Using A Mirror in Photography

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I was watching a Video on people using mirrors to video and take stills of various things. They would set the mirror in a position/spot that you couldn’t get a camera into and shoot the image through the mirror. It was very effective at videoing moving things.

One example made you feel like you were standing close beside a road watching the traffic coming towards you. The camera was much to large to fit on the model table but the mirror slipped in nicely.

I realize this must be an old trick, but has anyone here done this to get pics of their trains from a different angle. It can be difficult to get the camera at ground level on our layouts. The mirror trick could help solve this problem. If you have used a mirror, can you post the pics or videos for us to see. Thanks.

Brent[C):-)]

2

I have seen old MR magazines with photos of using mirrors. A first surface mirror look better in certain photos. Some even paste some items to the mirror.

Rich

3

First surface mirrors are often used to provide the illusion of increased depth. I do not, however, believe that is to what the OP is referring.

Cameras are so small now that I don’t think mirrors are required.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/two-megapixel-mini-camera-measures-in-at-under-a-cubic-inch-wei/

http://www.xheli.com/86p-988-dice-minicam.html

4

I’ve used a mirror when taking layout photos, but only to see the camera’s display screen when it’s not otherwise visible. It’s handy when trying to compose the picture when the camera is on the layout and facing the aisle, or the display is otherwise out of sight.

Wayne

5

This is a mirror shot.

http://www.modelrailroadphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=3801&title=clear-the-track&cat=603

I then had to do a “mirror image” with the computer to get the 47 back to the right way.

When I first started using the mirror I was under the impressing that all I had to do was focus on the mirror and everthing in the mirror would be in focus. I found this not to be true. The camera was able to focus (or not focus) on separate items in the mirror. As you can see the bridge behind the locomotive is not in-focus as I was hoping it to be.

6

Th front surface mirror is so you get ONE reflected image from the silvered sjurface. With a conventional rear surface mirror, you get a main reflection from the mirror surface in back, and a faint reflaction off the front of th glass that is 1/16 inch or whatever in front of the back. That can cause a slight imperfection that can show up especially when shootin very small objects (like models) very close up (like models).