Mirrors Provide More Than Just An Image– They Provide a New Perspective.
See how something as simple as a mirror can change the way you think.
Why Mirrors?
The Purpose & My Plan
The goal of this assignment was to compile a cohesive series of photographs that even when mixed and matched with other groups, would remain easily identifiable as part of the same set.
Achieving this goal would without a doubt prove the photographs to be seen as a “photo essay.”
For my subject of the photo essay, I chose to shoot photographs of mirrors. Located in diverse environments with different surroundings, my personal goal was to focus on making each photograph engaging and appealing. Using the mirror to “frame” an object or scene was my intention.
The Challenges
Learning to work through challenges is a huge part of trying something new. Here, you’ll get a sense of the challenges I faced and how I worked through them.
01
Avoiding Certain Reflections
One of the biggest issues I found was that the camera or tripod, or even both of the two on some occasions found their way into the shot. So, avoiding the camera’s appearance in the reflections of the mirrors required extremely careful positioning and angling; which varied in difficulty depending on the location.
02
Creating a Focal Point
Figuring out what to have showing in the reflection of the mirror proved challenging. It was difficult to find things that would “work” for my purpose. For some shots I used other natural elements to frame, for others I decided to dig deep in some old belongings and so on.
03
Technical Difficulties
This was one of my first “big” photography assignments, and at the time I was still getting to know the Canon Ti camera. Researching, remembering and adjusting my ISO, aperture and focus settings was a key challenge that I knew I had to overcome soon in order to get good results.
My Uncoverings
Creating this photo essay uncovered my enjoyment for using a real camera. I discovered new places, some that I would drive by multiple times a week but never stop in. I found old stuffed animals that brought back memories and made me happy. Producing this photo essay was more than just taking photographs for a grade to me– it was about the fun and eye opening moments I had along the way. I learned new ways of posing shots, new combinations of camera settings and most of all; how to create a compelling shot.
View More of My Photography
Click the button to see more of my personal photography as well as other school-related projects.
