Mastering reflections in architectural and interior photography

In architectural and interior photography, light is a precious ally. But sometimes it manifests itself in a less desirable form: reflections. Wherever they come from, unchecked reflections can spoil a careful composition and distract the eye from the essential.

Modern architecture and interior design often favour smooth, reflective surfaces:

- Large bay windows: These offer abundant natural light, but can also reflect the outside environment in an undesirable way.

- Shiny surfaces (lacquered wood, metal, glass): These add a touch of elegance but can also become sources of light reflection.

- Mirrors: Used for decoration and/or to enlarge space, they can reflect unexpected elements.

- Screens: Often found in interiors, they can create areas of intense, reflective light.

These reflections can obscure important architectural or design details, introduce distracting elements that have no place in the scene, or create areas of overexposure that detract from the balance of the image.

This is why it is often necessary to minimise or even eliminate them.

Techniques used to minimise and eliminate reflections

There are several ways of taking control of reflections.

- When searching for a point of view, it is important to analyse all reflective surfaces and identify what they reflect. A slight change of viewpoint can often make an annoying reflection disappear.

- Circular Polarising Filters (CPL) reduce or eliminate reflections from non-metallic surfaces such as glass, water or certain paints. It is very useful for photographing through glass, such as windows or shop windows, or for reducing reflections on shiny floors. Its effectiveness will depend on the angle of the source in relation to the reflecting surface.

- Photographing when there is little or no light outside often eliminates reflections on windows and allows you to concentrate on the interior lighting. In some cases, it is a good idea to plan your shots for the blue hour or at night.

- Cloudy weather produces a soft, diffused light that considerably reduces aggressive reflections.

- Another possibility is to take several photos with different angles or settings to give you more options in post-production. By using layers in Photoshop, you can take the best parts of each photo. However, it's always preferable to minimise reflections as much as possible when taking the shot, for a more natural result. I only use this method as a last resort.

Using reflections as a creative opportunity

Although reflections are sometimes unwanted, they can also be used creatively to add an artistic dimension to images, for example:

- The symmetry of buildings reflected in water (pond, swimming pool...)

- Create original perspectives to multiply spaces or add a narrative element.

- Play with soft reflections on shiny surfaces.

Managing reflections is an essential skill for any architectural or interior photographer.

By understanding the causes of reflections and mastering the techniques for minimising or exploiting them, I can create professional images that highlight the beauty and functionality of spaces.