Welcome to this week's edition of Behind the Picture Magazine This time, we challenged our photographers to capture an image using reflections within their niche. Reflections in photography have the power to create truly unique perspectives. Imagine the effect of a reflection when peering into a storefront window, or how a mirror can cast an entirely new view. These reflections have the ability to narrate a visual story from an unexpected angle, adding depth and intrigue. Excited to see the stunning reflection shots from this week’s Photo of the Week winners? Let’s dive in! Assignment Brief CARTY gives a tight brief at the end of his photo review shows, which tells us shooters what we have to shoot exactly for the following week’s review. Here is this assignment exactly how he shares it. “This week’s Assignment: Use Reflections to Create an Image Within Your Niche ” Use reflective surfaces to creatively enhance images within your niche. Make a single image that uses a reflection specifically. Product photographers - use a mirror or glass or water to make reflections to enhance your image. People photographers - use glass, a mirror, water, or something else in order to show a reflection. Places photographers - use glass, mirrors, water, or use perspective to shoot through things. (if it shows reflections) "I want a multi-dimensional feeling this week." This is a vertical assignment. Mike MorrisonWhat inspired your Reflection image? Can you briefly describe the concept and the story behind it? What emotion or message were you aiming to convey to your audience? I wanted to shoot away from places with distractions in the background. This assignment said to show reflection with a three-dimensional aspect, and I found this angle of the truck to check those boxes Can you walk us through your creative process for this assignment? How did you plan and execute the shot, and what key techniques or strategies helped bring your vision to life? I've been wanting to get a photo at a classic car dealership since they're a potential client for my work. The old truck was well placed for this capture with the reflection in the concrete. What were the main challenges you faced during the shoot? How did you overcome them, and did these challenges influence the final outcome in a way you didn’t expect? Normally it's brighter there, but it started storming outside darkening the warehouse. I used a radial mask on the raw file in Lightroom to bump exposure a bit on the truck. This made it pop while reducing background distractions. What kind of feedback did you receive from professionals or peers about your image? How do you plan to incorporate this feedback into future projects, and how has it shaped your development as a photographer? 24mm lens can throw perspective off. Carty said to try 50mm, which I'll do. How has being part of the Carty community helped you grow creatively? What do you find most valuable about the feedback, support, or collaborative atmosphere within the community? Watching all of the other photo review submitters sparks creativity. The photos make you think how did they create that shot. What advice or encouragement would you give to photographers considering joining the Carty community? How can they get the most out of participating in these assignments? Just keep grinding through assignments. If you listen and follow Carty's expert advise your work will improve. Social Media Handles: Behance: Mike Morrison Facebook: Mike Morrison Instagram: Mike Morrison Website: Mike Morrison Danyel Van KleefWhat inspired your Reflection image? Can you briefly describe the concept and the story behind it? What emotion or message were you aiming to convey to your audience? I wanted to create something more mysterious and profound. While reflections are often used in straightforward ways, I aimed to go deeper, incorporating themes of duality and introspection through surreal elements, making the work more of a story than just a reflection. Can you walk us through your creative process for this assignment? How did you plan and execute the shot, and what key techniques or strategies helped bring your vision to life? The process started by finding the mirror and then playing with different angles to get a good framing and then I was drawn to the water element to distort the image and the small pyramid as a little extra detail. What were the main challenges you faced during the shoot? How did you overcome them, and did these challenges influence the final outcome in a way you didn’t expect? I was mainly challenged by fitting myself in the frame and having all the elements in the right composition; the water shouldn't be too much, and my body position should fit within the mirror shape, so I had to make myself smaller, I took many shot’s before I was satisfied. What kind of feedback did you receive from professionals or peers about your image? How do you plan to incorporate this feedback into future projects, and how has it shaped your development as a photographer? The feedback has been really positive and supportive so far. It motivates me to do more projects like these and, with other people, make variations and so on, I learned more working with these elements and the techniques that I used. How has being part of the Carty community helped you grow creatively? What do you find most valuable about the feedback, support, or collaborative atmosphere within the community? The Carty Community is a great place full of support, I have learned so much in the few months since I have been part of this, to be honest, it's the first community where I have had real peer-to-peer feedback and constructive critique. What advice or encouragement would you give to photographers considering joining the Carty community? How can they get the most out of participating in these assignments? I highly recommend joining if you’re at a point in your photography where solid support could make a real difference. Carty and the community offer exactly that—a true, growing, and evolving network that genuinely helps one another. The assignments are game-changers; they push you to take action, and the feedback is invaluable for your growth as a photographer. For me, it filled a gap I needed for my progress. Social Media Handles: Instagram: @danyelvankleef Facebook: @danyelvankleef LinkedIn: @danyelvankleef Substack: Danyel’s Substack Romeo FowlerWhat inspired your Reflection image? Can you briefly describe the concept and the story behind it? What emotion or message were you aiming to convey to your audience? My inspiration is to be great to be the best that I can be, to prove that all things are possible with GOD when you do your best with what I have, and what I have learned from Steve Carty. Social Media Handles: Instagram: @RomeoFlower Stuart BowdenWhat inspired your Reflection image? Can you briefly describe the concept and the story behind it? What emotion or message were you aiming to convey to your audience? The brief called for reflection, and the image bridges the definition of literal reflection, and thoughtful pondering. The subject's reflection is displaced and blurred at the edges, echoing the challenge of moving house, where stability is disrupted and the pieces of the mind must settle in the aftermath of the turmoil. His fear and anxiety is etched in his expression and I wanted to capture this feeling of "big worries in a small body" as we can all see ourselves in the faces of children. Can you walk us through your creative process for this assignment? How did you plan and execute the shot, and what key techniques or strategies helped bring your vision to life? I had successful created horizontal a image at the same location a few years ago using a phone, and wanted to make a higher resolution vertical image to submit for the assignment. I'd brought three lenses along (13mm, 56mm and 16-55mm) and at first experimented with the 13mm. I settled on the 56mm for this image, for the intimacy of its approximately 85m field of view. What were the main challenges you faced during the shoot? How did you overcome them, and did these challenges influence the final outcome in a way you didn’t expect? I was over-equipped for this simple shoot. There was no need for the speed-light, its modifiers, and a tripod. Narrowing the tools and honing each shot to achieve this image took patience and repetition from the photographer and from our subject. Around 80 frames were made in under fifteen minutes. Experimenting with wider compositions, moving to closer ones, I eventual chose to show the reflection in isolation to emphasize its visual instability at the edge of the subject's face and amplify the narrative of anxious disruption. What kind of feedback did you receive from professionals or peers about your image? How do you plan to incorporate this feedback into future projects, and how has it shaped your development as a photographer? I leveraged the power of the Community by posting a first draft to the Peer Reviews channel and subsequently made post processing choices to bump the brightness, vibrancy and temperature controls. During Carty's review he recommended to watch the left edge of the frame, check the white balance against the grey of the beanie, and consider a smaller aperture of f/2, or even go to f/4 to ensure both eyes are in focus. Whilst shooting, I consciously brought the subject away from the edge of the frame and incorporated the right edge of the window frame to feature a layer in front of the hand, but I chose my lens’s second-widest aperture to ensure enough light would reach the sensor at a lower Iso in the vanishing daylight. Learning the Iso limitations within the Fujifilm system is one of the best ways I can achieve more satisfying images in challenging conditions and I'm definitely going to be using an f/2.8 lens a bit more which will help with learning this, and having the eyes in focus more often. How has being part of the Carty community helped you grow creatively? What do you find most valuable about the feedback, support, or collaborative atmosphere within the community? The Community has been a massive support through some personal difficulties I've had in the last few months. Peers always provide honest critiques that aim to nurture growth, and welcome discussion of their own work — everybody learns through this process, and it creates trust. This Community is comprised of Creatives who are genuinely looking out for each other. It's a beautiful and powerful place to be. What advice or encouragement would you give to photographers considering joining the Carty community? How can they get the most out of participating in these assignments? You can't grow in a vacuum, nor can you grow alone. The Community is the sunlight and water that your creativity needs to be able to flourish beyond the heights you've reached so far. The assignments are a gateway to your learning. They build momentum in your growth and help build habits. They challenge you to consider different ways to creatively respond to the assignment brief. The aim isn't to “pass” or to “win”, but to exceed your limitations and create something beyond your usual photographic perspective. Social Media Handles: Instagram: @Stu.ax Website: Stu-ax.com Ana KWhat inspired your Reflection image? Can you briefly describe the concept and the story behind it? What emotion or message were you aiming to convey to your audience? Sometimes I plan out my shots in advance, visualizing the concept beforehand, but other times the image presents itself to me in the moment. This was one of those times. I was working on a project shooting interior spaces when I noticed an asymmetrical mirror on the wall. I kept studying it from different angles until I found the perfect shot. Can you walk us through your creative process for this assignment? How did you plan and execute the shot, and what key techniques or strategies helped bring your vision to life? I seek simplicity in my images, but there must always be a narrative, a story that draws the viewer in. In this particular photo, the key element is the clock. It symbolizes the importance of living in the moment, while time inevitably slips away. The image offers a fleeting glimpse into the past or future of this space—whether it’s being used or shared. The moment is temporary, and once gone, it can never be recreated. What were the main challenges you faced during the shoot? How did you overcome them, and did these challenges influence the final outcome in a way you didn’t expect? The biggest challenge with this image was finding the right angle and framing the elements within the unique shape of the mirror. To achieve the desired result, I used seven exposures, ensuring precise lighting and sharpness across all the elements. What kind of feedback did you receive from professionals or peers about your image? How do you plan to incorporate this feedback into future projects, and how has it shaped your development as a photographer? Though I primarily specialize in portrait photography, I’ve come to realize that the surrounding environment can play a pivotal role in telling a story. Based on the feedback I received, I’m eager to explore environmental portraits more and incorporate these ideas into future projects. How has being part of the Carty community helped you grow creatively? What do you find most valuable about the feedback, support, or collaborative atmosphere within the community? I find as much value in reviewing the work of other photographers as I do in receiving feedback on my own. Both positive reinforcement and constructive criticism are crucial for honing my skills and pushing my creative boundaries. What advice or encouragement would you give to photographers considering joining the Carty community? How can they get the most out of participating in these assignments? keep practicing and never stop learning from professionals in the industry. Embrace criticism as a tool for growth—it’s a pathway to improvement every time you pick up the camera. Carty’s assignments may be challenging, but they offer valuable lessons, especially when you learn from your mistakes. Social Media Handles: Instagram: @AKphotography.2020 Instagram: @my.ottwa.photos Josh McCoyWhat inspired your Reflection image? Can you briefly describe the concept and the story behind it? What emotion or message were you aiming to convey to your audience? My reflection image was inspired by a desire to capture the symmetry and stillness of the reservoir near my workplace. I often passed it and imagined the photographic possibilities, and finally, I decided to explore them. I wanted to create an image that would make viewers pause and consider the interplay between the real and the reflected, questioning which was which. Can you walk us through your creative process for this assignment? How did you plan and execute the shot, and what key techniques or strategies helped bring your vision to life? My creative process involved scouting the reservoir after work for a few days to find the perfect spot and lighting. The final image, featuring the reflection of power lines, was a combination of careful planning and a bit of daring, as I had to fly the drone extremely low over the water. My eye for leading lines and disciplined execution helped me achieve the precise composition I envisioned. What were the main challenges you faced during the shoot? How did you overcome them, and did these challenges influence the final outcome in a way you didn’t expect? The biggest challenge was definitely the fear factor of flying just three feet above the water, especially with the nearest accessible land a quarter-mile away! To overcome this, I maintained a steady ascent and descent, constantly monitoring the drone's altitude and the waterline. Surprisingly, the drone's sensors performed accurately over the water, guiding me to that nerve-wracking 2.7-foot altitude. From there, it was a matter of carefully maneuvering to find the perfect angle. What kind of feedback did you receive from professionals or peers about your image? How do you plan to incorporate this feedback into future projects, and how has it shaped your development as a photographer? Feedback from the Carty community highlighted a slight tilt in the horizon line. I was advised to use the warp tool in Photoshop, which corrected it beautifully. This experience reinforced the importance of paying close attention to the horizon and provided me with a valuable editing technique to use in future projects. How has being part of the Carty community helped you grow creatively? What do you find most valuable about the feedback, support, or collaborative atmosphere within the community? The Carty community provides a structured learning environment with a strong sense of camaraderie. The combination of expert guidance and peer support creates a powerful motivator. We're all invested in each other's success, which pushes me to be my best. What advice or encouragement would you give to photographers considering joining the Carty community? How can they get the most out of participating in these assignments? If you're serious about taking your photography to the next level, the Carty community is an invaluable resource. Their step-by-step program provides clear direction and a supportive environment to grow your skills. Embrace the challenges, actively participate, and you'll be amazed at what you can achieve. Social Media Handles: Instagram: mccoydroneops Best In ShowLiza HeiderWhat inspired your Reflection image? Can you briefly describe the concept and the story behind it? What emotion or message were you aiming to convey to your audience? There is so much you can do with reflections! I knew this was going to be a fun project. Water, puddles, windows, mirrors and so many reflective surfaces to work with—so I decided to go with mirrors. The emotion I wanted to convey was a subtle dreamy effect and a splash of color. Can you walk us through your creative process for this assignment? How did you plan and execute the shot, and what key techniques or strategies helped bring your vision to life? I knew I wanted to use mirrors, but where and how to execute my concept took some time to put together. I thought about location scouting the perfect spot with mirrors or create a space of my own. I decided to make a mirror space using concrete walls and a large vacant room inside my Seattle studio. I used LED flood lamps on the ground to light up Jody's white jacket. What were the main challenges you faced during the shoot? How did you overcome them, and did these challenges influence the final outcome in a way you didn’t expect? I had a hard time finding the right mirrors in such a short amount of time. I spent an entire Saturday afternoon shopping for mirrors and finally stumbled upon these small square mirrors at Home Depot and I loved them. My next challenge was how to attach the mirrors to a concrete wall. I spaced them apart and noticed how my face and body would break up a bit when looking at the mirrors. What a cool effect I wasn't anticipating. I broke two mirrors as they went smashing onto the concrete as the adhesive I used wasn't strong enough. So, I went back to the hardware store and was advised to use Gorilla Glue tape. It did the job perfectly. When I started shooting, I noticed all sorts of distractions in the background reflecting into the mirrors. Blue and yellow patio furniture, some camera gear and other objects had to be moved out of the way. I started to worry my concept was falling apart. I went outside and rearranged all the patio furniture clearing them out of the frame. What kind of feedback did you receive from professionals or peers about your image? How do you plan to incorporate this feedback into future projects, and how has it shaped your development as a photographer? Mr. Carty recommended I start using a professional skin retoucher. For this assignment I worked with a fantastic retoucher and it really shows. It's been a total game changer. I'm starting to learn the importance of handing off some tasks to others in order to help level up my photography and work flow. How has being part of the Carty community helped you grow creatively? What do you find most valuable about the feedback, support, or collaborative atmosphere within the community? Each time I complete one of Carty's assignments, I see my work improve and it's been a wonderful growing process this year. What I like about this community is that you're going to be provided feedback in the most honest, kind and constructive way possible. What advice or encouragement would you give to photographers considering joining the Carty community? How can they get the most out of participating in these assignments? Launching a photography business and a strong portfolio on your own is hard work. Do the work, but immerse yourself in some kind of group for feedback and support. Whether you're an aspiring new photographer or a working pro, the Carty community is probably for you. Completing these assignments pushes my bandwidth and creativity. The deadlines motivate me to follow through and execute my ideas within just a few days. Executing ideas in this creative space can be really challenging as to all the moving parts I have to put together in such a short time frame. Maybe being under pressure is how some of my greatest concepts arise. Social Media Handles: Instagram: Liza Heider Photography Website: Lizaheider.com Nick JohnsonWhat inspired your Reflection image? Can you briefly describe the concept and the story behind it? What emotion or message were you aiming to convey to your audience? I’m currently in the process of rebuilding my beauty portfolio and I had this shoot scheduled during the week of the assignment. I wanted to incorporate the use of reflections in a way that still allowed me to fill as much of the frame as possible with the models face while using the reflection component to add some depth and mystery to the shot in a subtle way. Rather than directly depict a mirror image I used a prism to pull light and color artifacts into the lens from a bank of floor to ceiling windows off camera. Can you walk us through your creative process for this assignment? How did you plan and execute the shot, and what key techniques or strategies helped bring your vision to life? It’s always a case of chicken vs egg - in this case I had a mood board of beauty concepts I had on my wish list, and a makeup artist I wanted to work with. We tossed around some details and identified a short list of models we’d like to use for this shoot. Branigan was at the top of both of our lists so once we showed her the mood board and she said she was game, I ran it by her agent, scheduled the shoot, had to adjust due to illness on the first scheduling pass, but then it all came together. A huge help was that I’ve adapted Carty’s Photographers Call Sheet template. Everyone from model, agent, crew commented this shoot had the best communication they’ve received. What were the main challenges you faced during the shoot? How did you overcome them, and did these challenges influence the final outcome in a way you didn’t expect? This shoot was a couple hours from home, and in a rented studio I was unfamiliar with vs my own. There’s always the question of what will conditions be when I actually get on set. I always try to take the approach of maximizing the conditions that exist vs forcing a square peg through a role. I expected and was prepared to shoot 100% with strobe, but in the end took advantage of some really nice natural light. What kind of feedback did you receive from professionals or peers about your image? How do you plan to incorporate this feedback into future projects, and how has it shaped your development as a photographer? I knew this particular shot wasn’t 100% ideal as a cover, being that her eyeline is a tad close to the top of the frame. I’ve always tended to err on the side of filling the frame and I’m fighting to break that habit and always give just a bit more room. How has being part of the Carty community helped you grow creatively? What do you find most valuable about the feedback, support, or collaborative atmosphere within the community? I’ve been around a while, and participated in many online photography communities, to the point of having bowed out of them all due to toxicity and egos. This community doesn’t suffer from that problem. We’re all goal oriented, rather than praise motivated, and egos don’t get in the way of everyone lifting each other up. What advice or encouragement would you give to photographers considering joining the Carty community? How can they get the most out of participating in these assignments? I would advise anyone considering joining the Carty community to take the Pro photographers readiness assessment. Watch the photo reviews. Ask yourself what and how you would shoot if you knew you couldn’t fail. Come to the party with at least a vague idea of where you’d like to be a year from now, and let Carty help you draw the road map. Social Media Handles: Instagram: nickjohnsonphoto Website: Nick Johnson Photography Do you want to have your work reviewed by a 34-year pro? Subscribe to CARTY on YouTube Join the Carty Method Photo Reviews If you're ready to elevate your photography skills, cultivate a winning mindset, and become part of a vibrant, supportive community, subscribe to CARTY on YouTube, go to TheCartyMethod.com, and join the Carty Crew Community. For those looking to submit their work and receive professional feedback, Carty’s Photo Reviews is the perfect opportunity. New to what CARTY is doing? 👉🏾 Carty a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA. His goal is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators. 👉🏾 Mindset Shifts and Immersive Pro Education on YouTube 👈🏾 Learn more about CARTY and see his work at 👉🏾 SteveCarty.com Join his photographer’s community 👉🏾 TheCartyMethod.com/community Work with him 👉🏾 theCartyMethod.com Book a Free 15-minute Zoom Chat Subscribe to The Carty Method to see the best new photographers from all over the world level up right before your eyes. Weekly photographer transformations are happening right now. Become a smarter photographer in 5 minutes a week by Subscribing to CARTY on Substack. The Carty Method (Over 1700 Subscribers) Watch the live replay of this photo submission Carty is a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA. His goal is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators. 👉🏾 Mindset Shifts and Immersive Pro Education on YouTube 👈🏾 Learn more about him and see his work at 👉🏾 SteveCarty.com Join his photographer’s community 👉🏾 TheCartyMethod.com/community Work with Him 👉🏾 theCartyMethod.com The Carty Method Instagram @TheCartyMethod You’re currently a free subscriber to Carty’s Substack. To see the archives, consider upgrading your subscription for just $5/month. |
Reflections
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