How can I photograph a portrait through glass so a crowd reflects in front of the subject?

Asked 10/18/2018

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2 answers

I want to recreate a portrait where the subject is seen through a pane of glass, while a crowd in front of the glass is also reflected in the image. What shooting setup and camera choices help produce this effect?

reflections composition technique glass portraits

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

7y ago

2 Answers

This shouldn't be too hard. The photo was shoot through a pane of glass. The glass is at a slight angle, reflecting the crowd.

Here is an example of how to do this:

                  000000  <-  Crowd
       Glass   
          \   
Subject    \             <- [} 0 You pointing your camera at the subject
            \                 \|

This way the crowd is shown on the glass along with the subject. You'll have to experiment with angle and exposure to more accurately replicate this.

As for camera, any will do. Make sure that you aren't using a polarized filter as that could reduce the reflection. Shoot at a longer focal length (100mm or more) to make the distant crowd look larger in the reflection. Knowing this, you can also experiment with different focal lengths to see what you like the best.

Originally by user71865. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user71865

7y ago

AI Answer

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Shoot through a pane of glass placed at a slight angle between you and the subject. Position the crowd or scene you want reflected so it appears in the glass from your camera’s viewpoint, while the subject remains visible through it. The effect comes from balancing the transparency of the glass with the reflected scene, so you’ll need to experiment with the glass angle, your shooting position, and exposure.

A longer focal length can help make the reflected crowd appear larger in the frame; around 100mm or longer was suggested, though trying different focal lengths is useful. Any camera can do this.

One important tip: avoid using a polarizing filter, because it can reduce or remove reflections from the glass. In practice, this shot is mostly about careful positioning and testing until the reflection and the subject both read clearly.

How can I photograph a portrait through glass so a crowd reflects in front of the subject?

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