Reflection in a Puddle?

[Frank Discussion]

I'm going to be doing a shot of the subject reflected in a puddle and was wondering what can be done (outside compositing and other post techniques) to make the reflection clearer? Er... If anything...

[David Mullen ASC]

OK, are we supposed to believe your real name is "Frank Discussion"???

[Frank Discussion]

OK, are we supposed to believe your real name is "Frank Discussion"???

 

Actually it really is. I missed you ate the last one, but if I see you at the next ASC Open House, I can show you my drivers license to prove it. :)

[David Mullen ASC]

You need to have a chat with your parents... ;)

 

Shooting a reflection in a puddle is a little like shooting someone reflected in a shiny car -- you want the reflected subject to be brighter than the puddle so that the reflection pops out more. You can see this if you've ever looked down at a puddle in the shaded side of a city street and it's reflecting the sunlit buildings on the other side of the street.

 

So try shooting your subject in frontal sunlight, unless you want more of a silhouette against a bright sky, and put a large flag over the puddle to shadow it and you'll see that the reflection stands out more.

[Frank Discussion]

So simple, direct and elegant a solution.

 

Thanks so much David!

[David Mullen ASC]

So simple, direct and elegant a solution.

 

Thanks so much David!

 

I'd add that the darker the ground under the puddle, the better the reflection (i.e. black asphalt is better than grey concrete.)

[Frank Discussion]

Yes! I was wondering if that would have an effect.

 

With your help, my experiments are already doing much better.

 

And I get the feeling I will be able to apply what you taught me to a number of things in the future (both to create reflections and to avoid them where I don't want them).

 

Thanks again!