This is one lousy photo - but I decided to go with it anyway so that I could get the feedback I need. I am trying to enter the mirror challenge (good thing I have some time). I ransacked the house for portable mirrors - my first challenge. I started the day trying for shadows in my Mom's old vanity mirror that holds old perfume bottles. Must really be an antique now. I have the cut glass perfume bottle that matches it - the old atomizer. For one reason or another I wasn't happy with that. Then I took this one off of the wall in the living room. It is hand made pottery with one of my favorite irises on it. Well, no matter what I do either the mirror is out of focus or whatever I am trying to capture in it is. I have moved up, back and sideways. If any of the neighbors are home today they must really wonder about me trying to set mirrors in the yard with a camera around my neck. So, help!! I have no idea quite how to do this.......
It is a pretty mirror. I'm sorry that I don't have any advise as far as mirror shot go. I've never tried one. Keep trying, I'm sure you will get the shot you want.
I appreciate your efforts! I had various people frowning at this lady puttin mirrors down all round the property! I found the camera wouldn't focus on the article in the mirror easily! Your mirror is the focus here! Lovely!
Its not something I've tried yet Cathy but @marlboromaam might be able to help, she is amazing when it comes to mirror shots. Its a very pretty mirror though :)
@maggiemae I did not tag it because it came out so badly. I want all of it in focus and I know Maggie accomplishes it so I hope she answers. i am at a loss.
@nyusha Thank you Anna. @jenniferruge Thanks Jennifer. I love the mirror itself so was hoping to figure it out. @maggiemae That is exactly what I was going through. I had to focus on the mirror or the image - couldn't make both work. @linzi76 Thanks Lynsey. She is the one that got me interested in doing it. @vskolnik Thanks Vee - you are making a mess up into something nice.
You can't get everything perfectly focused, You choose what the focus will be. You can try manually focusing if you have that option. It's about what's important to the frame, if you were trying to capture the light, focus on the mirror image.
I love your decorative mirror! Try focusing more on the reflection and don't worry about the mirror frame. it's actually a nicer effect if the frame is a little blurry and your reflection is very crisp and clear. This mirror looks pretty small and if your reflection is too far away, it may be very difficult to focus on both. But it CAN be done!
If you know of someone who has gotten the results that you're aiming for, check what settings they've used. My personal taste in this sort of pic is for the lighting to be darker, so that the reflection is something of a mystery.
You won't be able to get a sharp focus on the mirror and the image in the mirror in the same shot - they are different distances. The only thing I can think of is to take two shots from exactly the same point and then using Photoshop or something similar, cut and paste the sharp mirror image into the sharp mirror frame.
@sugarmuser So it is a choice of one or the other. It is going to be a fun week. @timandelke I didn't think of that! @marlboromaam I can do that! And it is a smallish mirror. Probably just a little over a foot at the longest part. So you are telling me I have to drag a big mirror around the yard. Oh, this may not be the challenge for me. But I so love what you are doing with them. @ladyjane I should have realized that it was sort of impossible....
@jenniferruge Thanks Jennifer. I love the mirror itself so was hoping to figure it out.
@maggiemae That is exactly what I was going through. I had to focus on the mirror or the image - couldn't make both work.
@linzi76 Thanks Lynsey. She is the one that got me interested in doing it.
@vskolnik Thanks Vee - you are making a mess up into something nice.
@timandelke I didn't think of that!
@marlboromaam I can do that! And it is a smallish mirror. Probably just a little over a foot at the longest part. So you are telling me I have to drag a big mirror around the yard. Oh, this may not be the challenge for me. But I so love what you are doing with them.
@ladyjane I should have realized that it was sort of impossible....
@pawar_ramesh Thanks Ramesh