Instagram • How I Shoot: Reflection Photos, with @dylanisbell

How I Shoot: Reflection Photos, with @dylanisbell

How I Shoot is a series where we ask Instagrammers to tell us about their photo-taking processes. This week, @dylanisbell shares his tips for taking reflection photos.

Camera: iPhone 4S

Vantage Point: For me, New York City is like one big fun house of reflections. My attention is constantly drawn to all the storefront windows with the dynamic ways the light bounces off buildings or spills through alleyways. Windows give you a lot of options, but as a starting point I find that if I like the scene behind me (the scene that’s being reflected) and the scene on the other side of the window, then I start to move my camera and body around to knock out certain elements that I want to reveal or hide. So think of your phone and body as a layer mask that can either hide or reveal an element.

Shooting: As far as what catches my eye, I would say New York City does. I’m pretty lucky I guess, with all that’s going on in the city with people, light, reflections. I just try to pay attention and hone it all in and capture as much of it in one frame as I can. When I approach these reflections, I do so with a motivation of what I think is possible, but what also attracts me to these reflections is the unknown. I am just as surprised by what I find as I hope others are. Without waxing too philosophical, for me these reflections resemble a bending of the rules of what is known to my basic visual perception of life. It’s kind like I’m trying to figure out or communicate with all these elements.

Editing: I always use the built-in camera app to take my pictures. After I take the picture, I have a few apps that I might use to edit it. I usually use Camera+ to bring out features in the image, and I use Lux to bring out elements in the photo that otherwise might get lost. Finally, I choose an Instagram filter and then share the photo.

Want to share your advice for taking photos? Reblog this post and let us know in the comments! Or include a tip in the caption on your Instagram photo and use the tag #howishoot.