All language subtitles for 10 - Reflections, Use Them to Your Advantage

In this lesson,
we're gonna look at

how to deal with reflections.

Whether they come from
Mirrors, windows,

water appliances,

essentially, any reflective
surface when filming.

They can either be an obstacle

that creates headaches
and challenges,

or they can be turned
into a brilliant tool.

To do this, we must first
be able to recognize them.

Let's start by checking
out some examples.

You may have noticed the
biggest problem with

reflections is seeing things
that shouldn't be seen,

such as crew equipment

or glaring bright
spots from lights.

To fix these issues.

It isn't all that difficult.

It just requires we pay

close attention before
rolling the camera.

So here's what we can do.

If someone can be seen,

have the move somewhere else.

The same goes for any equipment
that shouldn't be there.

If something can't be moved,

try masking it with something
that's okay to be seen.

Like a prop or a piece
of set dressing.

If it's a window, consider

adjusting the curtains,
blinds, or shears.

Sometimes even an actor
or background actor

can be placed strategically

to block unwanted reflections.

If it's a small object,

changing its angle might
also do the trick.

If none of that works.

And see if a slight change to

the camera angle can
fix the problem.

If it's glare that is
causing the problem,

It's a bit different.

But here's what we can do.

Adjust the light or your shot.

If that doesn't work.

We can also use

a dulling spray or hairspray
can also do the trick.

You can also dirty

the reflective surface if it
makes sense for the shot.

An example of this would be

a reflective surface
or shiny tools.

But in a dirty mechanic shop,

eliminate the light or use
a diffuser to soften it.

Attaching a lens hood to

the lens can block
out lens flares.

So does adding a polarizer
filter to your lens.

And it can also
reduce and sometimes

even eliminate
reflections from water.

And finally, if none of
these work, once again,

adjusting the camera
shot to find an angle

that doesn't catch the
light is always an option.

Now that we know how to
eliminate reflections,

Let's get into the
fun stuff and learn

how we can use them
to our advantage.

To do this, there
are two main things.

We need to know, how the angles

work and how the
depth of field works.

Knowing how the
angles work is one of

the ways we can hide our
camera from the reflections.

First thing we must
always remember

when filming reflections is

that whatever the angle of

the camera is to the
reflective surface,

that is the same angle the
subject or object that we

want to capture must also be
to that reflective surface.

Meaning if the actor is
at a 45-degree angle to

the mirror than the
camera must also

be at a 45-degree
angle to the mirror,

or at least close
to the same range.

But what if that angle

shows the camera
in the reflection?

Well, by slightly
moving the camera,

we can make it disappear
from the shot.

But this also means
we may have to adjust

the position of the subject
to get the frame we want.

Meaning, we may have
to experiment and make

tiny adjustments until
finding just the right setup.

And using tighter shots also

makes it easier to
hide reflections.

When it comes to pulling focus

and selling our depth of field,

it's critical to
remember that it's not

just the distance
from the camera

to the mirror that
we must measure,

must also add the distance

from the mirror to the subject.

That's because our
cameras don't recognize

the mirror or the reflective
surface as a solid surface.

Instead, it recognizes it as

an extension of the space
that we're filming in.

If you've ever looked at a
wall of mirrors in a gym

or a dance studio and thought
the room look twice as big.

Well, to our cameras,

the room is twice as big.

Meaning that to our camera,

whatever is in the
reflection is actually

further away than the
reflective surfaces.

Which means we have to
adjust our depth of field

accordingly to make sure that
our subject is in focus.

Depending on our depth of

field and where
we set our focus.

We can even hide our
camera in plain sight.

By keeping our camera
outside the range of focus,

It's possible to
blurred enough that

the viewer can't even
tell it's a camera.

If you do this, just be sure

the camera operator doesn't

make any large or
sudden movements.

Knowing these two factors
when dealing with mirrors and

other reflective surfaces
can be an amazing tool,

especially when shooting
in small spaces.