Section 2 Shooting
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Falling water is broken into tiny droplets,
forming a mist that can generate a rainbow,
Figure 12-36.
When water is still, its surface often
reflects its surroundings. The most common
approach to photographing reflections in
water is the mirror image, which is an almost
exact reproduction of the scene in reverse. See
Figure 12-37. Color reflections can be captured
from surfaces with only a film of water, such
as beach sand, and even from moving water
when the light source itself is being reflected,
Figure 12-38.
At times, you may prefer to eliminate
reflections in the water to remove distractions
from the main subject. A polarizing filter both
eliminates reflections and improves color
saturation by reducing glare, Figure 12-39.
Objects underwater that were obscured by
reflections can be revealed, as well.
Animal Photography
While some animal photography involves
groups, the most striking and memorable shots
are usually of an individual. In many respects,
animal photography is a form of portraiture,
capturing the likeness and personality of a
subject. Like portraits of human subjects, animal
portraits should be composed, focused, and
lighted with care. See Figure 12-40. Since you
will usually be working with ambient light, try
to choose a time of day and angle to the sun
that provides the most effective lighting on your
subject.
Compositionally, an animal’s pose may be
human-like—a photographer might position
a person the same way for a portrait. A key
element in all types of portraiture is the subject’s
eyes. If visible, they must be in sharp focus and
should contain a small bright reflection, called a
catchlight, to add sparkle and liveliness.
Glory Klasey
Figure 12-36. Sunlight refracted from water droplets in a
churning stream forms a persistent rainbow.
Jack Klasey/Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 12-37. On a late autumn day, a river’s surface
provides a mirror-image reflection of bare trees.