I Photograph The World Upside Down Using My Phone Screen As A Portable Mirror
Photography Hack: Finding creative ways to photograph the world is partly an obsession of mine and partly my profession.
As a travel photographer, capturing a unique angle can be tricky when it comes to iconic places that have been photographed millions of times so seeking out alternate angles becomes quite a challenge.
While photographing the lavender fields in Provence, France in summer 2017 I was using an old piece of coffee table glass I found in the trash as a reflector to turn the scenery upside down.
By using a tinted glass, it allows the landscape to reflect into the image but doesn’t create a perfect reflection, more a creative blend of the sky and scenery.
One day I forgot my piece of tinted glass and went looking for something quickly to use when I tested out my iPhone screen…it worked amazingly well!
To my surprise, this handy little reflection had been hiding in my pocket the whole time. We all carry our phones everywhere so why not use them to create a little magic!?
More info: thewanderinglens.com
Kyoto, Japan
In the peak of autumn, the city of Kyoto is awash in vibrant colours. This as taken at the Kiyomizudera Temple using my Olympus lens slightly zoomed over my phone screen to produce the reflection of the pagoda and surrounding leaves.
Provence, France
The lavender fields of Valensole provided the perfect landscape to practice this technique! To make it happen, hold your camera with one hand, your phone with the other and then slowly lift the phone up and down until you see the reflection occur in your image.
Dubai, UAE
One of the most photographed buildings in Dubai reflected to create an alternate perspective.
The Burj al Arab
Taken from the public beach in Dubai, this reflection was taken by tilting my phone screen in front of my Olympus camera until the sky flipped upside down.
The French Alps
When the scenery is slightly elevated it makes it much easier to capture reflections using your phone screen.
Paris, France
Finding a unique angle of the Eiffel Tower is a pretty fun challenge, using my reflection technique I was able to take this image from the Pont de Bir-Hakeim.
Paris, France
Reflecting the historic facades near Notre Dame.
Provence, France
A castle in the woods at dusk which when photographed using my phone as a reflector base, allows the surrounding branches to create an eerie addition to the shot.
Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Two palms are better than one, right? This was taken during sunrise on the island of Aitutaki in the Pacific.
Lofoten Islands, Norway
This technique can be used to change up the foreground subject so rather than just have a fence or some water, you can reflect the clouds and sky.
Fushimi-Inari, Kyoto
Waiting for ages while the crowds filtered through between the torii gates, I was finally able to capture a reflection of these ruby red gates using my phone screen.
Port Macquarie Lighthouse, Australia
Reflecting the dusky purple skies into this shot allows me to replace the wild seas with a calming atmosphere instead.
Senso-ji, Tokyo
With the golden light of sunrise bouncing off the pagoda at Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo, Japan, I lifted my phone up to double the effect.
Creating Reflections by The Wandering Lens
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Shoot the same scene under different weather conditions or times of day, then mix and match upper and lower halves.
Shoot the same scene under different weather conditions or times of day, then mix and match upper and lower halves.
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