Storefront Chandelier

As I’ve been getting out around town with my camera, I’ve been finding myself drawn more and more to window reflections.

I’ve written a number of times on this blog about how I’ve been increasingly fascinated by the photography of Saul Leiter. Along with other rather interesting techniques, window reflections figure prominently in his work. It’s clear to me that Leiter’s influence on me has become strong.

Last month, I shot through a roll of Kodak Tri-X 400 that I had loaded into my Nikon F, which was also fitted with my 135mm f/3.5 Nikkor lens. I love the way telephoto focal lengths compress near and far. I also like the way they offer opportunities for tight compositions.

As I was out and about, this window reflection caught my eye:

I was practicing my shooting skills without a light meter that morning, and I managed to select the proper settings to get a decent exposure of it.

I positioned myself very close to the front window of a shop, its door between me and the chandelier. There were a lot of reflections going on: reflections of the street off the window glass and a reflection of the chandelier off the mirror behind it.

I confess this isn’t one of my first-rate images, but it’s one that encourages me to continue to explore reflections more in my photography.