Some surrealist photographers, like Rosie Hardy, use their photo editing skills to create unusual photos. Others, like John Dykstra, use props and their imagination to create unedited masterpieces. You don't always need incredible editing skills or props to create surreal photos, though. With use of mirrors (at least two), you can focus on different angles of your model's face and reflect objects that wouldn't be visible in a photo with one mirror. Here, you can also different reflective surfaces for better images. 5. Take Photos of Yourself and Your Model at the Same Time Portrait photography tends to focus on those standing in front of the camera. Anyone behind it should be invisible. Mirror photography is an exception to this rule, as you can take photos of both yourself and your model in the mirror. You can use this technique to add depth to your creative self-portraits. It can also be used to create more space in a photo or to fill in empty areas in your composition. Make sure you use this technique sparingly, though. The more you use it, the more unoriginal your concepts will be. Try creative these self-reflection portraits with broken mirrors for some added creativity. 6. Take Your Mirror Outdoors There are lots of exciting outdoor locations that you can enhance with the help of a mirror. You can use it to cover parts of your model's body, reflect a beautiful location, or even use it to improve your landscape photography skills. I recommend using a small mirror outdoors. Carrying a large mirror is impractical. And it will make your photo shoot significantly more inconvenient than a normal one with smaller props. 7. Recreate Fun Road Trip Photos in a Car You don't need to go on an epic road trip to take exciting travel photos. If you have a car, you can recreate travel photos by simply having your model sit in it. No driving necessary! Use a side mirror or rear view mirror to focus on your model. Make sure the background (preferably an eye-catching location) is visible, too. This will give dimension to your photo and create a sense of adventure. 8. Take Atmospheric Self-Portraits Mirror selfies have become so popular that they're no longer interesting, but this doesn't mean you can't use them to create original self-portraits. Instead of focusing solely on yourself, try to create an atmosphere using objects next to your mirror. The photographer in the image above used her bedroom to create a cozy and pleasant feel. While most of the objects in her photo aren't sharp, they still complement her pose and reflect her personality (no pun intended). 9. Use a Small Mirror to Create Abstract Portraits Abstract portraits are unconventional and striking. They can be used to create photos that resemble paintings or simply highlight one part of your model's face, like the eye in the photo above. You can use a handheld mirror or a prism to experiment with this effect. A prism might make reflections appear more distorted. You'll also have to focus very carefully to get sharp results. A handheld mirror will reflect more of your subject's face and make it easier for you to focus on them. Since both of these mirrors are affordable and accessible, I recommend experimenting with both. Conclusion: Mirror Photography Mirror photography will help you appreciate unusual perspectives, try out new photography styles, and add more depth to your photos. Even the simplest mirror can help you take your portraits to the next level. So what are you waiting for? Grab a mirror and start shooting!
Children are naturally curious. They love to explore their surroundings and learn new things. Especially in the early years. So it's important to give kids the opportunity to satisfy their hunger for fresh experiences. It can do wonders for their development and well-being. And produce plenty of memorable moments!
I think I knew her... Yikes.
A selection of work from Australian artist and sculptor Sue Tilley. She works predominantly in found metal and glass, and working with the community, for the community.
Some find the abandoned places creepy, while others consider them exciting and they are even eager to explore them. Since not everyone has the opportunity as well as the necessary skills to go on an adventure themselves and travel to these eerie destinations, other explorers make sure they capture their discoveries and share them with a wider audience on their social media. We all agree these places are not for everyone to visit, but we must admit that the photographs showcasing these unique locations are both scary and beautiful. Also, there is something very alluring in them…
An awesome assortment of fascinating photos and things you don't see every day.
Have you been hearing the term "cottagecore" popping up more and more in design circles? Let's talk about some of what is included in this new-to-most style! *Feature Photo Credit to Brambly Cottage Ashbury Wallpaper. * I first mentioned cottagecore in my Interior Design Trends for 2021 Blog Post from a few weeks ago and
One of the benefits of an interest art piece is that it will force you to think. The right piece will challenge your reality, bring out a specific emotion, or just leave you feeling a bit puzzled. Here are 28 of our picks for the most striking pieces of
By P.F.M. | News 06.02.23: Today’s Articles o f Interest - New Yorkers Never Came ‘Flooding Back.’ Why Did Rents Go Up So Much?; and more
This time, it's literally head to toe denim.
At a loss for words to describe a beautiful experience? Here are the best unusual travel words in different languages for inspiration!
History is full of war, famine, and plague, but you can't accuse it of being cruel. It's what we made it. So if anything, it's people who are vicious and wicked. The past is just... indifferent. An open book, ready to be explored. Or in this case, a Twitter account.
Despite inherent flaws, House in the Tree is a fanciful fir-based escape.
1. Due to inbreeding amongst the Ptolemies, Cleopatra of Egypt had only two pairs of ...
The predictions have been made futurologists from Australian universities who foresee 'talking' buildings, self-healing planes and pods (pictured) and the end of windows by 2045.
Discover our fabric and wallpaper ideas on HOUSE - design, food and travel by House & Garden, including these eclectic displays using everyday items.
A collection of photos and info on the most beautiful castles in France, including some of the top French chateaux.
By P.F.M. | News 04.20.20 : Today’s Articles - I’m an E.R. Doctor in New York. None of Us Will Ever Be the Same.; Adam Schlesinger, and more
I Hate it When I Have to Retrieve the Carts - Failing in the Workplace
A new book features imagined interior design in digital art by some 100 designers around the world
Or week, or month, or year.
Last summer, near the end of my mother’s life, I woke up in my childhood bedroom in the middle of the night in a fever of panic. My heart was thrumming, my mind racing. In 1819, the English poet John Keats called anxiety a “wakeful anguish,” an [...]
The unsettling life-size figures are a new, thought provoking art installation in the Scottish woodland in David Marshall Lodge near Loch Lomondare.
A lovely reader sent me this floor plan last week after I mentioned it’s getting harder and harder to find different plans. I feel like I’ve seen them all. I am so glad this one came through so I can share it with you all. It’s a beauty… The plan…
Ripping Tradition To Shreds
Caption this 24 March 2020
Chicago-based artist Bruce Riley uses resin and paint to create vibrant, abstract shapes that blossom organically across large-scale panels. Pools of
Italian sculptor Lorenzo Quinn’s massive new sculpture, 'Support,' is a stark warning on the impact of rising sea levels.
India-based architectural studio The White Room, run by Nitin Barchha and Disney Davis, uses minimal design and natural materials to create clean spaces bursting with plant life. In their recent project Garden Room the pair created a white and slate green sculptural setting that presents a calming segue from interior to outdoor space. The one bedroom apartment located in the Mumbai suburb of Pali Hill is teeming with vines and hanging plants that create a protective barrier from the outside world. More
29 Memes to Get Your Day Started Off Right - Funny memes that "GET IT" and want you to too. Get the latest funniest memes and keep up what is going on in the meme-o-sphere.
Need to entertain the kids? Try some of these free indoor and outdoor activities for kids that can all be done from your own home. There's also a list of free online educational resources.
Better than a kick in the ass.
Instead of relying on photomanipulation, as is common these days, photographer Lara Zankoul creates surreal photos by putting together elaborate sets. For
With the goal of expanding interest among children and youths for technology and the natural sciences, the Gothenburg Region Association of Local..
