How to Shoot Reflections in Movies — Every Cinematographer’s Nightmare

How to Shoot Windows Without Reflections — We take a look at a notorious difficulty in film: avoiding a camera reflection.

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Special Thanks:
Christopher Frost ►►    • Photo101: Polarising Filters - How and Why...  
Grip Tips ►►    • EP 35:  K-Line "Matt" Dulling Spray  
Potato Jet ►►    • How These Make your Camera look Cinematic ...  
Pull My Focus ►►    • Remove Reflections: Two Onset Tips  
The Slanted Lens ►►    • QuickTip: Duvetyne: The Black Hole Product...  

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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Reflections in Film
00:42 - Understanding Reflections
01:18 - Chapter 1: Avoidance on Set
03:24 - Chapter 2: Practical Effects
04:32 - Chapter 3: Post-Production
06:20 - Takeaways

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HOW TO SHOOT VIDEO WITHOUT BEING SEEN IN THE REFLECTION

Reflective surfaces abound in our world, and so it's hard to avoid having them in film. But where there's reflection, there's danger: catching your camera, or a crew member, in a shot can ruin a take. In this video, we take a look at how to avoid reflections, and how to shoot them smartly if they're unavoidable.

SHOOTING REFLECTIONS

The best time to deal with reflections is before you roll the camera. During tech scouts, identify reflective surfaces: glass tables, picture frames, car windows. Adjust blocking and camera angles so these surfaces never face the lens directly. A few degrees of tilt can make all the difference.

Lighting is another culprit. Shift your fixtures or soften them to reduce glare. Polarizing filters are an invaluable tool—they can minimize reflections from windows and water while deepening contrast. On set, flags, matte cloth, or even crew members dressed in dark clothing can help hide what shouldn’t be seen.

MIRRORS IN MOVIES

Sometimes, the smartest move is to fake it. Productions have long used false mirrors (empty frames with a duplicate set built behind them) to stage reflection shots safely. You can also use body doubles to sell the effect even more, though that requires time and keen attention to detail. One-way mirrors allow cameras or lights to hide behind glass without being seen.

FIXING REFLECTIONS IN POST

When reflections slip through, post-production can save the day. Editors can mask, clone, or paint out unwanted elements frame by frame using tools like After Effects. For moving reflections, motion tracking allows for precise patching. Still, this work is time-intensive, and can be expensive. Use it wisely.


#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

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